2025 10 Most Sites

Knights of Pythias Hall – Gulfport

Built in the 1930s by the African American chapter of the Knights of Pythias, Handsboro’s KP Hall is a cornerstone of the community’s civic and cultural heritage. Located in one of Gulfport’s oldest neighborhoods, the hall served for decades as a center for fraternal gatherings, civil rights meetings, and voter registration drives. It also functioned as a food bank, Head Start center, and literacy center, filling critical needs at a time when few other community resources existed in the area. During Hurricane Camille, the hall became an impromptu relief center, and in 2023 it was recognized with a Mississippi Historical Marker for its lasting impact. Hurricane Katrina left the building severely damaged, collapsing much of its roof and upper story. Without stabilization and restoration, this symbol of resilience and service is at serious risk of being lost forever.

Nominated by the Handsboro and Mississippi City Civic Organization

Circle G Ranch – Horn Lake

The Circle G Ranch in Horn Lake is a 154-acre National Register Historic District that preserves an important chapter in the life of Elvis Presley. Elvis purchased the ranch in 1967 and spent his honeymoon there with Priscilla, finding an escape from the pressures of fame to truly relax with friends and family. The ranch includes a cottage originally built around 1900 and updated in the 1960s, stables, outbuildings, a bridge over the pond, and a 55-foot cross said to have inspired Elvis to buy the property. Although he owned the ranch for only two years, it marked a pivotal period before his famed 1968 Comeback Special. Today, encroaching development and years of deferred maintenance threaten the site. The current owner hopes to restore the ranch and share its story—seeking the right partners and a clear vision for preservation to make that dream a reality.

Nominated by Jesse Yarbrough

Lambert Coal Tower – Lambert

Rising above the railroad tracks in Lambert, the Illinois Central Railroad coal tower is one of only two remaining in Mississippi. Built in the early 1900s, it once fueled the steam locomotives that powered Delta commerce and growth. Its towering concrete form, said to resemble the outline of Quitman County, has long served as a familiar local landmark. Like so many structures built along the rail lines that gave rise to Mississippi’s small towns, the coal tower stands as a reminder of both the promise and decline of that era. Similar towers are disappearing across the country, making Lambert’s even more significant. Though unused for decades, the structure remains sturdy but vulnerable to time and the elements. With recognition and vision, the coal tower could become a powerful way to tell the story of Mississippi’s development and the communities that were shaped by the railroads that once connected them.

Nominated by Jennifer Burt

Leland Temple Theater – Leland

Built in 1930, the two-story brick Temple Theater in Leland is an Art Deco landmark that once brought big-city excitement to the Delta. Designed by Jackson architect Claude H. Lindsley, it was Mississippi’s first theater built for “talking pictures,” housing the Temple Movie Theater on the ground floor and a Masonic lodge above. Its façade still features distinctive Deco details such as reeded columns, zigzag concrete designs, and a striking triangular marquee. The theater has been closed since the late 1960s, and time, water damage, and deferred maintenance have taken a serious toll. Recently, the city discussed demolishing the building for extra parking, but local support is growing to save this Mississippi treasure to once again bring people together in downtown Leland.

Nominated by Sherry Smythe

Lena Gymnasium – Lena

Built in 1940, the Lena Gymnasium is one of the few remaining landmarks from the small town’s early days. For decades, it served as a community gathering place—home to basketball games, graduations, and school events that brought neighbors together. The building retains its original form and most of its interior bleachers, with hand-painted ads by local artist John H. Ladd still lining the walls as a colorful reflection of the town’s history. During a community-led renovation in 2010, his son, John H. Ladd Jr., added his own signature touch to the signs, linking generations of pride and service. Though the building was restored years ago, extensive termite damage has now made it unusable. The community hopes to secure funding to repair the floor and reopen this Mississippi Landmark, preserving not only a historic structure but the memories and pride that have filled it for generations.

Nominated by Jennifer Sherman

Mendenhall Revolving Tables Hotel and Restaurant – Mendenhall

Opened in 1915 by Frank and Annie Mae Heil, the Mendenhall Hotel and its famed Revolving Tables Restaurant quickly became a landmark of Mississippi hospitality. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023, the original wood-frame building housed the restaurant, and in 1926 a brick addition was added to serve a growing number of guests. In its early years, the hotel catered to rail passengers and later to travelers arriving by automobile. People came from near and far to gather around the enormous hand-built Lazy Susan–style tables to share meals and conversation. The restaurant’s warmth and charm even inspired writer Eudora Welty’s classic tale The Ponder Heart. Closed since 2001, the building has stood silent for more than two decades, though its legacy remains alive in the community. Two descendants of the original owners hope to restore and reopen the restaurant, but success will depend on securing both funding and continued community support.

Nominated by Leslie Magee

Eola Hotel – Natchez

In the heart of downtown Natchez, the Eola Hotel has stood for nearly a century as one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Completed in 1927 and designed by the New Orleans firm Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth, the seven-story hotel once anchored Natchez’s social scene within its grand Colonial Revival façade. Since closing in 2014, the Eola has remained dark, a reminder of both the city’s grandeur and the patience and investment needed to bring a landmark of this scale back to life. While plans to reopen under Marriott’s Tribute brand have been announced, similar efforts in the past have stalled. With community support and sustained momentum, the Eola could again become a gathering place at the heart of Natchez’s downtown, and a lasting symbol of renewal rather than loss.

Nominated by the Historic Natchez Foundation

Fred Gandy Barber Shop – Starkville

Built in 1950, the Fred Gandy Barber Shop was among the first African American businesses in Starkville’s historic Black business district. Mr. Gandy operated a successful barbershop on the first floor and recruited the city’s first Black physician, Dr. D.L. Conner, to open a medical clinic upstairs. Together, they created a hub for business, health, and civic engagement, hosting NAACP meetings and community leaders during the height of the civil rights era. Located just outside the Starkville Historic District. A potential buyer hopes to bring this modest brick and stucco building back to life, but faces challenges with zoning building codes and securing funding and tax credits. With the right support, the Fred Gandy Barber Shop could once again serve as a symbol of resilience and pride in Starkville.

Nominated by Cyndi Parker

Ballard Hall – Tougaloo College, Jackson

Built in 1886, Ballard Hall is one of the most historically significant buildings on the campus of Tougaloo College, founded in 1869 by the American Missionary Association on the grounds of the former Boddie Plantation near Jackson. Funded through a $5,000 gift from New York philanthropist Stephen Ballard, the two-story Italianate structure was constructed by students under the direction of the college’s industrial department. Originally housing Tougaloo’s Primary Division, Ballard later became home to the Academy, Mississippi’s first accredited Black high school. Over the decades, it has housed the Music and Drama Departments, hosting performances by the Tougaloo Players and visits from cultural figures like George Washington Carver. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ballard Hall remains the home of the music department, but the structure is in dire need of renovation to ensure that it continues to be a place of creativity and learning for generations to come.

Nominated by Tony Bounds

Old Yalobusha County Jail – Water Valley

Built in 1904 by the Pauly Jail Building Company, the Old Yalobusha County Jail stands beside the courthouse as one of Water Valley’s most prominent landmarks. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Mississippi Landmark, the two-story brick jail served as the county’s main place of incarceration for sixty years. Prisoners were confined to the upper floor while the jailer’s family lived below, sending meals up on a dumbwaiter. The building still bears the trapdoor and steel ring used for hanging executions, including two in the 1930s that gained national attention following a double murder. Although stabilization efforts have been made, the exterior brick is deteriorating, and the walls are buckling. Funding and a clear plan for future use are needed to ensure that this landmark and the stories it holds are not lost.

Nominated by Chris Goodwin