Columbus Stockade
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 as a city jail, the Columbus Stockade at 622 10th Street is a brick complex made from at least two buildings joined in the early 1900s, with a two-story addition and a 1930 expansion. The larger section is Renaissance Revival, with a pedimented north pavilion, paneled pilasters, a brick band between floors and large ogee brackets under the cornice. The smaller section is Romanesque Revival, with a hip roof, corbel tables and semicircular arches. It held prisoners until early 1972 and has since been used for storage. The stockade is regarded as a local landmark that served Columbus for more than a century as its main place of confinement. It also has a musical connection: Columbus native Thomas P. Darby and his partner Jimmy Tarlton wrote "Columbus Stockade Blues" in 1927, a song widely known in the South and later recorded by well-known performers. The main section is considered the oldest known Renaissance Revival example in the city.
Significance in brief: The stockade served Columbus for over 100 years as the city's main place for holding prisoners, and it is tied to the establishment of law and order in the city. It inspired the 1927 song "Columbus Stockade Blues" by Thomas P. Darby and Jimmy Tarlton. It is also described as the oldest known example of Renaissance Revival architecture in Columbus.
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 80001159, listed December 2, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 622 10th St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | December 2, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001159 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival (main building) and Romanesque Revival (smaller building) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Held prisoners until early 1972; later used as a storage area. Described as in fair condition in a commercial area. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46460, -84.98395 (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 80001159.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134401616
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.