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

The Capital Years: 1825-1847

City of Tuscaloosa

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023

1. The Capital Years: 1825-1847 Marker

Inscription. Alabama's first seat of state government at Cahaba proved to be unsuitable. In 1825 Tuscaloosa was chosen as the new capital city. For over 20 years in an era known as the “Flush Times”, this area prospered with the establishment of the State Bank, The University of Alabama, hotels and taverns that competed for legislative influence, river and overland transport, land speculation, commerce, industries, and cotton farming.

Political power eventually shifted to: Alabama's southern regions. In 1847 a new capitol building was completed in Montgomery and Tuscaloosa entered decades of decline. The old capitol building was utilized as a women's college and was destroyed by fire in 1923.

Capitol Park at the western end of University Boulevard preserves and interprets the grounds and ruins of the old capitol building.

Erected by City of Tuscaloosa.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.

Location. 33° 12.574′ N, 87° 33.866′ W. Marker is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in Tuscaloosa County. It can be reached from 6th Street west of 21st

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Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Marker is in Government Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2106 6th St, Tuscaloosa AL 35401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

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 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 walking distance of this marker: The Founding of Tuscaloosa (a few steps from this marker); The Civil War Years: 1861-1865 (a few steps from this marker); The Earliest Tuscaloosans and Our Namesake (within shouting distance of this marker); Reconstruction:1867-1874 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1887: The Beginnings of Modern Tuscaloosa (within shouting distance of this marker); Why Are We Here? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Civil Rights Era (within shouting distance of

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023

2. The Capital Years: 1825-1847 Marker

this marker); African-American Business District (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tuscaloosa.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Former Alabama State Capitol Building image. Click for full size.

Unknown via Tuscaloosa County

3. Former Alabama State Capitol Building

The building when it was used by Central Alabama Female College.

Capitol Ruins image. Click for full size.

Jimmy Emerson via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), March 2, 2008

4. Capitol Ruins

All that remains of the former Alabama state capitol in Tuscaloosa after an August 1923 fire.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 414 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.