Built 1858 Opened 1858 | MPS Holly Springs MRA Added to NRHP 20 April 1983 | |
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Location 220 Randolph Street North, Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi, U.S. Part of East Holly Springs Historic District (#83000960 ) Architectural style Greek Revival architecture Similar Mississippi Museum of Natural S, Jackson Zoo, Geyser Falls Water Theme P, Vicksburg National Military P, Hattiesburg Zoo | ||
The Bolling-Gatewood House is a historic cottage in Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA. It is home to the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum, named for former slave, journalist, and suffragist Ida B. Wells.
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Location
The house is located at 220 Randolph Street North in Holly Springs, a small town in Northern Mississippi. It is off U.S. Route 78.
History
The house was completed in 1858. It was designed as a two-storey wood cottage in the Greek Revival architectural style. The portico has five bays and octagonal columns. The cottage is white. It was built for Spires Boling, an architect who designed it. Boling owned nine African slaves, including Lizzie Wells and Ida B. Wells, who went on to become a renowned Civil Rights activist.
Later, the house became known as the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum. The museum presents "the contributions of African Americans in the fields of history, art and culture." In July 2013, three memorial trees were planted in the garden in honor of Wells's prominent grandchildren: Benjamin C. Duster, III (1927–2011), an attorney; Charles E. Duster, Sr. (1929–1991), an architect; and Donald L. Duster (1932–2013), a business executive.
Architectural significance
As a contributing property to the East Holly Springs Historic District, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since April 20, 1983. Additionally, it has been a Mississippi Landmark since 2000.