Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Athens (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Houston Memorial Library, High Cotton Arts, and Robert Donnell House. Also, be sure to include Old Athens in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Athens (Alabama).
Table of Contents
Houston Memorial Library
Public library in Athens, Alabama. The Houston Memorial Library, previously the Governor George Smith Houston House, is a historic residence in Athens, Alabama. It was built in Federal style in 1835. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[1]
Address: 101 N Houston St, 35611-2540 Athens
High Cotton Arts
Cafe, Nightlife, Museum
Address: 103 W Washington St, 35611-2659 Athens
Robert Donnell House
The Robert Donnell House is a historic house located at 601 South Clinton Street in Athens, Alabama.[2]
Address: 601 South Clinton Street, Athens
Old Athens
Building in Athens, Alabama. The Old Main Post Office in Athens, Alabama, also known as Washington Street Courthouse Annex, was built in 1933. Located one block from the Courthouse Square, the Neoclassical building was constructed by the Works Progress Administration. The front is divided by 8 Doric columns. Granite stairs flanked by original cast iron lamps lead to 3 sets of doors in the center bays. The lobby features marble floors, wainscoting, pilasters, and door trim.
The post office was converted to a courthouse annex in 1979. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[3]
Athens Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District
The Athens Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District is a historic district in Athens, Alabama. Athens was founded in 1818 when Robert Beaty and John D. Carroll began selling tracts of land. The following year, the town was chosen as the county seat of the newly formed Limestone County. Commercial development around the courthouse square was swift, aided by the strong cotton market. The town and courthouse suffered heavy damage during the Civil War in the Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle. Athens' revival was slowed by major fires in 1882, 1894, and 1897, as well as the Panic of 1893. Redevelopment was spurred again in the 1910s and 1920s by a diversified economy with increased manufacturing, and in the 1930s by electricity provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Notable buildings in the district are the Limestone County Courthouse, built in 1919 in Neoclassical style with Palladian influences. The Old Post Office building was completed in 1933. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 and the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2012.[4]
Robert Beaty Historic District
Park in Athens, Alabama. The Robert Beaty Historic District is a historic district in Athens, Alabama. Robert Beaty was one of the original founders of Athens. An Irish immigrant who settled in Virginia, Beaty and his associates purchased 160 acres around a spring, and began subdividing the land for sale in 1818. A small village of log structures had formed by 1826, and began to be replaced by permanent homes over the next decade. Beaty's own house was completed in Federal style in 1826. William Richardson, whose son William, Jr. served in the U.S. House of Representatives, completed his home the following year. The district contains 86 contributing properties representing architectural styles including Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Eastlake, Victorian, and Spanish Colonial Revival. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[5]