Most People Don’t Know About These Strange Ruins Hiding In Mississippi
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published May 31, 2018
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
The Windsor Ruins are by far the most famous ruins in Mississippi, but they’re not the only ruins in the state. Just off the Natchez Trace Parkway, lies another set of strange looking ruins. Brimming with history, the dilapidated structure is all the remains of Elizabeth Female Academy – the South’s 1st institution of higher learning for women. Take a look:
Located at milepost 5.1, the ruins of Elizabeth Female Academy is the first stop on the Natchez Trace.
It’s also revered by some as the first to offer degrees to women; however, this fact is disputed by some scholars, who claim it was a secondary preparatory school, and that Georgia’s Wesleyan College was the first to offer degrees to women.
Prior to Elizabeth Female Academy opening its doors in November of 1818, many young women attended Jefferson College, which was opened in 1811.
Elizabeth Female Academy operated successfully for several decades. Eventually, however, the school had trouble finding students and had to close its doors in 1845.
Ready to explore these historic ruins? Elizabeth Female Academy is located on the Natchez Trace Parkway at milepost 5.1. For more information, click here.
So, did you know about this site? Ever visited? Tell us in the comments section!
