Chalmers Institute

The Chalmers Institute is a two-story building with a hip roof located on West Chulahoma Avenue in Holly Springs, Mississippi, displaying Federal-style architecture from the early 1800s. The structure shows typical features of that period with solid proportions and preserved details that reflect its original purpose as an educational building.

The building was established as the University of Holly Springs in 1838, making it Mississippi's first university, but it closed just a year later. It survived the yellow fever outbreak of 1878 and afterward passed through various educational hands before eventually becoming a private home.

The building housed different schools that changed hands over time, serving Methodist, Presbyterian, and other educational missions. Its spaces reveal how the community invested in learning and adapted these buildings to meet changing educational needs.

The building is easy to locate on West Chulahoma Avenue and can be viewed from the street, making it a pleasant stop during a walk through town. Visitors should know that it is a private residence, so access to the interior is not available to the public.

The building was once the first university building in Mississippi and fills an important gap in the state's educational history. Its significance as a pioneering institution is less known today than its later roles as schools and a residence.

Location: Holly Springs

Inception: 1837

Architectural style: Federal architecture

Address: West Chulahoma Avenue

GPS coordinates: 34.76694,-89.45694

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21