Alabama's First Statehouse

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 30, 2014

1. Alabama's First Statehouse Marker

This marker replaces an older marker.

Inscription. Alabama's first statehouse stood on this lot, but no drawing by a person who actually saw it has been found. It was built in 1819 and destroyed in 1833, before the invention of photography. There are many drawings of the statehouse, but all are pure conjecture.

Compare these drawings to instructions given to the builders of the capitol in 1819. Then you decide which is best.

The building to be two story, fifty-eight feet long, and forty-three feet wide; each story to be twelve feet in the clear. The interior to be divided above and below stairs by a passage fourteen feet wide, …Two chimnies and eight windows are to be provided at each end and twelve windows on each front of the building; to be commenced two feet below the surface of the earth, and to be two brick and a half thick to the first floor (which must be three feet above the surface of the earth), and from thence two brick. …The shingles are to be of cypress or heart pine.

Erected 2013 by the Alabama Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1819.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby.

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It was located near 32° 19.047′ N, 87° 5.833′ W. Marker was in Cahaba, Alabama, in Dallas County. It was at the intersection of Capitol Street and Vine Street, on the right when traveling east on Capitol Street. Located within the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 486 Capitol St, Orrville AL 36767, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain,

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 location: A different marker also named Alabama's First Statehouse (a few steps from this marker); Cahaba First State Capital (within shouting distance of this marker); Working on Walnut Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Downtown Cahawba (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mound at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Railroad Depot and Commissary (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Hell in Harness" (about 300 feet away); Cahawba - circa 1500 (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cahaba.

Other markers no longer nearby. Site of Alabama's Statehouse (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Welcome to Downtown Cahawba (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now

Marker text on left side. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 30, 2014

2. Marker text on left side.

Includes QR code for more information.

near it); Vine Street (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Commissary - R.R. Depot (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This marker replaces marker # 75909.

Also see . . . Old Cahawba, Alabama's First State Capital. (Submitted on August 3, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Right side of marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 30, 2014

3. Right side of marker.

The Capitol Dome
Oral tradition maintains that this steeple
on a church in Lowndesboro, Alabama was
once the "dome" on Cahawba's statehouse.

Middle of Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 30, 2014

4. Middle of Marker

Top Left: Hugh Martin's Version of the Statehouse
From William H. Brantley, Jr.'s Book, Three Capitals

Top Right: Robert Mallown's Version of the Statehouse
Old Cahawba, Alabama Historical Commission

Bottom Left: Thomas Kaufmann's Version of the Statehouse
Old Cahawba, Alabama Historical Commission

Bottom Right: Anna Gale Fry's Version of the Statehouse
From Her Book Memories of Old Cahaba

Alabama's First Statehouse Marker Area in Old Cahaba image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 30, 2014

5. Alabama's First Statehouse Marker Area in Old Cahaba

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,232 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 3, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.