At the turn of the century, Downtown was the geographical center of Hattiesburg, literally the hub of the rapidly growing new city. In the late 1890s a disastrous fire swept the downtown, destroying wood frame buildings. Downtown was rebuilt in masonry materials in designs crafted by noted architects, with Downtown soon becoming known for its high-style architecture. By 1910 Downtown was connected by streetcar service with the residential districts developing around it. Lines ran to the new educational centers, William Carey College and Mississippi Normal College (University of Southern Mississippi).

Today the streetcars are gone, and downtown is no longer the geographical center of the city. Designated as the Hub City Historic District in 1980, however, established its position as the historic heart of the city. This National Register listing provides recognition of the symbolic and functional roles the district serves regarding the municipality. More than any other area of the city, the downtown represents the community as a whole and serves as "everybody's neighborhood," connecting the residential historic districts that surround downtown.

The following is an architectural sampling of Downtown Hattiesburg.

Forrest County Courthouse Building

Forrest County Court Building
200 W. Pine Street
Also called the Old Federal Building, erected in 1910 and listed individually with the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The building is Neo-Classical Revival in style, with elements including a symmetrical facade with recessed entry and full-height columns. The roof is low-pitched in the classical mode and has wide overhangs with decorative brackets.

Historic LibraryHattiesburg Cultural Center
723 Main Street
Built in 1929-30 in the Italian Renaissance style, the two-story brick seven-by-three bay building has a hip roof of red tiles. The main entrance is on the 2nd floor, and the round arch bays at this level feature keystones. It now serves as the Hattiesburg Cultural Center. The building is a Mississippi Landmark structure.
Hattiesburg City Hall

Hattiesburg City Hall
200 Forrest Street
The Hattiesburg City Hall was built in 1923 and is one of the city's important Neo-Classical Revival style downtown buildings designed by Robert E. Lee. The building is a Mississippi Landmark structure.

Hattiesburg I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 27Hattiesburg I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 27
119 E. Front Street, The Oddfellows Building
Built in 1907, this building is one of the significant downtown structures of Neo-Classical Revival style designed by Robert E. Lee.

 

 
 

Hattiesburg DepotHattiesburg Intermodal Center (Depot)
The historic landmark depot, built in 1910 in Italian Renaissance style. This recently restored facility will celebrate 100 years of service to the community next year.  Currently, the building is  used as a premier location for downtown events.
 
 

Masonic TempleForrest County Justice Court Center
700 Main Street
designed by Robert E. Lee and built in 1919 in Neo-Classical Revival style, the former Masonic Temple has been renovated to serve as the Forrest County Justice Court Center. This project was assisted with a Mississippi Community Heritage Preservation Grant from the Department of Archives and History.
 
 

The Saenger TheaterThe Saenger Theater
201 Forrest Street
The theatre was built in 1928-29. It is one of several buildings in the district of Art Deco Style. An elegant 1,000 seat movie palace, it was renovated in 1976 to accommodate performing arts. The theater features its original pipe organ. In November of 2000, the Saenger opened its doors again after the completion of a $3.5 million restoration project.  Now celebrating 80 years of entertainment.
 

Ross BuildingThe Ross Building
207 E. Front Street
Built in 1907, this five-story corner building with round-arch corner entrances is embellished with cast iron cornices with dentils and pillar capitals composed of geometric Wright/Prairie style motifs. The building is currently for sale.

 

McLeod HouseMcLeod House
802 Main Street
This building is among the few surviving residential structures in the Hub City Historic District. A landmark in the city since its construction in 1896-97, this two-and one-half story frame house exhibits all the decorative details that make this style and type truly the "queen" of Victorian homes. Renovated in 1985, it is now an office.