National Register Listing

White-Turner-Sanford House

a.k.a. Lewis-Sanford Home;Herstein Place;H. L. Clay Residence

601 Madison St., Huntsville, AL
Local significance of the building:
Architecture; Social History

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

architecture social history houses residential buildings
Alabama is home to several important civil rights landmarks, including the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which was the site of a deadly bombing in 1963, and the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, which was the site of the "Bloody Sunday" confrontation between civil rights marchers and state troopers in 1965.
Alabama random facts
Madison County, Alabama has a rich and diverse history that spans centuries. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Chickasaw and Cherokee. In the late 1700s, European settlers began to establish small communities in the region, attracted by the fertile land and abundant natural resources.

The county's history took a significant turn when Huntsville was chosen as the site for a new federal arsenal and military post in 1808. This decision, along with the subsequent establishment of the Redstone Arsenal in 1941, brought a wave of growth and development to the area. Huntsville and Madison County became vital centers for defense and aerospace industries, contributing to major technological advances and attracting thousands of skilled workers.

During the Civil War, Madison County found itself caught in the midst of a divided nation. The area witnessed several significant battles and skirmishes, including the Battle of First Manassas and the Battle of New Market. The county also served as a strategic transportation hub, with railroads and roads leading to key southern cities.

In more recent years, Madison County has experienced continued growth and prosperity. The county's economy diversified with the expansion of industries such as healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing. Huntsville's NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the Cummings Research Park have made Madison County a hub for cutting-edge research and development.

Today, Madison County is a vibrant and diverse community with a blend of historic charm and modern innovation. The county's rich history, natural beauty, and thriving industries make it a desirable place to live, work, and visit.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Madison County, Alabama.

  • 1808 - Madison County was created by the Mississippi Territory.
  • 1811 - The town of Huntsville became the county seat.
  • 1819 - Alabama achieved statehood, and Madison County became part of it.
  • 1861-1865 - Madison County was deeply affected by the American Civil War.
  • 1883 - The city of Madison was incorporated.
  • 1950s - Redstone Arsenal, a major U.S. Army post, was established in the county.
  • 1960s - Huntsville experienced significant growth due to space-related developments, including the establishment of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
  • 1970s - Madison County experienced rapid population growth and urbanization.
  • 1996 - The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home to the Saturn V rocket, was designated as a National Historic Landmark.