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

The Public Inn

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 5, 2010

1. The Public Inn Marker

Inscription. Constructed circa 1818 by John Adams at the NE corner of Madison St. and Williams Ave. Operated as an inn and boarding house by William E. Phillips from 1819-21; believed to have housed some delegates to the nearby Alabama Constitutional Convention in 1819. Original structure probably enlarged by an 1832 addition. The Inn was rolled on logs to this site in 1926, and an addition was built on the rear in 1927. One of the few surviving Federal-period frame structures in Huntsville.

National Register of Historic Places ~1980

Erected 2002 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.

Location. 34° 43.717′ N, 86° 34.95′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. It is on Williams Avenue SE east of Franklin Street SE. 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 walking distance of this marker: Twickenham Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Bibb House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Howard Weeden Home (about 400 feet

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away); Where Alabama Entered the Union (about 500 feet away); Alabama’s Constitution and Statehood (about 500 feet away); Constitution Hall (about 500 feet away); Site - Alabama’s First Constitutional Convention (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Constitution Hall (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Bessie (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. Former site of the building at Madison and Williams is now occupied by the EarlyWorks Museum.

The Public Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 5, 2010

2. The Public Inn

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,540 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on July 17, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.