Atticus Finch Monument at the Old Courthouse in Monroeville, AL

Harper Lee, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, was born and raised in Monroeville, AL. The fictional town of Maycomb is modeled on Monroeville.  Atticus Finch, the central character in To Kill a Mockingbird, is a lawyer …

Bell’s Landing Presbyterian Church at Bell’s Landing, AL (established 1819, present church built ca. 1927)

This church is located in the community of Bell’s Landing in northwest Monroe County. Presbyterians have been a part of this area since 1819. The first church at the present location was erected in 1885. This church was destroyed by a storm on May 10, …

Bethany Baptist Church at Burnt Corn, AL (built ca. 1874; listed on the Alabama Register)

The Bethany Baptist Church was established in 1821 in nearby Conecuh County. The church moved to Puryearville (Monroe County) on Camp Ground Creek near Burnt Corn in 1846. During this era, both Blacks and Whites worshiped at the same church. After the …

Blacksher Home at Uriah, AL (ca. 1891)

This home was built circa 1891 for timber magnate James Uriah Blacksher. At one point, Blacksher owned more than one hundred thousand acres of land and a large lumber industry. He also owned a bank, a store, and railroads. Blacksher had a big impact on …

Burnt Corn Methodist Church at Burnt Corn, AL (c. 1913; listed on the Alabama Register)

The Burnt Corn Methodist Church congregation was established in 1913. They met in the Kyser-Betts Store until their church building was finished. It is a one-story frame structure with a corner attached bell tower. The building is a contributing proper …

Cane Syrup Mill at Rikard’s Mill Historical Park near Beatrice, AL

Shown is a cane syrup mill that’s at Rikard’s Mill Historical Park located near Beatrice, AL in Monroe County. This is a mule-drawn cane syrup mill that was produced in Selma, AL in the 1880s by Peacock Company of Ohio. Earnest Dyess of Camden, AL foun …

Claiborne, Alabama (A Lost City in Southwest Alabama)

Today, Claiborne is a ghost town on a bluff above the Alabama River near Perdue Hill in Monroe County.  Situated near the Federal Road, Claiborne began during the Mississippi Territory period with a ferry that transported settlers across the Alabama Ri …

Dr. John Watkins House near Burnt Corn, AL (built ca. 1812; recorded in HABS; listed on the Alabama Register)

This was the home of Dr. John Watkins who was one of the early and few physicians in this area, which at that time was still Mississippi Territory. According to markings on Dr. Watkins’ gravestone, he was for a time the only physician between the Alaba …

F. Metts Store at Monroeville, AL (built c. 1873, listed on the NRHP)

This is the oldest contributing property included on the Monroeville Downtown Historic District that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This building was built in Monroeville circa 1873 as the F. Metts Store. Around 1909, it w …

Falkenberry Log Cabin at Peterman, AL (built 1840s; destroyed by fire Oct 2013)

UPDATE: This Falkenberry log cabin was destroyed by fire during October 2013. The cabin has been replaced by the 1880s Stanton dogtrot cabin ( http://www.ruralswalabama.org/towns/peterman/). This log cabin was built by Deason Falkenberry during the 184 …

FORT CLAIBORNE Historical Marker near Perdue Hill, AL

This marker is located about 2 miles west of Perdue Hill in Monroe County on the south side of U.S. Highway 84 near the intersection of Lena Landegger Highway/Grain Elevator Road (GPS coordinates 31.541358, -87.512957). It’s on the east side of the Ala …

Haines Island Park on the Alabama River in west Monroe County, AL

Haines Island Park is maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Whether you’re inclined to drive, hike, canoe or kayak, Haines Island offers a fantastic opportunity to observe nature in a natural setting. Birding can be spectacular. The park is a …