Columbus, Miss. — While many Southern towns open the doors of their mansions for tours once a year, Columbus keeps the welcome mat out year-round.

That's just one thing that sets the city apart. And perhaps it's one reason the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Columbus one of its 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

"Columbus will surprise you with its diverse and abundant cultural resources," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust. "As one of the best kept secrets in the state of Mississippi, it is an unrivaled destination for anyone who enjoys Southern architecture, savors down-home cooking and seeks an escape to the great outdoors."

Because Columbus was a "hospital town," during the Civil War, its homes were not burned, explained Yvonne Sanders of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

As a result, the town has three National Register Historic Districts with 676 properties, including antebellum and Victorian homes, and Friendship Cemetery, said to be the site of the first Memorial Day celebration.

The city is home to Mississippi University for Women, one of the oldest public colleges for women in the United States, with 23 National Register properties.

The city also offers tours of landmarks that showcase the remarkable impact of the African-American community. This tour includes Catfish Alley, a central business district for African-Americans during the late 19th century; Concord CME Church, one of the oldest churches in Columbus (dating to 1867); and the Robert Walker Home Site, where Walker was trained as a butler before becoming one of the first African-Americans to own and operate a hotel.

Because there is so much to see in Columbus, it's best to have a plan. A visit to the city should start at what Sanders described as "the hub," the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center. The center is in the first home of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and native son of Columbus.

The Welcome Center, in addition to introducing visitors to Williams and his career, also is the spot to buy tickets to tours and attractions. The center is open 8:30a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. It's at 300 Main St.

IF YOU GO

Getting there

Columbus, Miss., is about 260 miles from Atlanta, about a four-hour, 20-minute drive.

Information

Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.columbus-ms.org, 1-800-327-2686.