Why fans of historic-places will find Anniston irresistible
For those who love historic places, a trip to Anniston, Alabama, is an easy to enjoy outing. The downtown commercial area and the historic residential districts feature some of the most handsome 100- to 140-year-old structures in the top half of the state. For generations, its main thoroughfare — Quintard Avenue — has led travelers to bypass most of its historic streetscapes and landmarks, so the city’s historic appeal remains somewhat undiscovered by the masses.
Anniston is ranked fourth in my article, The top 25 downtowns in North Alabama. If you will be visiting east Alabama, and you love historic landmarks, consider the city a worthwhile addition to your itinerary. For a visit that includes historic places, here are some of the top things to see.
A sidewalk tour of Tyler Hill is highlighted by the Parker-Reynolds House and other fancy 130-year olds
The residential landmarks shown here are each private property, so remember to respect the owners’ privacy as you enjoy them from the sidewalk.
Shown on maps as a bed-and-breakfast, Anniston’s most ornate surviving historic house, the Parker-Reynolds House, above, was completed in 1889 and individually listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. For a structure of its size, it has more than its share of showy details that mix many styles. Romanesque Revival, Gothic and chateauesque — a style inspired by grand 16th-century French chateaus — are prevalent. It sits on the west side of Tyler Hill Square, the green space at the center of the 135-year-old planned upper-class neighborhood.
The Tyler Hill Residential Historic District was listed with National Register in 1985. Twenty-one houses built between 1889 and 1909 remain, and 19 of them would be considered Victorian styled. If you want to plan a walking or bicycle tour of the district, park While at the square, be sure to take a look at the colorful c. 1889 Stringfellow-Nichols House:
Other highlights of the district include the c. 1889 Hobbs House and c. 1890 Ledbetter House on 7th Street:
The McKleroy-Wilson-Kirby House is now the focal point of a boutique hotel property
Only hotel guests and those attending events are allowed inside the gated property. For others, I suggest a sidewalk stroll around the block to take it all in. Accepted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, the Queen Anne Victorian c. 1888 McKleroy-Wilson-Kirby House has been part of one of Alabama’s top boutique hotels since 2015. Guests have a choice of staying in a large 3-story traditional hotel building or a bread and breakfast-like experience in one of the 125-plus year-old hilltop house’s premium rooms. It, along with the board and batten carriage house which now houses a fancy bar, are remarkably well preserved. See more at hotelfinial.com.
C. 1887 Noble-McCaa-Butler House. The spectacular Queen Anne-style Noble-McCaa-Butler House (c. 1887) sits on a beautiful, large lot at the southern edge of the district. It was individually listed with the National Register in 1985.
The c. 1925 Hamilton House
The c. 1887 Crowan Cottage
The c. 1885 Anniston Inn Kitchen
The Anniston Inn Kitchen and main dining hall is up on the hill overlooking the big, beautiful Zinn Park. Currently operated as a privately-owned event center, it’s the only part of the grand Anniston Inn that survived a fire in 1922. The black and white photo above shows the Anniston Inn as it appeared in the 1910s. The kitchen is on the left end.
Anniston’s historic churches and temple
Anniston features some notable places of worship, particularly the six that are individually listed in the National Register.
Pictured above, from top left: Grace Episcopal Church (c. 1882-85);
Additional photos can be viewed here: Galleries: Additional photos of Anniston historic places.
Combine Anniston with a visit to nearby towns:
Don’t bypass Oxford’s wonderful historic downtown
Jacksonville is a college town with plenty of historic places to enjoy
Sources for this article include the Anniston-related applications to the National Register of Historic Places.