Rainey, Gertrude Ma Pridgett, House
Also known as: Ma Rainey House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 805 5th Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, is the only known surviving home tied to Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, the Columbus-born singer called the "Mother of the Blues." She bought the property for her mother in 1920, and the house was doubled in size around that time by adding a second floor. It has a side-hall plan, painted weatherboard siding, exposed rafter eaves and a two-story front porch with brick lower columns. Rainey toured nationally and recorded 92 songs for Paramount between 1923 and 1928, writing about 38 of them. She also ran her own booking agency, a rarity in the 1920s. After her mother's death in 1935 and the decline of her career, she returned to this house and lived here until she died in 1939. Her brother stayed until 1975. The City of Columbus purchased the house in 1991 and began restoring it as a museum.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving home associated with Ma Rainey, the Columbus-born "Mother of the Blues," who lived here from 1935 until her death in 1939. The nomination argues for national significance under Criterion B because of her role as a pioneering blues performer, recording artist, songwriter and her own booking agent. It also cites her importance in black history and women's history.
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 92001530, listed November 18, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 805 5th Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | November 18, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001530 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1920-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-Early 20th Century American Movements: Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Black, Social History, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The exterior has been stabilized and rehabilitated, and interior rehabilitation is ongoing to turn the house into a museum; the City of Columbus bought it in 1991. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46123, -84.98656 (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 92001530.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134440136
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.