Bedingfield Inn
Also known as: See Also:Lumpkin Commercial Historic District
Why it's listed
Bedingfield Inn is a two-story, weatherboarded building with a hip roof, seven bays and a double portico with square columns, standing on Cotton Street across from the town square in Lumpkin, Georgia. Dr. Bryan N. Bedingfield, a prosperous physician who also worked as a surveyor and storekeeper, built it around 1836 as both his family home and a stagecoach inn. Its location made it a convenient stopping place for travelers between Americus, Georgia, and Eufaula, Alabama, and a hub of local commercial and community life. The design is described as a simplified rural version of Classical Revival style, similar to other hip-roofed frame houses with central double porches in Georgia. Over the years the building served as a photographer's studio, millinery shop, boarding house, apartments and offices. Restored in 1965, it now hosts civic meetings and operates as a museum furnished to suggest an 1840 stagecoach inn.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a good example of how Classical Revival style was adapted in rural Georgia, with a hip roof and central double square-columned porch. It was also a center of commercial and community activity for travelers between Americus, Georgia, and Eufaula, Alabama. Its varied later uses and 1965 restoration as a museum add to its interest.
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 73000643, listed May 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cotton St., Lumpkin |
|---|---|
| County | Stewart County |
| Listed | May 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000643 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c.1836) |
| Architect / builder | Dr. Bryan N. Bedingfield (builder/owner) |
| Architectural style | Rural version of Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; restored in 1965 and used as a meeting place for civic groups and as a museum of early travel accommodations. Located on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lumpkin Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.05074, -84.79542 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 73000643.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q87816914
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.