3 MS buildings stand out as some of the ‘most beautiful’ in the US, survey says. Here’s where
Three public buildings in Mississippi are among the “most beautiful, underrated” buildings in the United States, according to a recent ranking by Love vs. Design, a stationary design company.
From classical, Mediterranean and Romanesque design elements to Beaux-Arts styles, these unique buildings are tucked away in small and medium-sized towns across the Magnolia State.
Here’s which buildings made the list and where you can find them.
Most beautiful MS buildings
Tippah County Courthouse in Ripley
Nearly 100 years old, the Tippah County Courthouse in Ripley is one of the prettiest public buildings in the country, ranks #87 on the list of 133 buildings, according to Love vs. Design.
The eccentric building includes Classical and Mediterranean design elements, including a triangular pediment and two columns framing the entrance.
“Its most distinctive features are the sculpted figures of World War I soldiers standing atop columns in front of the arched entrance loggias on the east and west façades,” according to the Mississippi Department of Archives & History.
The courthouse is a designated Mississippi Landmark, according to the MDAH.
Address: 205 W Spring St., Ripley, MS 38663
Meridian City Hall (Historic Section) in Meridian
The Meridian City Hall ranks #110 on Love vs. Design’s list of beautiful buildings in the U.S. The building, faced in granite and terracotta, was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Meridian-based architect P.J. Krouse and built in 1915, according to the Society of Architectural Historians Archipedia.
Address: 1860 24th Ave., Meridian, MS 39301
Old Courthouse Museum and Archives Library in Iuka
Built in 1870, the Old Courthouse Museum is the #111 building on Love vs. Design’s ranking. The design of the building is Romanesque with Second Empire influences, according to the museum’s website.
It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Mississippi Historical Landmark, according to the museum.
Address: 203 East Quitman St., Iuka, MS 38852
But it’s not all charm and awe when it comes to public buildings in Mississippi — the state is also home to one of the top five “ugliest” buildings in the U.S., located in Pascagoula, about 20-miles southeast of Biloxi, according to a RE/MAX ranking published in July, the Sun Herald reported.
Most beautiful buildings in US
Some most beautifully designed public buildings in the country can be found in unexpected places — including small towns from Arkansas to Hawaii.
These are the top 10 “most beautiful, yet underrated” public buildings in the U.S., according to the survey by Love vs. Design.
1. Hot Springs National Park Administration Building in Hot Springs, Arkansas
2. Wailuku Public Library - Wailuku Civic Center Historic District in Wailuku, Hawaii
3. Museum of Art Fort Collins in Fort Collins, Colorado
4. Old Fayette County Courthouse in Lexington, Kentucky
5. Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver, Washington
6. New Castle Court House Museum in New Castle, Delaware
7. Riverside County Historic Courthouse in Riverside, California
8. Pueblo County Courthouse in Pueblo, Colorado
9. Hilo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Hilo Island, Hawaii
10. Sarasota County Courthouse in Sarasota, Florida
How did stationary design company come up with ranking?
Love vs. Design surveyed 3,014 people to come up with a list of 133 buildings, according to the survey.
