Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

James O'Shaughnessy Home

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, August 31, 2025

1. James O'Shaughnessy Home Marker

Inscription. Site of residence built 1890 by Col. James and Lucy O'Shaughnessy. Demolished 1920s. State Archaeological Site #MS1, 1995. The two-story Victorian house had four chimneys, gas lights, water lines, and indoor plumbing. Col. J. O'Shaughnessy cotton and real estate broker, seaport and railroad developer, co-owner Huntsville Hotel, Huntsville Opera House, Hotel Monte Sano, Monte Sano Railway and Turnpike. Friends with Vanderbilts, Astors, Jay Gould and other wealthy industrialists. Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, June 19, 1996.

Erected 2007 by Jane Barr.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture.

Location. 34° 44.292′ N, 86° 30.63′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. It is in Monte Sano State Park. It can be reached from SE Nolen Ave. From the hikers parking long at the wye with Nolan Avenue and Monte Sano Boulevard inside Monte Sano State Park, marker is located 4/5 of a mile south along the Fire Tower Connector Trail. From the hikers parking take the South Plateau Loop Trail to the right about 1/10 of a mail and turn south on the Fire Tower Connector Trail. Marker will be on the

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right side of the Trail opposite the Robert Fearn Home marker. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Huntsville AL 35801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Classroom at the Lake (approx. 0.2 miles away); Robert Fearn Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Monte Sano Railway (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lowell M. Anderson (approx. one mile away); Monte Sano Female Seminary (approx. 1.1 miles away); Monte Sano Elementary School (approx. 1.2 miles away); Camp Monte Sano (approx. 1.3 miles away); Historic Viduta / Hotel Monte Sano (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

More about this marker. An additional informational marked with pictures is located just to the south of the marker.

Fearn and O'Shaughnessy Markers on Fire Tower Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, August 31, 2025

2. Fearn and O'Shaughnessy Markers on Fire Tower Trail

James O'Shaughnessy Home photo from adjacent info stand image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, August 31, 2025

3. James O'Shaughnessy Home photo from adjacent info stand

Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2025, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 1, 2025, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.