Central of Georgia Railroad Terminal
Why it's listed
Built in 1881 at 700 12th Street in Columbus, Georgia, this two-story brick building served as a terminal for the Central of Georgia Railroad. Bruce and Morgan are named as architect and builder. It is a symmetrical square block in the Second Empire style, with a central pavilion, stone and brick corner pilasters, stone hood moulds with applied swags, a bold bracketed cornice and a mansard roof of tin plate. A tower on the pavilion was a later addition and became a control tower for the yard. The building sits on part of the original east green belt of the city plan, among railroad tracks and warehouses. It is considered the oldest terminal in Columbus and a local landmark, and it was the center of rail transportation until a new station opened in the 1890s. Afterward it supervised incoming and outgoing trains and remained the terminal for rail yard activity. Its Second Empire form is unusual in Columbus.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest rail terminal in Columbus and has served the Central of Georgia system continuously since 1881. It is an excellent, locally uncommon example of Second Empire architecture. It was the center of rail transportation in the city until a new station was built in the 1890s, and it later supervised train movements in the rail yard.
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 80001150, listed December 2, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 700 12th St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | December 2, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001150 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Bruce and Morgan |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current use is as a freight terminal; the grounds are marginally maintained and the building needs regular maintenance. The third floor of the central pavilion was remodeled around 1960. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46875, -84.98364 (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 80001150.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.