houston memorial library and museum

Historical buffs would love this!! The Houston Memorial Library is the former home of two-time Alabama governor and U.S. Senator George S. Houston. "George Smith Houston (January 17, 1811 - December 31, 1879) was an American Democratic politician who was the 24th Governor of Alabama from 1874 to 1878. He was born in 1811 in Franklin, Tennessee, and elected to the House of Representatives in 1841, whereupon he served nine consecutive terms. His entry into the governorship in 1874 initialized a string of Democratic governors which remained unbroken until H. Guy Hunt, a Republican, became governor in 1987. Houston had been elected to the Senate in 1866 but was not allowed to take the seat, as Alabama was still under Reconstruction. He was later reelected and served in the Senate from March 4, 1879 until his death at the end of that year in Athens, Alabama."(wikipedia). In October, the city hosts ghost tours with the Houston Historical Library as one of the many stops. The tall tales told on this tour is sure to make you scream with delight!

I go here two or three times a month and check out books. Ruby and Amy are most helpful and friendly. They feel like family. Everthing is always organized and clean.

This historic house, built in 1835, was the home of Alabama Governor George S. Houston. It is located a couple of blocks west northwest of the county courthouse. The upstairs is a free museum. The casual tourist may want to spend a few minutes walking thru it. Local residents will likely stay longer, as most of the items in the museum are from Limestone County from the last 130 years or so. Look for a big shade tree to park under. The building is air conditioned, but the upstairs still gets a little warm on the hottest afternoons. The downstairs is used as an operating lending library, which is not so busy anymore since there is a bigger public library elsewhere in town. The family donated the house to the city, with the stipulation that it always be used as a library. It is now operated by the city of Athens. The assistant librarian can get very chatty, so if you are in a hurry just say Hello, and walk on past her desk and up the stairs to the museum.