Walker-Peters-Langdon House
.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1828 at 716 Broadway in Columbus, Georgia, this Federal-style cottage is reported to be the oldest house in the city. The lot was bought in July 1828 by Virgil H. Walker, who probably used the house as a town residence. In 1836 it was sold to Mrs. Dicey Peters, who soon added a room behind each front room. At her death in 1849 it passed to her daughter Francis and her husband, William Bronson Langdon, and the Langdon family kept it for about 118 years. The house has a symmetrical, rectangular plan with a central hall, a room on each side, brick chimneys at both ends, a brick foundation, pegged clapboard siding, pine floors, and a walnut front door patterned as a "Cross and Open Bible." Some original handblown window glass survives. It was restored and furnished by the Historic Columbus Foundation, which uses it as its headquarters and as a house museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as the reputedly oldest house in Columbus and as a good example of the regional Federal-style cottage with a symmetrical, central-hall plan. It is tied to the Walker, Peters and Langdon families who owned it. It lies within the local historic district and has been restored as a house museum.
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 69000050, listed July 29, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 716 Broadway, Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | July 29, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000050 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date 1828 |
| Architectural style | Federal Style, regional "cottage" style |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and furnished, in good condition, serving as headquarters of the Historic Columbus Foundation and open to the public as a house museum on weekdays. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Columbus Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.46014, -84.99466 (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 69000050.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134398031
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.