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

Horace King

Photographed by Kai NeSmith, November 4, 2023

1. Horace King Marker - New Location

Inscription. Born a slave in South Carolina in 1807, Horace King became a master bridge builder while working with John Godwin. With the aid of Tuscaloosan Robert Jemison, King was freed by act of the Alabama legislature in 1846. He went on to build many bridges and other structures across the South. Revered and respected for his organizational abilities, building skills and personal integrity, he formed the King Brothers Bridge Company with his family after the Civil War. After serving two terms in the Alabama legislature during Reconstruction, he died at LaGrange, GA in 1885, John Godwin and Horace King built the first bridge across the Black Warrior River on this site in 1834.

Erected 2002 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Bridges & Viaducts • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1807.

Location. 33° 12.83′ N, 87° 34.349′ W. Marker is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in Tuscaloosa County. It can be reached from Greensboro Avenue near 2nd Street (Jack Warner Parkway). Marker is located in the Black Warrior Riverwalk Park

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just east or upriver of the Lurleen B. Wallace Blvd Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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: Captain Benjamin F. Eddins (here, next to this marker); Medeiros Point (within shouting distance of this marker); Burns’ Shoals (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Navigation and Shipbuilding On The Black Warrior River (about 500 feet away); The Black Warrior River (about 600 feet away); Home Guard Defended Covered Bridge / Bridging The Black Warrior River (about 600 feet away); The M & O Railroad Trestle (approx. ¼ mile away); “The Indian Fires Are Going Out” (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tuscaloosa.

Also see . . . Horace King. Encyclopedia of Alabama entry (Submitted on March 21, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)

Horace King Marker - Old Location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, November 17, 2008

2. Horace King Marker - Old Location

Horace King & Captain Benjamin F. Eddins Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kai NeSmith, November 4, 2023

3. Horace King & Captain Benjamin F. Eddins Markers

New location at Parker-Haun Park, formerly River District Park

Horace King Marker (foreground) and Captain Benjamin F. Eddins Marker (background) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, March 13, 2010

4. Horace King Marker (foreground) and Captain Benjamin F. Eddins Marker (background)

Old Location - The two markers are stand on the approach where Horace King built the first river bridge at this site in 1834. The first bridge was damaged by a tornado in 1842, and rebuilt in 1852, and then destroyed by Union Troops in 1865. Horace King built a new wooden bridge in 1872, that bridge was replaced with a 3-span iron bridge in 1882. To accommodate river traffic a higher bridge with a swing span was built 1895. That bridge was replaced with a drawbridge in 1922 and was used up to 1974 after the Hugh Thomas Bridge was opened slightly downstream. All the bridges built on this site utilized the original 1834 piers.

The rock foundations of the 1834 pier and the Hugh Thomas Bridge overhead. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, November 17, 2008

5. The rock foundations of the 1834 pier and the Hugh Thomas Bridge overhead.

The site of 6 bridges that crossed the Black Warrior River. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, March 13, 2010

6. The site of 6 bridges that crossed the Black Warrior River.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 3,119 times since then and 84 times this year. Last updated on November 6, 2023, by Kai NeSmith of Augusta, Georgia. Photos: 1. submitted on November 6, 2023, by Kai NeSmith of Augusta, Georgia. 2. submitted on March 21, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 3. submitted on November 6, 2023, by Kai NeSmith of Augusta, Georgia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 21, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.