Cedar Bluff in Cherokee County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Indian Village of Costa

Photographed by John Holbrook

1. Indian Village of Costa Marker

Inscription. This general area is believed to be the site of the Indian village of Costa visited by DeSoto July 2, 1540. The very old cedar trees may have been here at that time. They are some of the largest in the Southeast. These cedars are among the comparatively few remaining on the bluffs of the Coosa from which Cedar Bluff derived its name.

The log building was originally built as a blacksmith shop c. 1832 by G.J. Williamson an early settler. It contains many tools of that period and is believed to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest structure in the county still in use.

The house is the third on this site, the first a log structure, the second an American Gothic type structure, and the present a modified replica of a Virginia Farm house of the 1600's.

Erected by Historical Preservation Society of Cherokee County, Alabama.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 2, 1540.

Location. 34° 13.216′ N, 85° 36.256′ W. Marker is in Cedar Bluff, Alabama, in Cherokee County.

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It is on Old Alabama Route 9 west of Sewell Ferry Road, on the right when traveling west. Across from the office of Cedar Bluff School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3655 Old Hwy 9, Cedar Bluff AL 35959, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Alabama and specifically in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cornwall Furnace (approx. 2 miles away); a different marker also named Cornwall Furnace (approx. 2.1 miles away); Cornwall Furnace Memorial Park (approx. 2.1 miles away); Cherokee County Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Long Shadows House

Previous Indian Village of Costa Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Angela Nichols, March 14, 2018

2. Previous Indian Village of Costa Marker

(approx. 2½ miles away); Gen. N.B. Forrest Captured Col. A.D. Streight (approx. 3.8 miles away); Chattooga River (approx. 3.9 miles away); Gaylesville (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cedar Bluff.

Also see . . . Indian Village of Costa at YouTube. (Submitted on November 25, 2025, by Angela Nichols of Centre, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2018, by Angela Nichols of Centre, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,673 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 12, 2021, by Angela Nichols of Centre, Alabama. 2. submitted on March 14, 2018, by Angela Nichols of Centre, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

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