Lion House
About this property
The Lion House, also known as the Hoxey–Cargill House, is a historic building in Columbus, Georgia. The building, located in the High Uptown Historic District, was built in the 1840s and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The building was constructed sometime in the 1840s for Dr. Thomas Hoxey, a local physician, with Stephen D. Button of Philadelphia serving as the building's architect. The name "Lion House" comes from the two statues of Nubian lions near the building's front entrance. The architectural style of the building is considered Greek Revival with Egyptian influences. The basement of the building housed the entrance to a now closed-in secret tunnel, which is believed to have led to either the Chattahoochee River or an old hotel in the area. During the American Civil War, it is speculated that mules were hidden in the tunnel. In March 1934, the building was documented as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey. During World War II, many historic houses in the area were either demolished or converted to commercial properties, and around this time the Lion House was converted to an office building. After this, the building was divided into 9 apartments, and by the early 1980s the building was a location for prostitution, serving as a "trick house." A 1980 article in the Ledger-Enquirer described how the building had decayed, stating that, “The grandeur of [the Lion House’s] entrance is mocked… by abandoned appliances, occasional “rent due” notices and a chandelier with only a few light bulbs.” In October 1986, a fire destroyed the building's roof and severely damaged the top floor. In total, the fire caused approximately $90,000 in damages. Shortly after this, the building was donated to the Historic Columbus Foundation, which began repairing the property the following year. In February 1995, the building was sold to a private owner who restored the building to its current condition. Today, tours are given of the building. On January 20, 1972, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building is also a contributing property to the NRHP-listed High Uptown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places listings in Muscogee County, Georgia Media related to Lion House (Columbus, Georgia) at Wikimedia Commons
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Lion House
This page lists Lion House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Lion House listed on the National Register?
Lion House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 20, 1972.
What type of historic resource is Lion House?
Lion House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Lion House?
The period of significance for Lion House is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Lion House?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Lion House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Muscogee County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Muscogee County.
Explore MuscogeeCounty ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Lion House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.