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Columbus Pilgrimage: Our Start

Shannon Evans • February 19, 2024

The Columbus Pilgrimage has a rich storied past heavily influenced by the earlier success of the Natchez Garden Club Spring Pilgrimage. The first rumblings of hosting an event in Columbus began in 1937. The newly formed Galaxy Garden Club, in anticipation of hosting a spring event in the not-too-distant future, began planting wisteria vines along the various highways leading into Columbus.

A large white house with columns and a porch surrounded by trees.

Envoys of the Pioneer Club of Columbus ventured to Natchez, Mississippi to observe their highly successful event and take notes on how it all worked. The ladies returned home buzzing with ideas about Columbus’ own beautiful antebellum homes and their potential to attract tourists and bring tourism dollars to the cash strapped community. 


Columbus, like the rest of the nation, was still trying to extract itself from the Great Depression. The New Deal was winding down and money was tight for most families as a new recession gripped the South. The winds of war in Europe were also gaining strength. People wanted and needed a distraction. 
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In 1939 it was announced that the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs was hosting its annual convention in Columbus in April 1940. A ready-made influx of tourists would be in town. What better time than during their event to host a Spring Pilgrimage? A Columbus Pilgrimage Committee formed, and the first annual event was titled, The Pilgrimage of Wisteria Time in Columbus – quite the mouthful! 
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The committee began collecting names of potential antebellum homes still in good enough shape to show. Many of the grand homes’ owners had fallen on hard times during The Great Depression but their “bones” were still good. Some of the grandest homes in town were in disrepair, others were divided into apartments so that families could hang onto their homes in hope that better days were ahead. But there were still enough homes that over 25 invitations were sent to an informational meeting of the owners of potential homes for the tour. The meeting was held in June of 1939 at the local YMCA.  


The first tour needed to be publicized far and wide to draw attention to the event. A special tour was organized in the fall of 1939 for the Associated Press Travel Writers. Among those journalists was Mississippi’s own Eudora Welty who had attended the women’s college in town (II&C now MUW) as a young woman. The travel writers captured the first descriptions of the homes and their articles appeared in papers from Memphis’ Commercial Appeal, Birmingham News, Knoxville Journal, Atlanta Constitution, St. Clair Chronicle, to the New York Times.
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The descriptions the writers used were limited and dated because the only descriptions for older homes at the time was the language of colonial architecture. Architectural history of the South was virtually non-existent as the Society for Architectural Historians had not been founded yet. The descriptions of those first travel writers to Columbus were devoid of terms like Gothic, Greek Revival, and Italianate that would become synonymous with Southern architecture. They did quite accidentally get the late Federalist styling correct in their descriptions of the elements of the some of the earliest homes built in Columbus. 


The homes on the first Columbus Spring Pilgrimage included nine of the homes on our tour this year: Camellia Place, Wisteria Place (Meek Home), Baskerville Manor (Hamilton Hall), Snowdoun, Shadowlawn, Riverview, Colonnade, White Arches, and Waverly Mansion. Each of these homes is a residence opened by their owners to share their home’s magnificent architecture and history with the public. 
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Other homes that were on that first tour are: Franklin Square, Rosewood Manor (Maydrew Manor), Leigh Crest, The Cedars, Temple Heights, Dawnview (torn down in the late 1950’s), Flynnwood (torn down), Homewood, The Old Homestead, 12 Gables, Pratt Thomas Home (Woodward House), Lehmquen, and White Hall. 


Join us April 2-13, 2024, to tour these homes and discover how critically important their restoration is to the history of Columbus. Tickets are available online and at the Columbus Visitor’s Bureau (117 3rd Street South) daily during the event. 
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Columbus, Mississippi: A Living Legacy of Antebellum Home Tours

March 6, 2025
In the heart of the South, where grand antebellum homes whisper stories of the past, Columbus, Mississippi, stands apart. Unlike many historic towns where antebellum homes have been converted into museums, Columbus offers something truly rare—homes that are still lived in. Each year, during the Spring Pilgrimage, visitors are welcomed into these private residences, not by tour guides but by the homeowners themselves. This unique tradition transforms a simple home tour into an intimate and personal journey through history, heritage, and Southern hospitality. A Town Preserved by Time Founded in 1821 along the banks of the Tombigbee River, Columbus quickly became a center of commerce, culture, and architectural innovation. Unlike many Southern cities devastated by the Civil War, Columbus was largely spared, allowing its historic homes to remain intact. Today, the town boasts one of the most impressive collections of Greek Revival, Federal, Italianate, and Gothic Revival homes in the United States. The Columbus Spring Pilgrimage, established in 1940, has become a beloved tradition, drawing visitors from across the country to step inside these magnificent homes and experience living history firsthand. What Makes Columbus Different? The Homes Are Still Lived In Unlike traditional historic home tours, where visitors view preserved rooms behind ropes and glass, Columbus invites you inside homes that are still occupied by families today. Homeowners personally greet guests, sharing stories passed down through generations, offering insight into historic preservation, and revealing what it’s like to live in a 19th-century home. Authentic Storytelling There are no scripted reenactments here. Instead, visitors engage in real conversations with homeowners, learning about the joys and challenges of maintaining these treasured landmarks. Many Columbus residents see themselves as stewards of history, preserving their homes not just for their families but for future generations. Southern Hospitality at Its Finest It’s not uncommon for visitors to be welcomed onto breezy front porches, served sweet tea, and invited to relax while listening to tales of the past. This personal touch transforms a simple tour into an experience that feels more like a homecoming than a history lesson. A Journey Through Time The Columbus Spring Pilgrimage is more than just a home tour—it’s an opportunity to experience history in a way few places can offer. Whether you’re a history lover, an architecture enthusiast, or simply someone looking for an authentic Southern experience, Columbus delivers an unforgettable journey into the past. Get Your 2025 Pilgrimage Tickets The schedule is up, and tickets are on sale at the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau. Secure your spot for this year’s event by clicking below.
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