Centennial Hill in Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Centennial Hill

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 15, 2021

1. Centennial Hill Marker

Marker repainted a few years ago.

Inscription. This neighborhood evolved around historic First Congregational Church established through the American Missionary Association (AMA) October 6, 1872, by Pastor George Whitfield Andrews. In 1867 the AMA and the Freedmen's Bureau, headed by General Wager Swayne, opened Swayne Primary School, Montgomery's first school for blacks, just two blocks south of here. Alabama State University, begun in 1867 as the "Lincoln School of Marion" by nine ex-slaves and taken over by the AMA in 1868, was relocated nearby in 1887. The area gained prominence as the civic, religious, educational, business and residential center for such black notables as Dr. Cornelius Dorsette, the city's first black physician; businessman Victor Tulane; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and other well-known leaders such as Alabama's first black congressman, James W. Rapier; John W. Jones; Nathan Alexander; Peyton Finley; and reverend G. Franklin Lewis, long-time pastor of First Congregational Church.

Erected 1992 by Alabama Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures.

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In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 6, 1864.

Location. 32° 22.317′ N, 86° 17.973′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is in Centennial Hill. It is at the intersection of South Union Street and High Street, on the left when traveling north on South Union Street. Union Street is a multi-lane one-way street that runs north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 638 South Union Street, Montgomery AL 36104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

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: The Rebirth Of A Church: A Bell Spared And A Cross Unscathed (a few steps from this marker); First Congregational Christian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Black Bricklayers Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Victor H. Tulane / The Tulane Legacy (about 500 feet away); The Hon. Rufus A. Lewis (about 700 feet away); Swayne College / Booker T. Washington School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Georgia Gilmore (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Jackson Street / Victor Hugo Tulane (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.

Another marker

Historic First Congregational Christian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 15, 2021

2. Historic First Congregational Christian Church

is no longer nearby. The Jackson-Community House / The Montgomery City Federation of Women’s Clubs (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

View of marker looking at intersection of Union and High Streets. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 9, 2016

3. View of marker looking at intersection of Union and High Streets.

Church signage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 15, 2021

4. Church signage

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,303 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on July 24, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 15, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on October 9, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4. submitted on May 15, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.