About this property
The Alabama State Capitol, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the First Confederate Capitol, is the state capitol building for Alabama. Located on Capitol Hill, originally Goat Hill, in Montgomery, it was declared a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960. Unlike most other state capitols, the Alabama Legislature does not meet there, but at the Alabama State House. The Capitol has the governor's office and otherwise functions as a museum. Alabama has had five political capitals and four purpose-built capitol buildings during its history, since it was designated as a territory of the United States. The first was the territorial capital in St. Stephens in 1817; the state organizing convention was held in Huntsville in 1819, and the first permanent capital was designated in 1820 as Cahaba. The legislature moved the capital to Tuscaloosa in 1826, where it was housed in a new three-story building. The 1826 State House in Tuscaloosa was later used as Alabama Central Female College. After it burned in 1923, the ruins were retained within Capitol Park. Finally, in 1846, the state legislature moved the capital to Montgomery. The new capitol building in Montgomery, which was located where the current building stands, burned after two years. The current building was completed in 1851, and additional wings were added over the course of the following 140 years. These changes followed population growth in the state from natural growth and immigration as many European-American settlers arrived, who were often slave-holders. Large parts of the state were subsequently developed for cotton cultivation. The current capitol building temporarily served as the Confederate Capitol while Montgomery served as the first political capital of the Confederate States of America in 1861, before Richmond, Virginia was designated as the capital. Delegates meeting as the Montgomery Convention in the Senate Chamber drew up the Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States on February 4, 1861. The convention also adopted the Permanent Constitution here on March 11, 1861.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Alabama State Capitol
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Questions about this property
When was Alabama State Capitol listed on the National Register?
Alabama State Capitol was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.
What type of historic resource is Alabama State Capitol?
Alabama State Capitol is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Alabama State Capitol a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Alabama State Capitol has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Alabama State Capitol?
The period of significance for Alabama State Capitol is recorded as the civil_war era.
Can I research the history near Alabama State Capitol?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Alabama State Capitol will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Alabama State Capitol will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.