Still Sightseeing While Masked and Social Distanced

After the water falls, we chose historic homes and grounds for today.  First up was the Belle Mont Mansion built in 1828.  Built originally for Dr. Alexander Mitchell it was sold after a few years to Isaac and Catherine Winston.  After their deaths it was used as a family summer retreat before selling it to the Fennel’s who donated it to the state of Alabama.  It fell into disrepair and restoration stabilized the house and restored much of the interior.  

Built circa 1828, Belle Mont Mansion is one of the most outstanding Palladian-style houses in the Deep South. 

We had the docent all to ourselves and had a delightful tour.  She was knowledgeable and so proud of an archeological find that produced a piece of pottery with a name on it.  She was able to research it and found an entire piece she was able to purchase and put in the museum room.  

Next was a stop at LaGrange Village, site of a military academy and cemetery that has had period buildings added to create an historical site for the area.  Though the buildings were locked (virus?) we were able to walk the grounds and peer into the buildings.  Only 3 other people were there.

Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House

The Rosenbaums remained the sole owners and occupants of the house until 1999 when they donated the house to the City of Florence, AL. The Rosenbaum House was meticulously restored by the city and opened as a public museum in 2002. It is currently the only Wright house in the southeast that is open to the public.