Gorgas Home, circa 1950

gorgas-home---2-19-1950a_f06ea01943[1].jpg

Title

Gorgas Home, circa 1950

Subject

Historic house museums
University of Alabama
Gorgas, Josiah, 1818-1883

Description

Built in 1829, two years before the University of Alabama opened, the Gorgas House was the first structure on campus and one of the few to survive the Civil War. It was used as a guest house for visiting dignitaries and professors, as well as a dining hall for students. In 1840, it was remodeled as a faculty residence. It has also been used as a university post office and supply store.

Josiah Gorgas, who became the seventh president of the University of Alabama in 1878, lived there with his family. When he resigned because of ill health, the board of trustees gave him the house and he retired to it. Members of the family lived in the house until 1953.

In 1944, the state legislature designated the house as a memorial to the Gorgas family. The residence is now a museum with collections of antiques and Gorgas family memorabilia.

Source

Personal Collection of Jason Townsend

Date

circa 1950

Contributor

Betty Slowe (Description)
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)

Type

Postcard

Identifier

333

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)