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List of oldest buildings in Alabama facts for kids

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This article attempts to list the oldest extant buildings in the state of Alabama in the United States. Some dates are approximate and based upon dendochronology, architectural studies, and historical records. The area that is now Alabama was originally inhabited by Native Americans. The settlement of Mobile began in 1702 as the first capital of the colony of French Louisiana, and the region was colonized and traded between French, British, Spanish, and American forces during the 1700s. No documented buildings remain standing in the state from this period, though Fort Toulouse has been accurately reconstructed. There is one remaining example nearby, the 1757 french colonial LaPointe-Krebs House in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The oldest existing structures within the state reflect a wave of American settlement into the Tennessee River valley, including the establishment of Huntsville in 1805.

To be listed here a site must:

  • date to Alabama statehood in 1819 or prior; or
  • be the oldest building in a region, large city, or oldest of its type (government building, style, etc.)

List

Building Image Location First built Type Notes
Mississippian Mounds, e.g. Moundville Moundville Archaeological Site Alabama.jpg Throughout state 800–1600 Earthen mounds Though no original Native American buildings remain above ground, a number of constructed platform mounds have been preserved including the 58 ft tall Mound B at the Moundville Site.
Joel Eddins House Joel Eddins House.jpg Huntsville 1808 House The oldest documented building in the state. This European American influenced log cabin was moved from Ardmore, Alabama to its current location at Burritt on the Mountain museum in 2007.
Jude-Crutcher House Jude-Crutcher House Oct 2011 01.jpg Huntsville 1812 House Second oldest building and oldest surviving log dogtrot style house in the state. The breezeway has been enclosed and the exterior is now covered in clapboard. 2132 Winchester Rd NW, Huntsville AL, 35810
Poplar Grove (LeRoy Pope House) Leroy Pope Mansion by Highsmith 01.jpg Huntsville 1813 House The third oldest building in the state, and the oldest masonry building in the state. Constructed by LeRoy Pope, the "Father of Huntsville", and visited by General Andrew Jackson on his return from the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The original federal style facade has seen the later addition of a Greek Revival portico.
Urquhart House Urquhart House March 2013 2.jpg Huntsville 1813 House Tied with Poplar Grove as third oldest building in the state. Vacant. 199 Routt Rd, Toney, Alabama, 35773
Perkins-Winston House VIEW OF FRONT, FACES WEST - Perkins-Orgain-Winston House, 401 Lincoln Street, Huntsville, Madison County, AL HABS ALA,45-HUVI,13-1.tif Huntsville 1815 House Early Huntsville home.
William Reed House Birmingham 1816 House Early homestead. 888 Twin Lake Dr NE Birmingham, AL 35215, United States
Hill of Howth EXTERIOR (REAR VIEW) - Hill of Howth, County Road 19, Boligee, Greene County, AL HABS ALA,32-BOLI.V,1-2.tif Boligee 1816 House Early homestead.
Rev Thomas Newton House Ashville 1817 House Early homestead. Barton Lane, Asheville AL 35953, United States
Lucas Tavern (Old Alabama Town) Montgomery 1818 Tavern/Inn Oldest surviving tavern in the state and the oldest building in the city of Montgomery. It is famous for hosting the Marquis de Lafayette during his 1825 trip through Alabama. Now stands at Old Alabama Town.
John Looney House John Looney House.jpg Ashville 1818 House The oldest two story dogtrot house in the state.
Cedarwood Cedarwood, Greensboro, Hale County, AL HABS ALA,33-GREBO.V,1- (sheet 4 of 6).png Moundville 1818 House Possibly the earliest surviving plantation in the black belt region of Alabama. Restored and relocated to The University of West Alabama in Livingston .
Hickman Cabin (Joseph Wheeler Plantation) Pond Spring Plantation 04.jpg Wheeler 1818 House A log dogtrot home.
Erskine House Huntsville 1818 House Early Huntsville home. 517 Franklin St SE, Huntsville, AL 35801, United States
Phelps-Jones House Phelps-Jones House Oct 2011 02.jpg Huntsville 1818 House Early Huntsville home.
The Molett House
The Molett House 1819
Orrville 1819 House The oldest house in Alabama owned and occupied by the family that built it. It is also documented in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), 1934.
Sadler House Sadler House 7.jpg McCalla 1819 House This home may have originally consisted of an circa 1819 log pen that was later expanded upon.
Weeden House Weeden House July 2010 01.jpg Huntsville 1819 House Early Huntsville home.
McGuire-Strickland House McGuire-Strickland House, Tuscaloosa, AL 2018.jpg Tuscaloosa 1820 House The oldest building in the city of Tuscaloosa.
Goode–Hall House Saunders mansion.jpg Town Creek 1824 House This Tennessee Valley plantation house is one of the deep South's outstanding expressions of Jeffersonian Palladian architecture.
G&J Sutherland Store Historic downtown Tuscumbia, Alabama LCCN2010640298.tif Tuscumbia 1824 Store Possibly the state's oldest surviving commercial building. The white building in the picture, its exterior details have been changed with time.
Masonic Lodge #3 Perdue Hill Masonic Hall 01.jpg Perdue Hill 1824 Courthouse/Masonic Lodge Former courthouse and Masonic lodge originally built in Claiborne, one of early Alabama's largest settlements. Visited and reportedly dedicated by the Marquis de Lafayette in 1825 during his tour of the United States. Moved to its present location in Perdue Hill in 1884.
Indian Springs Baptist Church McWilliams 1825 Church Possibly the state's oldest surviving religious building. Indian Springs Road, Beatrice, AL 36425, United States
Old Rock Jail Coosa County Alabama Jail.JPG Rockford 1825 Jail The state's oldest jail.
Lassiter House Lassiter House 02.JPG Autaugaville 1825 House One of the state's earliest examples of the I-house form.
Vincent-Doan House Vincent-Doan House.jpg Mobile 1827 House The state's oldest surviving example of French colonial influenced architecture and the oldest building in the city of Mobile.
John McMahon House McMahon Home 2013.jpg Courtland 1828 House Architecturally significant example of an early Alabama Federal-style structure that reflects the carryover of Atlantic Seaboard architectural forms introduced by Virginia settlers.
Bride's Hill Bride's Hill, Lawrence County, AL.JPG Wheeler 1828 House Oldest surviving example of a Tidewater-type cottage in Alabama. Vacant.
Dancy-Polk House Dancy-Polk House June 2013 2.jpg Decatur 1829 House Oldest building in the city of Decatur.
Collins-Marston House Collins-Marston House 01.JPG Mobile 1832 House Possibly the state's oldest surviving example of a creole cottage style house.
Old State Bank Old State Bank Decatur July 2010 02.jpg Decatur 1833 Bank The first state bank and oldest bank building in the state.
Barton Academy Barton Academy by Highsmith.jpg Mobile 1836 School The first public school in the state of Alabama.
Somerville Courthouse Somerville Courthouse Feb 2012 02.jpg Somerville 1837 Courthouse The oldest surviving masonry courthouse in the state. The structure bears much resemblance to the first Alabama state house, once located in Cahawba.
Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens Arlington Place 02.jpg Birmingham 1845 House The oldest building in the city of Birmingham.
Langdon Hall Langdon Hall.jpg Auburn 1846 Church The oldest building in the city of Auburn.
Old Shelby County Courthouse OldShelbyCountyCourthouse.jpg Columbiana 1854 Courthouse Original courthouse for the county of Shelby County, replaced by a larger marble courthouse in 1908. The structure still stands and is currently the Shelby County Museum and Archives.
Bryce Hospital Bryce State Hospital Tuscaloosa Alabama USA.jpg Tuscaloosa 1861 Mental Health Institution Alabama's first and oldest state mental health facility.
Rickwood Field Rickwood Field.jpg Birmingham 1910 Baseball park The oldest surviving professional baseball park in the United States.

Demolished early Alabama buildings

Issac Bett House, Burnt Corn Alabama

The existing house once located at 308 Conti Street (now moved) in Mobile may contain portions of a 1796 structure.

Sandy Hill Plantation

The Oaks

Shelby Hotel

See also

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List of oldest buildings in Alabama Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.