The Green Warehouse in Newbern is one of the most recognizable historic structures in Hale County—not because of its size or commercial importance, but because it became an iconic subject of the photography of native Alabamian William Christenberry.
Christenberry (1936–2016), who grew up in Tuscaloosa and Hale County, became internationally known for photographing the changing rural landscape of the American South. Beginning in the 1960s, he repeatedly photographed ordinary places—old stores, churches, signs, houses, and farm buildings—that many people overlooked.
He photographed the Green Warehouse beginning in the 1970s, producing several images over many years. His photographs of the structure are now held in major museum collections, including the Birmingham Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum, and the Phillips Collection.
This building is located on School Street, just off Highway 61 in Newbern (Google Maps – 32.598672, -87.533694). It sits near the historic town center and is a popular stop for photographers, art historians, and road-trippers exploring the region.
Pictures that are provided were taken June 2014.