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Alabama’s oldest courthouses have witnessed a panorama of history. Historic Alabama Courthouses resurrects historical facts and images of buildings that were the centers of much of the state’s public life during its first century. Photographs of more than 120 buildings, the earliest that the author could find for each structure, are gathered in this significant volume along with historical, architectural, social, legal, and political accounts of their contributions to the landscape of Alabama.

Historic Alabama Courthouses also emphasizes architects and builders. Although the names of many of the principals are unknown, those who can be identified play large roles in the stories told in the book. Not only are the architects’ personal histories important, but also the history of the architecture profession in the state can be observed through the relationships and projects they created. Finally, the stories of Alabama’s courthouse builders and contractors are accounts of technical innovation, entrepreneurship, and sometimes imitation, revealing that fashions spread as widely and rapidly in building design and construction as in any other endeavor.