{"nrhp_refnum":"80001151","name":"Church Square","other_names":["Church Square (including First Baptist Church of Columbus)"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Roughly bounded by 2nd and 3rd Aves., 11th and 12th Sts.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Columbus","county":"Muscogee County","state":"GA","lat":32.46762726600008,"lon":-84.98973243999995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1980-12-02","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Church Square is a city block in downtown Columbus, Georgia, set aside in Edward Lloyd Thomas' 1828 city plan, containing the First Baptist Church of Columbus sanctuary built in 1859 and related church buildings and grounds.","why_significant":"It is the only remaining church square in downtown Columbus still used for its original purpose, with two congregations worshipping there for over 150 years. The Baptist sanctuary is the oldest existing sanctuary downtown and shows the congregation's growth through successive remodelings from Gothic to neo-classical form.","narrative":"Church Square occupies a downtown Columbus block bounded by 2nd and 3rd Avenues and 11th and 12th Streets. Edward Lloyd Thomas reserved it in his 1828 city plan. The Methodists received the south lot in 1828 and the Baptists the north lot in 1829, and both congregations still worship on their lots. The First Baptist sanctuary dates to 1859 and began as a Gothic style building. A Gothic steeple was removed in 1896-1897, and in 1909 the front was remodeled with six Doric columns and a pediment. By 1910 the building had become neo-classical in form. Additions built between 1924 and 1948, including an educational wing and chapel, match the original in scale and character. The grounds hold lawns, boxwood, shade trees, a granite fountain and the old steeple bell. The block was listed as the only surviving church square in downtown Columbus still serving its original purpose, and for the age of the Baptist sanctuary. The 1948 Methodist church was not included.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"Square laid out by Edward Lloyd Thomas in his 1828 plan of Columbus; no architect or builder named for the church","architectural_style":"Classical Revival","criteria":[],"status_note":"In use as church property; described as in excellent condition.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:40.352789-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_GA/80001151.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/93206436","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Square_(Columbus,_Georgia)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19864676"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/georgia/muscogee-county/church-square-80001151/"}