Cedars, The
Why it's listed
Built in 1837 for Col. John Banks, a Columbus lawyer, bank founder and cotton mill co-owner, this house at 2039 13th Street sits in the old Wynnton village area. It was designed as a spacious home for a large family. The main house is handmade rose-colored brick covered with stucco scored to look like stone blocks, with four Ionic columns supporting the front portico. Inside, a hall nine feet wide and forty feet long was painted to resemble pinkish Italian marble, and rooms have marble and pine mantels, heart-of-pine floors, thirteen-foot ceilings and carved doorways. The roofline was altered in 1885. Banks also helped found Wynnton Academy, and Cedar Avenue was once the cedar-lined drive to the house. The property has remained with the Banks family, preserving papers, silver, china and furniture. Its listing was urged because of its distinctive style and a proposed four-lane widening of 13th Street.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an architecturally distinctive landmark whose style is unique in Columbus. It was built by Col. John Banks, a prominent lawyer, banker and mill owner who helped found Wynnton Academy. It has stayed in the Banks family since 1837 and retains family papers, silver, china and furniture, and it was threatened by a proposed widening of 13th Street.
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 71000282, listed November 23, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2039 13th St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | November 23, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000282 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1837) |
| Architect / builder | Col. John Banks (original owner who built the house) |
| Architectural style | Stuccoed brick house with four-columned Ionic portico, marked to resemble stone blocks; style described as unique in Columbus |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence by a descendant of John Banks; condition marked good and altered, with the roofline changed in 1885. Threatened by a proposed widening of 13th Street. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Wynnton Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.47248, -84.96319 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 71000282.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134398196
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.