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www.perrycountyalabamachamber.com
University of West Alabama. West of University
Alabama Department of Transportation, and and Transportation, of Department Alabama
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Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, 1991, of Act Efficiency Transportation Surface
alblackbeltheritage.org
1-1/2” program established under the Intermodal Intermodal the under established program
205.652.3497, www. 205.652.3497, of Transportation National Scenic Byways Byways Scenic National Transportation of
Livingston, AL 35470 AL Livingston, This project is funded by the US Department Department US the by funded is project This
Myatt House/Billy Milstead House/Billy Myatt
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We invite you to explore them all! all! them explore to you invite We
Where the stories are as rich as the land the as rich as are stories the Where
University of West West of University HERITAGE AREA HERITAGE
BLACK BELT BLACK
Study of the Black Belt, Belt, Black the of Study
and education institutions. institutions. education and
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in 1832, to beautiful antebellum homes homes antebellum beautiful to 1832, in
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architecture—from our old city hall, built built hall, city old our architecture—from
Belt Heritage Heritage Belt
unique examples of Marion’s historic historic Marion’s of examples unique ALABAMA Alabama Black Black Alabama
remarkable history of “College City.” “College of history remarkable
Judson College. Each district includes includes district Each College. Judson CSBB Stamp CSBB Logo CSBB
www.perrycountyalabamachamber.com
Square, Green Street, West Marion, and and Marion, West Street, Green Square,
four historic districts to explore the the explore to districts historic four
height. Only for uses that require the inclusion of a smaller graphic, please use the CSBB stamp. CSBB the use please graphic, smaller a of inclusion the require that uses for Only height.
334.683.9622 36756, Alabama
Black Belt communications. The CSBB logo should not reproduced at any dimensions less than 1” in width or or width in 1” than less dimensions any at reproduced not should logo CSBB The communications. Belt Black
historic districts: Marion Courthouse Courthouse Marion districts: historic
The graphics below, CSBB logo (left) and CSBB stamp (right) should be used for all Center for the Study of the the of Study the for Center all for used be should (right) stamp CSBB and (left) logo CSBB below, graphics The
Take a walk through Marion’s Marion’s through walk a Take
1293 Washington Street, Marion, Marion, Street, Washington 1293
will guide you through four distinct distinct four through you guide will
CSBB Graphics Usage Graphics CSBB
of Commerce of
The accompanying map and site details details site and map accompanying The
Perry County Chamber Chamber County Perry
Take a walk through Marion’s history. history. Marion’s through walk a Take
Brave Harry’s Gravesite/Billy Milstead Gravesite/Billy Harry’s Brave
rich as the land. the as rich
of the Civil Rights Bill. Bill. Rights Civil the of
Welcome to Alabama’s Black Belt, where the stories are as as are stories the where Belt, Black Alabama’s to Welcome
Alabama Military Hall of Honor Museum/Billy Milstead Museum/Billy Honor of Hall Military Alabama
helped prompt changes that led to passage passage to led that changes prompt helped
development of community capacity. capacity. community of development late 1950s and ‘60s, events in Marion Marion in events ‘60s, and 1950s late
a better quality of life for residents through education and and education through residents for life of quality better a
recently, during the Civil Rights era of the the of era Rights Civil the during recently,
marketing of unique cultural and natural assets, and to create create to and assets, natural and cultural unique of marketing
from both armies rest side by side. More More side. by side rest armies both from
Black Belt region through the preservation, interpretation, and and interpretation, preservation, the through region Belt Black
nearby cemetery of St. Wilfrid’s, soldiers soldiers Wilfrid’s, St. of cemetery nearby
Alabama. Our mission is to shape a sustainable future for the the for future sustainable a shape to is mission Our Alabama.
Confederate and Union Soldiers. In the the In Soldiers. Union and Confederate Center for the Study of the Black Belt at the University of West West of University the at Belt Black the of Study the for Center
College served as a hospital for both both for hospital a as served College The Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area is administered by The The by administered is Area Heritage Belt Black Alabama The
During the Civil War, Marion’s Howard Howard Marion’s War, Civil the During
of stunning natural beauty. beauty. natural stunning of
Alabama. Here, rich human history entwines with a landscape landscape a with entwines history human rich Here, Alabama.
many of which continue to grace our city. our grace to continue which of many
Heritage Area encompasses 19 counties across south-central south-central across counties 19 encompasses Area Heritage
schools, and other community facilities— community other and schools,
Named for its dark, fertile soil, the Alabama Black Belt Belt Black Alabama the soil, fertile dark, its for Named
built homes, businesses, churches, churches, businesses, homes, built
Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area Heritage Belt Black Alabama
grew over the coming decades as settlers settlers as decades coming the over grew Lockhart Ham House/Billy Milstead House/Billy Ham Lockhart
established in 1819, the city of Marion Marion of city the 1819, in established
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shaped community life here. here. life community shaped
Tombigbee River Tombigbee
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Camden
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Roland Cooper SP Cooper Roland
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institutions—including slavery—that slavery—that institutions—including 197
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Union Springs Union LOWNDES Chilatchee SP Chilatchee
Hayneville
MARENGO
5 51
156
BULLOCK
110 Alabama River Alabama
DALLAS
CHOCTAW 114
41
66
MACON Linden
with them skills, values, and cultural cultural and values, skills, them with
Historic Walking Tour Walking Historic 22 80
25
Montgomery
17
Chickasaw SP Chickasaw 140 Cahaba River Cahaba
Selma
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Woodruff Lake Woodruff
85 28
Alabama River Alabama
Tuskegee
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Demopolis Lake Demopolis
49 York Mississippi
Tuskegee National Forest National Tuskegee
and rich Black Belt soil. They brought brought They soil. Belt Black rich and Demopolis 199
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Livingston Livingston 82
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Greensboro 29
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Talladega National Forest National Talladega
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17
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National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife National
20 Eutaw
280 settlers flooded into this region, drawn drawn region, this into flooded settlers Lake Gainesville US Army Corps of Engineers of Corps Army US
60 231 State Park State
National Forest National
65 39
Historic Trail and All-American Road All-American and Trail Historic
GREENE
Selma to Montgomery National National Montgomery to Selma
Trail State Scenic Byway Scenic State Trail
officially incorporated Alabama Territory, Territory, Alabama incorporated officially 32
82 Sipsey River Sipsey Black Belt Nature and Heritage Heritage and Nature Belt Black
20 Canebrake Scenic Byway Scenic Canebrake
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State
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Portal Kiosks Portal Carrollton
86
PICKENS
459
East Loop East
Central Loop Central 43
159 82 West Loop - Canebrake - Loop West
Welcome to Marion to Welcome Tombigbee - Loop West
Legend Birmingham
51 5 52 20 Davis St Cornelia St Cornelia St 14 Davis St
29
West St 183
Eutaw St Eutaw
Graham St Graham Aurelia St Aurelia St Centreville
Clements St Thompson St Tutwiler Rd 14 29 M. L. King Memorial Parkway Sprott St Washing 21 Ford Dr Patton St Edwards St
ton St 32 6 19 Edwards St Monroe St 36 28 Spring St Jackson 42 30 31 33 26 Green St Brown 27 Green St 23 14 45 Jefferson St
Phelan St Phelan 46 Cat St NW St Cat
CollinAve Midnight Cat St NW St Cat Midnight Lafayette St Lafayette St 18 2 H.G. Williams Ct 37 22 38 Early St 7 9 Moore St
8 St Curb Troupe St 10 St South Smith St Smith East St Dekalb St Sewer 16 5 39
Alabama St Plant Rd Clay St Clay St 45
17 35 Mason St Bibb St Bibb
Margin St Margin King St
Seal St Church St Church Hubbard Dr Hubbard 49 Lincoln St Reed St
Perry St Perry Tubbs St 11 1 St Polk Barbwire St 5 Kelly St 15 Wilkerson Dr Lee St Lee 13 14 Booker St Booker GroveGilbert St St Craig Dr College St Green Street District Judson College District Murfee St
Hanna St West Marion District Marion Courthouse Square District Lincoln Park Rd Cr Brooks
Fairway Childs St Childs Delia Ln Delia Prier Dr St Washington 3 Carol St Delia St 33
45 Catherine Ellen St
Dr Rd Valley 30 Fikes Ferry RdMarion Shivers Ter
Prier Dr Circle 5 25 Gravesite of “Harry the Slave” (Audio Tour Gravesite of Albert Turner, Sr. (Audio Tour #26) Audio Tour Instructions #27) – (Marion Cemetery) Harry, a servant of the – (Highway 14 West, Approximately 7 miles) A leader in Audio tours are available for each of the listed sites by phone or by the internet to enhance your visit. Dial president of Howard College, is buried in the Marion the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Albert Turner, Sr. 334.526.3061 on your phone and follow the instructions to hear more details about each site. You may also City Cemetery. He gave his live saving students in an was an ally of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visit www.perrycountyalabamachamber.com/discover to listen and learn about more sites in Perry County. 1854 dormitory fire on the Howard College campus. Gravesite of Jimmy Lee Jackson (Audio Tour Disclaimer: Please do not request entry into private residences and property of the owners. Gravesite of Idella Jones Childs (Audio Tour #29) – (Highway 14 East, Approximately 5 miles) Jimmy #28) – (Marion Cemetery) – Idella Childs was dedicated Lee Jackson was a victim of the civil rights struggle of the Lovelace-Lewis-Hunter House (Audio Tour #38) The West Marion Historic District to preserving the legacy of Lincoln School and was a 1960s. – (303 West Lafayette Street) Built circa 1840 by John The original sites of Howard College (now Samford promoter of the arts. University), Marion Military Institute, and Lincoln Huntington, son of the Revolutionary War veteran Roswell The Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center Huntington. School (birthplace of Alabama State University) are Wiley-Gibbs-Harris House (Audio Tour #39) (Audio Tour #52) – (Highway 175 East, Approximately here, as well as Siloam Baptist Church and many – (106 Convenient Street) A Greek Revival home built 4 miles) Created by the Alabama Department of Tailbird-Billingsley-Waites House (Audio Tour antebellum homes, including Lockett-Martin, where around 1838. Attached to the house is the building Conservation and Natural Resources in 2005, it is the #49) – (South Washington Street) This Greek Revival the first Confederate flag was sewn. which once served as headquarters of The Alabama largest state-run, non-game recovery program of its kind. home was built in 1852 by Dr. Henry Tailbird, the second Baptist State Convention. Along with the only remaining The Center addresses conservation needs of Alabama’s president of Howard College. Alabama Military Hall of Honor Museum incense cedar tree brought to Marion from California in unique riverine species. (Audio Tour #1) – (Marion Military Institute Campus) the 1870s, the grounds contain many old camellias. Reverie (Audio Tour #46) – (West Lafayette Street) Built in 1832 as a law office for John Lockhart, the Perry Lakes Park (Audio Tour #51) – (Highway 175 Joseph Thompson Whitsitt built this Greek Revival building was used until 1968 as the Marion City Hall. It Marion Courthouse Square District East, Approximately 5 miles) Explore the natural wonders masterpiece in 1858. The grounds feature a large was moved to the Marion Military Institute campus, where This district’s centerpiece is the 1855 Courthouse, of Perry Lakes Park and The Nature Conservancy’s Barton’s wisteria vine that predates the house, a knot garden, it has been restored and preserved. In 1988, it became one of three Alabama antebellum courthouses Beach Cahaba River Preserve. The floodplain hardwood and a vineyard. the Alabama Military Hall of Honor, displaying portrait still used for county government. The district also forests, oxbow lakes, swamps, and sloughs are home plaques of inductees and military artifacts. to an astonishing variety of wildlife. Visitors can hike The Green Street District holds the town’s business quarter, three historic churches, many historic homes, and the Marion seven miles of nature trails, climb an observation tower, One of Marion’s earliest traffic arteries, Green Street Marion Railway Depot (Audio Tour #3) – (1200 Female Seminary building. discover a palette of native wildflowers, as well as other includes thirty-three historic structures. Among Washington Street) Built in 1907, it replaced the frame recreational opportunities. them are homes of such antebellum community depot building, which was destroyed by fire. Interest in Marion Downtown Historic District (Audio members as Governor Andrew Moore, artist Nicola railroads began as early as 1834 in Marion. The building is Tour #42) - Originally called Muckle’s Ridge, the Places to Eat Marschall, and the Myatt brothers, as well as the now the home of the Perry County Chamber of Commerce. settlement changed its name to Marion shortly after Whitman-Lee Gothic Revival home. incorporation in 1819. Over the coming decades, Marion First Campuses of Judson College and Howard Marion grew as settlers built homes and churches and • Artisan Café, 315 Washington Street, 334.683.9485 Marion Female Seminary (Audio Tour #6) – (West College (Audio Tours #7 and #9) – (South Early established government and educational institutions. • Lottie’s Restaurant, 207 Washington Street, 334.683.5055 Monroe Street) Founded in 1836 as a school for girls. It Street and Smith Street) Judson College and Howard • As Time Goes By, 418 Washington Street, 727.331.7973 was here that Nicola Marschall, an art teacher and native College both began at this site. Zion United Methodist Church (Audio Tour • Lotus Garden, 1602 Highway 5 South, 334.683.5700 of St. Windel, Prussia, designed the first Confederate flag #23) – (Corner of Pickens and Martin Luther King • Subway, 1537 Highway 5, South, 334.683.8002 and the Confederate uniform. Marion Military Institute (Old Howard College) Drive) Adjacent to the town square, Zion United • Swamp Fox Tavern, 110 East Green Street, 334.683.2121 (Audio Tour #15) – (South Washington Street) Founded Methodist Church was a focal point for civil rights • Hardee’s, South Washington Street, 334.683.4158 Moore-Lee House (Audio Tour #45) – (West Green by Alabama Baptist in 1842 as an all-male school, it meetings in the 1960s. • Whillard’s, Highway 5, 334.683.4200 Street) Built during the 1840s, this is the only Gothic-style became the Marion Military Institute in 1888. Several • The Shack, Highway 183, 334.683.8966 home in Marion. Constructed in the cruciform pattern. buildings predate 1861. Female and male cadets now Marion United Methodist Church (Audio Tour • Kalico Kitchen, Highway 5, 334.683.6739 attend the school. #19) – (Washington Street) The church has its beginnings • Hill Top General Store, 1218 South Washington, Governor’s House (Audio Tour #32) – (West Green in 1819, on the corner of Jackson and Monroe 334.683.8005 Street) Built in the 1830s, it was the home of Alabama’s Marion Military Institute Chapel (Audio Tour Streets. The sanctuary of the present structure was First Civil War Governor, Andrew Barry Moore. #13 and #14) – (Marion Military Institute) The Chapel, completed in 1886. The annual conference met here in Uniontown built in 1857, served as a Confederate hospital during the 1852 and 1867. • Union Drugs, 117 Water Street, 334.628.2241 Lea House (Audio Tour #36) – (West Green Street) War Between the States. • CG’s Stockyard Café, 77 Noel Circle, 334.628.2241 Home of Henry C. Lea, brother of Margaret Moffett Lea. St. Wilfrid’s Episcopal Church and Cemetery • Dorothy’s Kountry Kitchen, 203 Water Street, The house was the site of Margaret’s marriage to General Lincoln Normal School Campus (Audio Tour (Audio Tour #21) – (102 Clements Street) Originally 334.628.9002 Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas in 1840. #11) – (Corner of Lincoln and Lee Streets) Lincoln Normal organized as St. Michael’s parish, it became St. Wilfrid’s • Candied Yams, 485 Washington Street, 334.628.2831 was founded in 1867 by freed slaves as a school for The Judson College District in 1853. This is the third building erected on this site. African-American children. Former students and friends of Lodging The District’s focal point is Judson College, a The cemetery behind the church contains 77 graves of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Phillips, who served as principal for • Donavan Inn, Old Airport Road, 334.683-6765 women’s college founded in 1838. Surrounding it soldiers who died at the Breckenridge Hospital on the 31 years, dedicated one of the few remaining buildings, • Gateway Inn, 1615 Highway 5 South, 334.683.9166 are nineteenth- and twentieth-century structures Howard College campus. The soldiers were originally Phillips Memorial Auditorium, in 1939. In 1887, a division • Sleep Inn, 1605 Highway 5, South, 334.683.8600 with impressive architectural styles, including the buried behind the campus, but the Ladies Memorial of Lincoln Normal known as Patterson’s Plantation Home • Amenities, 112 East Green Street, 334.200.4956 Romanesque Marion Presbyterian Church, Classical Association moved them to this site in 1872. Also buried for Teachers was relocated to Montgomery, where it here is William M. Brooks, president of the Alabama • 1859 House, West DeKalb Street, 678.467.1859 and Greek revivals, and 1920 Tudor Revival homes. became known as Alabama State University. The Lincoln Secession Convention of 1861. Museum, located on the site of the Lincoln campus, Judson College Campus and Jewett Hall (Audio houses historic memorabilia regarding Lincoln School. Site of Jimmy Lee Jackson Shooting (Audio Tours #8 and #10) – (Bibb Street) Alabama’s only Tour #30) – (Jefferson Street) Jimmy Lee Jackson was a Famous Sons and college for women, Judson has provided over 175 years of First Congregationalist Church of Marion victim of the civil rights struggle of the 1960s. His death service as an institution of Women, Faith, and Knowledge. Daughters of Marion (Audio Tour #17) – (601 Clay Street) Organized and sparked the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and eventual constructed in 1871 by freed slaves and the American passage of the U. S. Voting Rights Bill. Missionary Association, the Congregationalist Church is The Alabama Baptist Building (Audio Tour #5) • Andrew Barry Moore was elected Governor in the oldest and most unaltered of the churches build by – (Corner of Dekalb and Bibb Street) Built as an office Other Significant Perry County Sites 1857. He served as Governor of Alabama from African-Americans in Marion. building in the early 1830s, it was later used as a printing 1857-1861. office for The Alabama Baptist newspaper. Located now Mt. Tabor Methodist Church & Coretta Scott • Nicola Marschall, noted portrait painter and on the campus of Judson College, its restoration will Siloam Baptist Church (Audio Tour #22) – (505 King Memorial (Audio Tour #20) – (County Road teacher, designed the Confederate flag, “The eventually reflect a nineteenth-century newspaper office. Washington Street) Founded 1822, the present Greek 29 North, Approximately 11 miles) The Mount Tabor Stars and Bars,” in 1861. Revival building dates from 1849. Located in the church Church was an important site for civil rights meetings in • Harry, a servant of the President of Howard The Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame Museum parlor is the table around which the Domestic Mission the 1960s. Next door, is the family home of Dr. Martin College, lost his life in 1854 rousing the (Audio Tour #2) – (Judson College) Located in the Board (now the North American Mission Board) was Luther King’s wife, Coretta. She worked closely with her students of Howard College from a burning beautifully restored A. Howard Bean Hall, the Alabama organized. The building was made of bricks fabricated by husband on the campaign for civil rights. college building. Women’s Hall of Fame establishes a permanent place local slaves and included a balcony for the slaves who • John Trotwood Moore, noted historian, author, of honor for Alabama’s most outstanding women, worshipped here. These same slaves established Berean Home of Idella Jones Childs and Jean Childs and poet, was born in Marion on August 26, 1858. including Helen Adams Keller, Julia Strudwick Tutwiler, Baptist Church. Siloam members were also instrumental in Young (Audio Tour #25) – (1415 Washington • Coretta Scott King was the wife of civil rights and Tallulah Bankhead. the founding of Judson College, Howard College, Marion Street) Idella Childs, the mother of Jean Young, was leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Military Institute, and The Alabama Baptist newspaper. an activist in the arts, education, politics, and the Berean Baptist Church (Audio Tour #16) – • Jean Childs Young was the former wife of Lincolnite Association. Her daughter, Jean, was the wife Ambassador to the United Nations, former Lockett-Martin-Austin House (Audio Tour (804 Washington Street) Built by freed slaves in 1873, of Ambassador Andrew Young and is an advocate for Mayor of Atlanta, and noted civil rights leader, #37) – (211 West Lafayette) Built in the early 1840s by Berean is an offspring of Siloam Baptist Church. Siloam children’s rights. President Jimmy Carter appointed her Andrew Young. Napoleon Lockett and his wife, Mary. Mrs. Lockett and a and local Baptists gave $1000 for the building of Berean. Chairperson of the International Year of the Child. • Mrs. Napoleon Lockett and other Marion ladies group of Marion ladies sewed the original Stars and Bars Berean was an important site for civil rights meetings in stitched the first “Stars and Bars,” based on of the Confederacy flag here. the 1960s. Carlisle Hall (Kenworthy Hall) (Audio Tour #31) Nicola Marschall’s design, at the Lockett house. – (Highway 14 West, Approximately 2 miles) The house Marion Presbyterian Church (Audio Tour #18) – • William Lee Pitts was born in Perry County in King-Colburn-McMillan House (Audio Tour was completed in 1860. Richard Upjohn, noted 19th (Washington Street) Erected in 1877, the church was 1859. Under presidents Cleveland and #35) – (309 Clay Street) Built for General Edward King century architect, designed it for Edward K. Carlisle. It is built on the lot where the widowed mother of the McKinley, he served first as Deputy Collect of in 1819. General King played a strong role of the area’s one of the best examples of Italian Villa style in Alabama. church’s first pastor pitched a tent for herself and her the Internal Revenue and then as a United development. He served as a trustee for the University six children upon coming to Marion. The pews, States Internal Revenue Agent. of Alabama and as a member of the board of directors Moore-Webb-Holmes Plantation (Audio Tour built with partitions down the center, and the clear • Zitella Cocke was a poet laureate of Alabama. of the Marion Female Seminary, and he was one of the #33) – (Highway 14 West, Approximately 6 miles) glass-paned windows are noteworthy. founders of Judson College. He also contributed the use of This is possibly the only working plantation remaining The Boston Transcript listed her among 125 best his office for the earliest printings of The Alabama Baptist in the state. Many of the original service buildings are writers in America. newsletter. Rarely seen in the Black Belt is the one-story still standing. raised cottage. Some windowpanes are blown glass.