Wynnwood
Also known as: The Elms
Why it's listed
Wynnwood, originally called The Elms, is an ante-bellum house at 1846 Buena Vista Road in Columbus, Georgia. The original section, built in 1834 in a classical style, has Doric columns decorated with acanthus leaves. Lambert Spencer built it after buying the land in 1844. After the Civil War, Lloyd Bowers added two large hexagonal wings in 1868, giving the house the look of octagonal architecture. The wings reflect Jeffersonian influence, uncommon in the Piedmont, and the fashion for octagon houses. Inside, an itinerant painter decorated the ceilings with frescoes, and the floors were laid in black-and-white marble squares. Mrs. Bowers laid out a butterfly-shaped formal garden and planted elms along the front walk. A radio station bought the property in 1966 and turned the rear section into a sound center. The original mantles and frescoes form an antique museum open to visitors daily. The house was listed as an unusual regional example of hexagonal design and a restored community landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an unusual ante-bellum home with one of the most interesting types of hexagonal architecture in the South, a style said to be unique in the Southeast. The wings show Jeffersonian influence and the mid-century fad for octagonal buildings. Its adaptive use as a radio station with a public antique museum is also cited as a good example of a 20th-century use for a historic house.
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 72000396, listed January 20, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1846 Buena Vista Rd., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | January 20, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000396 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1844) |
| Architect / builder | Built by Lambert Spencer; hexagonal wings added in 1868 by Lloyd Bowers I |
| Architectural style | Ante-bellum house with Doric columns and hexagonal wings giving an appearance of octagonal architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Carefully restored and in use as the home of a radio station, with a museum portion open to the public daily; condition marked altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 32.46575, -84.96568 (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 72000396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q134399340
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.