Since 1859
Our History
Over 165 Years of Stories
The Walter Place is not merely a building — it is a living chronicle of American history. From the ambitions of a railroad president to the footsteps of a future president, from the heartbreak of epidemic to the splendor of Gilded Age society, every room holds a story waiting to be told.
Construction Begins
Colonel Harvey Washington Walter, a prominent lawyer and President of the Mississippi Central Railroad, commissions architect Spires Boling to build a grand mansion on Chulahoma Avenue in Holly Springs. The design weaves Greek Revival grandeur with Gothic Revival drama — four soaring Corinthian columns flanked by crenelated octagonal towers.
The Mansion Is Completed
Walter Place is completed on the eve of the Civil War, making it one of the last great antebellum mansions built in the South. The estate stands as a testament to the architectural ambition of the era, with its portico, lunette windows, and commanding presence on the Holly Springs landscape.
The Civil War Comes to Walter Place
Colonel Walter, opposed to secession, opens the doors of his mansion to Union General Ulysses S. Grant and his family. Julia and Jesse Grant take up residence within these very walls while Grant conducts military operations across Mississippi. When Confederate General Earl Van Dorn raids Holly Springs, the bravery of caretaker Mrs. Pugh Govan helps spare the mansion from destruction.
Tragedy Strikes
During the devastating yellow fever epidemic, Colonel Walter transforms his beloved mansion into a quarantine hospital, one of the few willing to take in the afflicted. He sends his wife and youngest children to safety. That same year, Colonel Walter and three of his sons perish from the disease — a sacrifice that cemented his legacy as a man of extraordinary compassion.
The Johnson Era
Oscar Johnson, Jr. — co-founder of the International Shoe Company and son-in-law to Colonel Walter — purchases the estate. The Johnsons add formal landscape gardens and use the mansion as their summer residence, ushering in an era of Gilded Age elegance.
A Grand Renovation
The Johnsons hire renowned German-born architect Theodore C. Link to remodel the house, blending modern comforts with the mansion's historic character. The estate enters a new chapter of refinement and beauty.
The Lynn Restoration
Mike Lynn, general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, and his wife Jorja acquire the property. They fulfill the vision of former owner Oscar Johnson by adding a walking park with water features and botanical gardens on adjacent property. They also acquire Featherston Place and Polk Place, expanding the estate's footprint.
A New Beginning
The Walter Place is purchased with a vision to restore the mansion to its former glory and open its doors to a new generation. Careful restoration work begins, honoring the craftsmanship of the original builders while preparing the estate for its next chapter as a premier destination for weddings, events, and historic stays.
Where History Meets Modern Elegance
The Walter Place stands once again as a crown jewel of Holly Springs — a living monument to the resilience, beauty, and stories that have unfolded within its walls for over 165 years. Today, it welcomes guests from around the world to experience the magic of this extraordinary estate.
The People
Notable Figures
1819–1878
Col. Harvey Washington Walter
The visionary who built Walter Place. A lawyer, railroad president, and man of deep compassion who sacrificed his life caring for yellow fever patients in his own home.
1822–1885
Ulysses S. Grant
The Union general — and future 18th President of the United States — who resided at Walter Place during the Civil War while conducting military operations in Mississippi.
1865–1939
Dr. Anne Walter Fearn
Colonel Walter's remarkable daughter who defied convention to become a doctor, then spent 40 years in China delivering over 6,000 babies and founding medical institutions.
1851–1916
Oscar Johnson, Jr.
Co-founder of the International Shoe Company who married into the Walter family and transformed the estate with formal gardens and a grand renovation.
Architecture
A Masterwork of Design
Walter Place is a rare fusion of Greek Revival and Gothic Revival architecture — a combination that gives the mansion its distinctive character. The four Corinthian columns speak to classical grandeur, while the crenelated octagonal towers evoke the romance of medieval castles. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983, the mansion is recognized as a contributing property to the Southwest Holly Springs Historic District.