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

Classroom at the Lake

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, August 31, 2025

1. Classroom at the Lake Marker

Inscription. One of the most important jobs for humans and animals is finding water. Early Indians knew of the many springs, streams, and ponds on Monte Sano. Water also attracted deer and other game; a year around source of food for Indians and Early Settlers. Robert Fearn built his summer home on Monte Sano 1835. Here was his Fish Pond. James O'Shaughnessy purchased the Fearn home 1885. He built the Hotel Monte Sano and transformed the Fish Pond into a Monet-like Lily Lake attraction for hotel guests. When the hotel closed the Lake was abandoned. Monte Sano State Park personnel and members of the Monte Sano Historical Association installed the Interpretive Classroom At The Lake - ICATL for students and nature lovers.
The ICATL was dedicated April 13, 2008

Erected 2009 by Jane Barr.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Man-Made Features.

Location. 34° 44.193′ N, 86° 30.524′ 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 located 7/10 of a mile south along the Fire Tower Connector Trail,

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and about 50 feet down the Bog 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. After 7/10 of mile turn left. Marker will be about 50 feet from the junction on the right side of trail. 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: James O'Shaughnessy Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Robert Fearn Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Monte Sano Railway (approx. ¾ mile away); Lowell M. Anderson (approx. 1.1 miles away); Monte Sano Female Seminary (approx. 1.3 miles away); Monte Sano Elementary School (approx. 1.3 miles away); Camp Monte Sano (approx. 1.3 miles away); Schrimsher Farm (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Lake at Interpretive Classroom at the Lake image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, August 31, 2025

2. Lake at Interpretive Classroom at the Lake

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 96 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2025, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.