Originally called Montgomery House, 1821 Greek Revival plantation home was significant to cultural development of central Alabama. Remarkable circular staircase spirals 24 ft. to 3rd-floor banquet room. Available for weddings, parties, tours, etc.
Prattaugan Museum & Archives
Street address:
102 E. Main St.
Prattville, AL 36067
Phone:
334-361-0961
Schedule:
Open M–F 10–4.
Mailing:
102 E. Main St.
Prattville, AL 36067
Admission:
Free
Sponsored by Autauga Co. Heritage Assn., museum dedicated to historical preservation of Autauga Co. Features Daniel Pratt memorabilia, local family history, Civil War room, county artifacts. Genealogy information access.
The Heritage Center is a combination museum-archives-visitor information center and provides offices for Autauga County Heritage Association and Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority. In addition, the house is headquarters for Autauga Genealogical Society and Prattville Dragoons, Camp 1524 of Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The facility was made available for the above described purposes by the generosity of Mr. Charles Rice and his sister, Mrs. Mary Wood Waite. Upon Mrs. Waite's death in 1994, Mr. Rice, by previous agreement with her, donated the home to the Heritage Association for use as a museum.
The museum contains artifacts and memorabilia from both Pratt and the early years of Autauga county.
In the central hallway of the house are painting of notable people from Autauga's past and a lifesized bust of Daniel Pratt, carved from the wood of a catalpa tree, is in the Pratt Room. Watercolors of Autauga scenes are displayed throughout the house. One room contains old photographs.
A portrait of Abbie Holt Smith hangs over the mantle in the Dragoon Room and photographs of Shadrach and Elizabeth Mims decorate the Mims Room which serves as the office of the Heritage Association. Mr. Mims was Autauga County's most illustrious historian.
In the back yard is an artesian well, continuously flowing clear, pure water. These wells, once prevalent throughout the city, contributed to Prattville's being called "The Fountain City".
The Archives Room contains a collection of local and family histories, genealogies, old newspapers and other records from the past. Its computer database contains over 100,000 records.
The Smiths had two young boys who created a continual disturbance in their upstairs room in the main house. The Little House was built because Mr. Smith believed that "boys and dogs belong in the yard". Pen and ink drawings of familiar scenes from Autauga's history beautify the interior of the Little House. It is used today as a board room for the Autauga County Heritage Association and is available for small group meetings.
Located in the heart of Historic Downtown Prattville, the Heritage Center is easily accessible to visitors seeking information about both the city and the county. Serving as adjunct to the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Center welcomes visitors and provides maps and brochures. Books, prints and gifts are available for purchase.
Accessibility:
Mobility Impaired (ramps, designated parking spaces)
Related attractions
Dedicated in 1982 as 1st wilderness park developed inside city limits in U.S. Areas of forest have 60-ft.-tall bamboo with trunks 6 inches in diameter. Hundreds of varieties of plants, including one of Alabama's largest beech trees.
The Home of Martha and Earnest Biggs is an outstanding example of Queen Ann-style architecture. It was built in 1893 for Joseph Bennett Bell, the son-in-law of Merrill Pratt, nephew of town founder Daniel Pratt.
The Wilkinson House is a two-story Queen Anne Victorian Home built Circa 1850.
Old Prattvillage is a collection of structures from the 1800's. Some are standing in their original locations and others relocated by the efforts of the Autauga County Heritage Association and private citizens.
In 1838 seven members of the Union Baptist Church met to form the Unity Baptist Church, the forerunner of First Baptist Church. Daniel Pratt deeded a lot south of Autauga Creek to the Unity Baptist Church in 1840.
First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1846 with thirteen chartering members. Four years later the first church was dedicated. This was a one-room frame structure located near the cotton gin factory on the south side of Autauga Creek.
The First United Methodist Church was founded in 1843. Daniel Pratt provided and equipped a room above a store for these first meetings and later donated land and money for a larger and more elaborate church building.
Episcopal Services were held in Prattville as early as the late 1840's, but the congregation formally organized in 1859 as Saint Mark's Episcopal mission and was admitted to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama in 1877.
The history of Ward Chapel goes back to the days of slavery, when its members were connected to the Methodist Church in Prattville. The first sanctuary, in 1843, was located south of Autauga Creek, across from the end of Chestnut Street.