Tyler, Mary Elizabeth, House
Why it's listed
This Classical Revival house on Howell Mill Road in northern Atlanta was built in 1921 on a rise above Peachtree Creek. Its exterior features a two-story portico with colossal Corinthian columns, a wraparound one-story porch, a leaded fanlight entrance and weatherboard siding. A small caretaker's cottage dates from the same year. Its owner, Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" Tyler, ran the Southern Publicity Association with Edward Young Clarke. Their work recruiting members for the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1920s earned them a fortune, and Tyler used that money to build the house, which served as a showplace for the organization. The property is recognized for its link to the Klan's revival, for Tyler's unusual success as a businesswoman in the 1920s, and for its architecture. Later owners changed the interior and added wings, a garage and a pool, yet the house retains its historic look, framed by mature trees and a broad front lawn.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is nationally significant in social history as the home of Tyler, who helped revive the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s through a recruitment and fee system that funded the house. It is also significant at the state level in women's history, because Tyler succeeded as a businesswoman in a field dominated by men. It is further listed for its Classical Revival architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05001598, listed January 30, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2887 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | January 30, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001598 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Other, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the interior has been altered and additions made over the decades, but the house keeps its historic exterior appearance. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 33.83395, -84.41730 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05001598.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134321149
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.