Belle Mont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Belle Mont
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Belle Mont in 2010
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Tuscumbia, Alabama |
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| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) |
| Built | 1828-1832 |
| Architectural style | Jeffersonian |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002003 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1982 |
Belle Mont is a historic house located near Tuscumbia, Alabama, in the United States. It was built a long time ago, between 1828 and 1832. This special house shows a building style called Jeffersonian architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1982. This means it is an important historical building.
Contents
History of Belle Mont
Who Built Belle Mont?
Belle Mont was built for Dr. Alexander W. Mitchell. He was from Virginia and moved to Alabama. Dr. Mitchell was a very educated person. He studied at the University of Edinburgh. He also owned a very large farm, about 1,680-acre (680 ha) big.
Changes in Ownership
In 1833, Dr. Mitchell sold the large farm to Isaac Winston. Mr. Winston was also from Virginia. The Winston family owned Belle Mont for many years. They kept it until 1941.
Belle Mont Today
In 1983, the house and about 33 acres (13 ha) of land were given to the Alabama Historical Commission. Since then, the house has been carefully fixed up in stages. Today, Belle Mont is a historic house museum. This means people can visit it to learn about its history.
Architecture of Belle Mont
What is Jeffersonian Architecture?
Belle Mont is a great example of Jeffersonian architecture. This style was inspired by Thomas Jefferson, who was a president of the United States. He loved classical Roman and Greek building designs. This style was popular in the early United States. Belle Mont is one of the few houses like this still standing in the southern United States.
Design of the House
The house is made of red brick. It has a main part in the middle that is two stories tall. On each side of the main part, there are one-story wings. These side wings stick out towards the back of the house. This creates a U-shape, making a partly enclosed yard in the back.
See also
In Spanish: Belle Mont para niños
