9 Southern United States Towns Where Time Stands Still
Bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America), the Southern United States is an incredible region known for its cuisine, hospitality, cultural diversity, and rich musical heritage, being the birthplace of blues, jazz, and country music. All of these features are associated with the region today because of its role in history, as the oldest inhabited and explored part of what became the United States. While different parts of the present country had been inhabited for thousands of years by Native tribes, Europeans shaped much of its recent history, and as early as 1565, a settlement located right on the Atlantic coast was set up by the Spanish and is now celebrated as the oldest of its kind still existing today. A few years later, the English and other Europeans followed suit, establishing their own settlements.
This long-running history is why today, the Southern United States boasts a large concentration of towns that seem frozen in time. From St. Augustine, Florida, to Williamsburg, Virginia, these towns have kept their historic integrity over centuries of war and extreme weather, among other challenges. It truly feels like traveling back in time in these historic towns in the Southern United States.
Natchez, Mississippi
Named after the Natchez Indians who inhabited the area long before the arrival of the Europeans, Natchez is a historic gem on the Mississippi River that seems frozen in time. The oldest town in Mississippi, it was established in 1716, and invites visitors today to walk through its historic downtown to admire centuries-old structures, from the 1857 Greek Revival-style Stanton Hall to the St. Mary Basilica, a spectacular church built in 1882. The Rosalie Mansion and Gardens is also in downtown Natchez and represents another one of the finest structures ever built in Mississippi. Visitors will particularly love this mansion as it was built in 1823, and inspired many of the town’s Greek Revival structures with its elegant design.
A short distance east of this mansion sits the Natchez National Historical Park, where one can learn more about the history of Natchez, from its early days as a French stronghold to everyday life in antebellum Natchez. A notable structure in the park includes Melrose, a sprawling 15,000 square feet mansion, and one of the best-preserved Greek Revival structures in the Southern United States. For a break from the historic attractions, Biscuits & Blues beckons. This casual tavern, located right at the heart of town, serves delicious Southern dishes, like gumbo and barbecue, often complemented with live blues and jazz performances, particularly on weekends.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is an incredibly unique town in Texas, where time seemed to have stood still since 1846, when it was founded by German immigrants. This is because walking through the town today feels like traveling through time, as its streets are still lined with age-old structures, one of which is the Vereins Kirche. A replica of the original 1847 building, the oldest public building in Fredericksburg, this octagonal structure was inspired by German architecture and is worth visiting today. More historic attractions to check out in the town include the 1885 Historic Old Jail, which offers a glimpse into local incarceration through the years, and the Rathskeller. Located in the basement of a 1800s rock building, this restaurant promises a culinary journey to Germany, with its menu full of German food, alongside American dishes, and a good selection of wine and beer.
In the meantime, the Pioneer Museum is just a few steps away, offering a detailed look at the pioneer history of the Texas Hill Country. Covering a 3-acre area, this museum features over 10 historic buildings, with artifacts detailing the lives of pioneers. Among these buildings is the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department Museum, which displays early 20th-century firefighting equipment. Just outside town, the Old Tunnel State Park offers a respite from the history with activities such as hiking a nature trail through woodlands and watching for bats, especially between May and October when millions find sanctuary in the tunnel.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is a unique town in the Ozark Mountains, where time must have been put on hold for over a century, perhaps by those who settled in the area in 1879 after the discovery of springs believed to have healing powers. Exploring this town today feels like a journey through a 19th-century Victorian settlement, full of historic landmarks, including the Crescent Hotel, one of the most popular in Arkansas. Built in 1886, this Victorian-style resort offers more than just excellent accommodations, but a pleasant spa experience, fine dining, ghost tours, and beautiful views of the town and the surrounding forests.
Meanwhile, downtown Eureka Springs is a delight to stroll through with its winding, steep streets choked with cozy local establishments, like the Main Street Cafe, which serves a variety of American food, such as omelets and country-fried steak. For lovers, Eureka Springs also has plenty of things to offer, including the Lake Leatherwood City Park. This park features an 85-acre spring-fed lake open for fishing and boating, alongside 25 miles of trails, cabins, and RV sites.
Jonesborough, Tennessee
The oldest town in Tennessee is, without doubt, one of the noteworthy historic gems in the Southern United States, which seems frozen in time. Founded in 1779, 17 years before Tennessee became a state, Jonesborough has come a long way and promises to delight history buffs with its cobblestone streets and ages-old structures, most of which are within the Jonesborough Historic District. Notable among these structures is the Chester Inn, a Federal-style building built in 1797 and famous for its nickname “the finest inn on the Western Frontier.” Today, the inn is a museum with exhibits about the town’s earliest days, including a diorama of Jonesborough in the 1850s.
Beyond the history, Jonesobrough promises to excite travelers with attractions such as the Tennessee Hills Distillery, which offers a wide selection of liquor from whiskey to rum, gin, and more. Notably, this town is known as the storytelling capital of the World, and is home to the International Storytelling Center. This attraction is a worthy place to spend time, as it is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of storytelling, with its performance theater, souvenirs, and the three-day National Storytelling Festival, held each year on the first full weekend in October.
St. Augustine, Florida
Famous as the oldest continuously inhabited town in the US, St. Augustine feels truly stuck in time. Founded in 1565 by the Spanish, this town still evokes the feeling of a colonial territory, with its brick streets and centuries-old structures, reflecting Spanish Renaissance and Victorian architectural styles, among others. Walking through St. George Street, the town’s famous pedestrian-only route, particularly feels like a trip back in time, as the street was first established in the 1700s, and is lined with original structures, including the Oldest Wooden School House, dating to the early 1700s.
Meanwhile, the town’s waterfront proudly hosts one of America’s historic treasures, Castillo De San Marcos. Overlooking Matanzas Bay, this masonry fort is the oldest in the US, and the only structure that survived the destruction of the city by English forces in 1702. Today, the fort is open for tours and hosts live demonstrations on weekends.
Additionally, St. Augustine boasts attractions dedicated to offering a comprehensive look at the town’s history, including the Medieval Torture Museum, where curious minds can enjoy an interactive journey into the world of medieval punishment. Beyond the historic allure, St. Augustine hosts a couple of natural attractions, including the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, which also turns out to be one of the state’s oldest attractions, founded in 1893. This park is a great place to spend time with a wide variety of wildlife, from dozens of crocodilian species to mammals and birds.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Founded in 1699, Williamsburg is one of the oldest towns in the United States that still feels like an 18th-century English colony today. Notably, this town is home to Colonial Williamsburg, the largest living history museum in America, featuring dozens of recreated or restored buildings from the 18th century alongside costumed actors depicting daily life in the 1700s when Williamsburg was the capital of the Virginia colony. Exploring this history museum is one of the coolest experiences ever, as it is a chance to witness 18th-century clothing and craftsmanship, such as blacksmithing and woodworking. Plus, the museum is home to several historic structures, including the Governor’s Palace, which once served as the official residence of the governors of Colonial Virginia.
Meanwhile, across Williamsburg are more historic attractions worth exploring, from William & Mary, America’s second-oldest college, established in 1693, to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, notable as the world’s oldest museum dedicated to American folk art. And just outside town, one will be met with Historic Jamestowne, the site of the first permanent English settlement in what became the United States of America. This site is a must-visit while in the area to see the ruins of the original settlement, including the restored 17th-century Jamestown Church.
St. Marys, Georgia
St. Marys is more than just a charming coastal town near the Atlantic Ocean that serves as the gateway to Cumberland Island. Located on the St. Marys River, this town is also one of the most historic destinations in Georgia, founded in 1787. Over the next hundreds of years after its establishment, the town served as a bustling port and a strategic military location, and today it is an exciting tourist destination where it feels as if time stood still.
This is because it is full of historic architecture, courtesy of its many surviving structures, including the 1808 St. Marys First Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest churches in Georgia and a fine example of early tidewater architecture. This church is located in the downtown historic district, where even more exciting attractions can be found, like the Submarine Museum, the largest of its kind in the Southern United States. Covering an area of nearly 5,000 square feet, the museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of the Submarine force, with a large collection of artifacts that include submarine uniforms, World War II patrol reports, and other documentation, plus exhibits such as a working periscope and models made from real submarines.
In addition to the history, St. Marys boasts a few natural attractions, one of which is the Crooked River State Park. Located just outside the downtown area, this park offers opportunities to camp and hike amidst moss-drapped oaks, boat, and watch for birds and other wildlife. St. Marys is also the departure point to Cumberland Island, Georgia’s largest barrier island, full of pleasant attractions from a variety of coastal habitats and wildlife, to historic structures like the 1884 Dungeness Ruins, once the sprawling home of an affluent family.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
If, like in the movies, one could step into a machine and travel decades back in time, there is a good chance that this town looks almost as it does now in the 1800s, when it hosted a federal armory. First founded in 1763, Harpers Ferry looks like a fairy tale 19th-century settlement as it is lined with structures from the 1800s, including the St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, which was built in 1833, and is one of the few remaining buildings in town that survived the Civil War. The church is a must-visit if only to admire the stunning Neo-Gothic architecture and soak in breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and the Potomac River.
Moreover, the town is part of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, which is loaded with more historic attractions, including John Brown’s Fort, which preserves the history of John Brown’s failed mission to start a slave rebellion. In the meantime, Harpers Ferry is a haven for hiking, and the Maryland Heights Overlook Trail is one of its best trails. This trail is 4.5 miles and winds through the wooded areas, and leads to an overlook with jaw-dropping views of the Potomac River and the Lower Town.
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg is one of the most charming towns in the Southern United States, where history comes alive. Established in 1774 as Kentucky’s first town and the first permanent settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains, this town is a paradise for history buffs. It features a historic downtown with a large concentration of 19th-century structures, including the Morgan Row Museum, famous as the oldest of its kind in Kentucky, built in the early 1800s.
Beyond the historic architecture, Harrodsburg is home to Old Fort Harrod State Park, a 15-acre area where the history of the first permanent settlement in the Allegheny Mountains is preserved. This park features a replica of the fort built in the area in 1774 by James Harrod, alongside cabins and blockhouses containing artifacts, including furniture, crude tools, handmade utensils, and other things used by pioneers. Notably, the park hosts the Mansion Museum, a Greek Revival-style home filled with Civil War and Native American artifacts. Just a few steps from this park is Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, one of the town’s numerous local establishments worth visiting. This restaurant is highly rated and offers honey-dipped chicken, alongside fish, sandwiches, and other comfort dishes.
Meanwhile, just 10 minutes outside town, the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is another beloved attraction and home to one of the largest Shaker communities in the US. Established in 1805, the historic village now includes dozens of 19th-century buildings, alongside an active farm, and a historic center containing artifacts highlighting the area’s history.
Time Travel In These Southern Towns
As it turns out, time travel is possible in the 21st century, albeit only in these towns in the Southern United States. In these towns, multiple worlds come together, with ages-old features that refuse to give way to modern innovations. One could be in a centuries-old house in one of these Southern towns, savoring a delicious meal prepared just minutes ago. That mix of experiences from different times is something not many places offer, and why these destinations are unique. Head to these towns today and travel across timelines without stepping into any experimental time machine.
