Harrison-Gibson House
Why it's listed
Built around 1896 at 309 11th Street in Columbus, Georgia, this two-story frame house combines two architectural moods. The body is a conservative Victorian Gothic design with an ell plan, hip and gable roof, bracketed eaves, and a gable end with a diamond-shaped attic vent and vergeboard. A one-story porch across the front, with round columns on brick piers and a full entablature, reflects the neo-classical style. This mix marks a turning point in Columbus architecture of the late 1890s. The house is also tied to local people. Joseph Harrison, a boot and shoe salesman, is first listed here around 1896. By 1900 Carleton B. Gibson, superintendent of the city's public schools, lived here with his wife, Mattie. Gibson was largely responsible for founding Columbus' Industrial High School in 1906, described as the first of its kind in the United States. The house is in fair condition and now serves as law offices and apartments.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good example of the turning point in late 1890s Columbus architecture, pairing a neo-classical porch with a conservative Victorian Gothic body. It is also significant locally as the home of Joseph Harrison and of Carleton B. Gibson, superintendent of Columbus public schools, who was largely responsible for founding Columbus' Industrial High School in 1906.
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 80001175, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 309 11th St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001175 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current use is law office and apartments; condition described as fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46684, -84.98863 (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 80001175.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55613444
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.