Old Alabama State Capitol, Broad Street, Tuscaloosa

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,63-TUSLO,21-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Childress Hill, Avenue, between 5th and 6th Streets, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Date of Construction Description: Archaeological investigations under the direction of several local historical groups are currently underway to determine exact structural remnants. Project Information This report is based on written documentation donated by the Birmingham Historical Society, reformatted to HABS/HAER guidelines. Historical Overview: From to Tuscaloosa served as capital of Alabama. State legislators moved the capital here due to severe flooding of the first site at Cahaba Sited on a high bluff above the Warrior River at the terminus of steamboat navigation coming from the south and at the end of the Huntsville Road (called Broad St.

in the century and later University Boulevard) coming from the north, Tuscaloosa seemed well-suited for this choice. In stone foundations were laid and construction of the classically styled capitol begun. William Nichols of Philadelphia, the architect who designed the University of Alabama's early campus, also drew plans for this building. Complete with cupola visible throughout the early city and from the river, the Capitol opened its doors in In legislators again moved the capital to Montgomery, the geographic center of the state. The Capitol Building at Tuscaloosa burned in the ADDENDUM TO OLD ALABAMA STATE CAPITOL (Old Capitol) HABS No. AL-867 (Page 3) Sources Consulted Site Visit, Tuscaloosa Ct. Site Survey. 105