Old Hattiesburg High School

Old Hattiesburg High School is a four-story red brick building with steep gable roofs and cast-stone decorative details across its front. The structure also includes tan brick sections added later, creating a visual record of how the building expanded over time.

Robert E. Lee designed this school building in 1911, followed by major expansion work in 1921 as the city's enrollment grew. It operated as the high school until 1959, after which the building passed through different uses before renovation work began following a fire.

Different brick sections mark distinct construction periods within the school, with the red brick portions contrasting against later tan additions. These layers reflect how the building grew alongside changing educational needs in the community.

After a 2007 fire, the building underwent major restoration and now contains 74 apartment units at Preservation Crossing Apartments. The conversion to residential use means the interior is not open to the public, though the historic exterior is visible from the street.

Separate entrance porches marked 'Girls' and 'Boys' survive on the building, reflecting early 20th-century school practices. This spatial separation was a normal part of daily school life back then and shows how educational customs have shifted.

Location: Hattiesburg

Inception: 1911

Architects: Robert E. Lee

Architectural style: Tudor Revival architecture

Floors above the ground: 4

Part of: North Main Street Historic District, Hattiesburg North Main Street Historic District

Address: 846 Main Street

GPS coordinates: 31.32917,-89.29556

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:41