History
Decatur, AL
Daniel Morgan, for whom the county is named, was one of America's greatest generals in the War of Independence and won a brilliant victory at Cowpens.
Decatur's rich history goes back to 1823 when it was founded by order of the U. S. Congress and President James Monroe in honor of the renowned U. S. naval officer Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820). Decatur, who won a sword from Congress and a captaincy when he was only 25, was one of the most daring officers in the United States Navy during its early years. He is remembered for his timeless toast: "Our country; In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be right; but our country, right or wrong."
Our next bookmark in the pages of American history came with the opening of the Old State Bank in 1833. This impressive pre-Greek Revival building remains as the city's oldest standing structure.
When the ravaging tides of the Civil War swept over the South, Decatur was engulfed in the desperate skirmishes and lonely vigils common to both armies. Often fought over because of its key railroad junction, only four buildings (including the Old State Bank) were left standing in Decatur when the din of battle ended in 1865.
Union band of the 102 Ohio Infantry plays atop the Hines-Burleson-McEntyre Home in 1865.
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Decatur's charming historic districts harken back to an easier time. Embracing over 116-acres, the site is one of the most intact Victorian-era neighborhoods in Alabama dating from 1870 through 1910.
Decatur's place in history continues into modern times with such sites as Point Mallard, home of America's first Wave Pool; Cook's Natural Science Museum; the state's first Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival; and the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.
Our travel destinations are a celebration of the rich heritage and American spirit embodied by our passage through time. We invite you to Morgan County and Decatur this year.
