On Long Street at Auburn Street, on the left when traveling north on Long Street.
Side 1
On February 9, 1876, the City of Opelika paid D.B. Preston $80 for two acres of land to establish an African-American section of Rosemere Cemetery. This rectangular area of the cemetery contains 176 blocks, with 16 being partial . . . — — Map (db m75139) HM
On Glenn Street just south of West Johnson Avenue, on the left when traveling south.
Barbara H. Patton was elected Opelika's first female mayor in 1996, serving two terms, with her second term ending in 2004. During her tenure as mayor, Opelika saw significant economic growth and development, marked by the planning and development . . . — — Map (db m286067) HM
On Glenn Street just south of West Johnson Avenue, on the left when traveling south.
On September 10, 1929, Southside Elementary School and its Northside counterpart opened to serve the children of Opelika. Designed by noted Montgomery architect Frank Lockwood, these model educational facilities were built of colonial brick, and . . . — — Map (db m285897) HM
On West Point Parkway (U.S. 29 at milepost 197), 0.6 miles south of County Road 390, on the right when traveling south.
Side 1
Here in 1897 the first iron bridge in Lee County was built. In 1903 George W. Bean bought the mill, operating it until his death in 1952. About 1910 Bean installed an iron overshot wheel to replace the old turbine. Later, the dam . . . — — Map (db m73533) HM
On South 4th Street at Wilson Court, on the left when traveling south on South 4th Street.
Organized in 1868 under the leadership of Reverend Father Glenn. Formed only five years after the Emancipation Proclamation was Signed, Bethesda became the first Black church in the city of Opelika. Bethesda, which means “House of Mercy,” was . . . — — Map (db m296495) HM
On South Railroad Avenue just south of South 10th Street.
Mayor Bobby James Freeman Remembered for Transforming Opelika's Historic Core Mayor Bobby James Freeman served as a Lee County Commissioner for 10 years and as Mayor of the City of Opelika for eight years. During his tenure as Mayor, the . . . — — Map (db m296636) HM
On Marvyn Parkway (Alabama Route 51) south of Williamson Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
Located on this 800 acre site was an enemy prisoner of war camp. Construction of Camp Opelika began in September 1942. The first prisoners, captured by the British, were part of General Erwin Rommel’s Africa Corps. The camp prisoner population was . . . — — Map (db m85170) HM
On Auburn Street 0.1 miles north of Kilgore Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
Dr. John Wesley Darden, was the first African American physician to treat patients within a 30-mile radius of Opelika. He built the Darden House in 1904, and later married Maude Jean Logan of Montgomery. Dr. and Mrs. Darden shaped many lives through . . . — — Map (db m75131) HM
On North 8th Street at 1st Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North 8th Street.
Organized in 1858, Trinity Mission was admitted to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama on May 5, 1860. When the first church was consecrated on this site in 1862, it was renamed Emmanuel, meaning "God With Us." That building was destroyed by a tornado . . . — — Map (db m75132) HM
On South 8th Street south of Avenue B, on the right when traveling south.
On this site in October 1859, the Opelika Baptist
Church was organized. In 1861, a "little white framed
church" was erected. After a fire consumed this
original building, a new structure was built in 1885.
This building was referred to as the . . . — — Map (db m176382) HM
On Avenue A at South 7th Street, on the right when traveling west on Avenue A.
Established as the first religious organization in the area in 1837 with 22 members as Lebanon Methodist Episcopal Church, around which the village of Opelika developed. Moved to present location in 1879 as Opelika Station, Montgomery District, . . . — — Map (db m68097) HM
On South 4th Street at Avenue E, on the right when traveling north on South 4th Street.
In honor of Dr. J. W. Darden “A dedicated humanitarian, a builder of men, a physician, a Christian and a socially conscious citizen.” This marker honors Dr. Darden, his wife, Mrs. Jean Darden, the many teachers who gave so much of themselves to . . . — — Map (db m286106) HM
On County Road 43 north of County Road 24, on the right when traveling north.
Francis Marion Whatley He was born on September 21, 1839 and died on April 22, 1903. He married Matilda Thompson (1842-1877) who died at 35 years of age. He later married Emma E. Radney (1861-1941) he had 14 children with 4 dying as infants. . . . — — Map (db m261580) HM
On County Route 43 0.1 miles north of County Route 24, on the right when traveling north.
This cemetery was founded in 1900 when Francis Marion Whatley and Emma Whatley buried their daughter, Ophelia. A son of Simeon Whatley, Francis was a Confederate prisoner of war veteran. He was a prominent landowner, farmer, and cotton gin and . . . — — Map (db m204230) HM
On Avenue A just south of South 7th Street, on the left when traveling south.
Entered on the National Register of Historic Places November 18, 1976 George W. Andrews Federal Building U. S. Courthouse Opelika, Alabama James A. Wetmore Architect 1915 This property significantly contributes to the nation’s . . . — — Map (db m296572) HM
On South 4th Street south of Avenue E, on the left when traveling south.
Founded in 1951, J.W. Darden served as Opelika's African American high school until integration in 1972. The school's namesake, Dr. John Wesley Darden, was the first African American doctor in Lee County. The school fostered pride and served as the . . . — — Map (db m285898) HM
On Avenue B at South 9th Street, on the right when traveling south on Avenue B.
Side 1
Killgore Scholarships
Here James A. Killgore (1888-1966) and his wife, Ophelia Parker, operated a grocery store from 1916 to 1944. The Killgores worked hard, practiced frugality, and invested money wisely, desiring to help . . . — — Map (db m75123) HM
On Geneva Street south of South 8th Street, on the left when traveling south.
North side
To Our Confederate Dead
and Lee County Veterans
West side
"Nor Shall Your Glory
Be Forgot, While Fame
Her Record Keeps,
Or Honor Points
The Hallowed Spot,
Where Valor
Proudly Sleeps!
Easts . . . — — Map (db m176385) WM
On South 9th Street south of Avenue A, on the right when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
Lee County Courthouse
Lee County was created from portions of Russell, Macon, Chambers and Tallapoosa by act of the Alabama Legislature, approved December 5, 1866. The County’s first election was held January 21, 1867.
An early . . . — — Map (db m85171) HM
On South 9th Street south of Avenue A, on the right when traveling south.
Lee County Courthouse
Lee County was created from portions of Russell,
Macon, Chambers and Tallapoosa Counties by act of
the Alabama Legislature approved December 5, 1866.
Lee County's first election was held January 21, 1867.
An . . . — — Map (db m297059) HM
On South 9th Street at Avenue B, on the left when traveling north on South 9th Street.
In grateful memory of the rich courage and
sacrifice of the men and women who served
with the Armed Forces in World War II
This tribute is erected by their friends in Pepperell
{List of Names} — — Map (db m176392) WM
On 7th Avenue at North 6th Street, on the left when traveling east on 7th Avenue.
Dallas “Dal” Smith was a veteran of the First World War. During his time of service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart and a Regimental Citation. He commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 167th Regiment. After the . . . — — Map (db m75133) HM
On South 9th Street south of Avenue A, on the left when traveling south.
Lynching in America
After the Civil War, the ideology of white supremacy led to violent
resistance to equal rights for Black people. Lynching emerged to enforce
racial hierarchy through arbitrary and deadly violence that terrorized
all . . . — — Map (db m176380) HM
Near North 5th Street north of Park Road, on the right when traveling north.
Opelika's Board of Parks and Recreation hired W.J. "Bill" Calhoun as its first director in 1951. His top priority was to develop a wooded area behind Northside School. Two adjacent parcels of land were donated by I.J. Scott, Sr. and Winston Smith . . . — — Map (db m210764) HM
On Long Street 0.1 miles north of Auburn Street, on the left when traveling north.
Side 1
The City of Opelika purchased 19.6 acres of land to expand Rosemere Cemetery. This rectangular area is the newest portion. There are 193 blocks with varying numbers of sections and spaces in each. 467 grave markers have death dates . . . — — Map (db m75140) HM
Near Long Street 0.2 miles north of Auburn Street, on the right when traveling north.
Side 1
On July 23, 1869, the City of Opelika purchased ten acres of land for a cemetery from Dr. A.B. Bennett for $100 an acre. On November 23, 1869, he accepted his choice of a lot in exchange for the debt. The earliest marked grave is . . . — — Map (db m85335) HM
On South Railroad Avenue west of South 8th Street, on the left when traveling west.
Opelika A Railroad Town. Opelika's original name was Opelikan when the town was founded in the 1830s. In 1850, the name was respelled as Opelika. In 1851, the Montgomery & West Point Railroad Company extended its Montgomery to Opelika rail . . . — — Map (db m184077) HM
On South 9th Street at Avenue A, on the left when traveling north on South 9th Street.
Dragon/Griffin – The Pepperell trademark
symbol of world-wide excellence
This memorial is dedicated to the memory of the pioneer men and
women who came to Pepperell to begin a new way of life.
Russell Leonard, Treasurer of Pepperell . . . — — Map (db m176391) HM
On South Railroad Avenue at South 9th Street, on the right when traveling north on South Railroad Avenue.
obverse
The Railroad Avenue Historic District was the downtown nucleus of Opelika when the city was incorporated as part of Russell County, Alabama in February, 1854. The city limits extended a mile in every direction from the Montgomery . . . — — Map (db m85336) HM
On South 8th Street at South Railroad Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South 8th Street.
With orders from Gen. Sherman, Gen. Lovell Rousseau left Decatur with 2,700 cavalry, beginning his raid into East-Central Alabama. That raid ended successfully in Opelika July 19, 1864, after miles of track were destroyed along with other railroad . . . — — Map (db m75126) HM
On Park Road 0.1 miles west of Rocky Brook Road, on the right when traveling west.
obverse
This is the last surviving covered bridge in Lee County. It was constructed about 1900 by Otto Puls over Wacoochee Creek in the Town's lattice truss design. Materials used in the 75 foot long bridge included longleaf heart pine, . . . — — Map (db m85337) HM
On Lee Road (County Road 177) 0.1 miles north of West Point Parkway (U.S. 29), on the right when traveling north.
Organized November 15, 1846, as the Church of Christ at Shady Grove, under the New Covenant of 2nd Corinthians, 3rd chapter, agreeing to believe all the New Testament teaches, and to obey all its injunctions to the best of their capacity and submit . . . — — Map (db m85338) HM
On South 9th Street at South Railroad Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South 9th Street.
The earliest buildings in the South Rail Road Avenue block between 9th and 10th Street were constructed by William O. Harwell around 1900 and were occupied by his agricultural supply store. His daughter, Alice Inez Harwell married Lum Duke who . . . — — Map (db m84735) HM
On Columbus Parkway (Alabama Route 38) at South 6th Street, on the right when traveling east on Columbus Parkway.
Organized c. 1872 by Rev. John Ford, Tom Isaiah, Julius Crockrum, Daniel Billingslea, Fannie Bryant, Charity Harris, Sarah Chambers and others, and named for presiding Bishop J. P. Thompson. This congregation first met in a house near the oil mill . . . — — Map (db m75157) HM
Near Park Road 0.1 miles west of Rocky Brook Road, on the right when traveling west.
This "Top Rock" Millstone
was in a grist mill
owned and operated by W.S.A. Bence
on Sweetwater Creek in Clay County, AL
1919-1947
Donated by H.S. Bence — — Map (db m75160) HM
On County Road 391 east of County Road 151, on the right when traveling east.
Union Grove Baptist Church was founded on
August 25, 1856, as Friendship Meeting House.
Henry S. Oliver and Nancy F. Oliver gave the
land to the church. The earliest marked grave
is April 10, 1869, for Nancy Oliver. General
Rousseau's Raid on . . . — — Map (db m304112) HM
