Augusta’s Paine College has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

State officials announced the federal decision Wednesday. The listing actually happened Dec. 26.

Officials said the college is the only known institution of higher education to be established by a biracial board of trustees at a time of racial discord in Georgia. The buildings on the campus retain a high degree of integrity and predominantly reflect the Georgian Revival style of architecture as designed by the Augusta architectural firm of Kuhlke and Wade.

Paine College was founded in 1882 by trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church who believed that education was a means of advancement for freed African-Americans.

The college focuses on educating African-American men and women in a private college setting.

Tags: Paine College, National Register of Historic Places, historic, georgian revival architecture