Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Hotel Monte Sano

“Monte Sano” – Spanish for “Mountain of Health”

Photographed By Tim Carr, May 24, 2008

1. Hotel Monte Sano Marker

Inscription. Site of Hotel Monte Sano, built in 1887 by the North Alabama Improvement Company with the assistance of Michael and James O’Shaughnessy. The 233-room hotel opened on June 1, 1887 and served as a health resort and haven for famous visitors including Helen Keller, the Vanderbilts, and the Astors. Guests arrived via the “Tally Ho” stagecoach or the Monte Sano Railway, which served the mountain community. The hotel closed in 1900, and the W.W. Garth family later purchased it for their summer retreat. It was demolished for salvage in 1944. All that remains of the hotel is the brick chimney.

Erected 2007 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Landmarks • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1827.

Location. 34° 44.589′ N, 86° 32.008′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. Marker is on Old Chimney Road Southeast, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Huntsville AL 35801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Historic Viduta / Hotel Monte Sano (about 500 feet away,

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measured in a direct line); Monte Sano Female Seminary (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lowell M. Anderson (approx. 0.4 miles away); Monte Sano Elementary School (approx. half a mile away); Camp Monte Sano (approx. 0.7 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 0.9 miles away); Monte Sano Railway (approx. 0.9 miles away); Schrimsher Farm (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Also see . . . Jessup Whitehead's grave site. (Submitted on September 28, 2010.)

Additional commentary.
1. Jessup Whitehead
My son just took a trip through Maple Hill cemetery in Huntsville, AL on labor day and found the grave of Jessup Whitehead (Aug 1, 1833 - May 2, 1889), born from London, England. Grave marker said he was the "Chef de Cuisine" at the Hotel Monte Sano. Curiosity compelled me to see if I could find out more. All I learned was that he died two years after hotel opened.

Editor's Note: It appears he published several cookbooks and had his own publishing company

Hotel Monte Sano Marker reverse with an image by Albert Lane image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, May 24, 2008

2. Hotel Monte Sano Marker reverse with an image by Albert Lane

specializing in hotel cookbooks, including those he authored:
The American Pastry Cook (1882)
Hotel Meat Cooking (1883)
Whitehead’s Family Cook Book and Book of Breads and Cakes (1887)
Cooking For Profit, A New American Cookbook (1882)
The Stewards Handbook and Guide to Party Catering (1889)

— Submitted September 13, 2010, by Kathleen M Kirkland of Hazel Green, Alabama.

Hotel Monte Sano Chimney & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, May 24, 2008

3. Hotel Monte Sano Chimney & Marker

Photographed By Tim Carr, May 24, 2008

4. Hotel Monte Sano Chimney & Marker

Tombstone of Jessup Whitehead image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, October 17, 2010

5. Tombstone of Jessup Whitehead

Jessup Whitehead
Chef de Cuisine of Hotel Monte Sano and author of Cook Cooks.
Born in London Eng. Aug 1, 1833
Died May 12, 1889
Erected by T.J. Harrison
(picture taken during Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll 2010)

Hotel Monte Sano Replica image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 22, 2018

6. Hotel Monte Sano Replica

This replica can be see at Huntsville Train Depot Museum in Huntsville, Alabama.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4,086 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 21, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 5. submitted on October 17, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 6. submitted on September 26, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.