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Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens: A Journey into Birmingham's Past

Step back in time at Birmingham's only antebellum mansion, featuring Greek Revival architecture, period furnishings, and beautiful gardens.

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Experience the elegance of the Old South at Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens, Birmingham's only remaining antebellum mansion. Built in the Greek Revival style in the 1840s, this historic house museum offers a glimpse into 19th-century life with period furnishings and beautiful gardens [5, 7, 12].

A brief summary to Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens

  • Tuesday 10 am-3 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-3 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-3 pm
  • Friday 10 am-3 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-3 pm

Local tips

  • Visit between Tuesday and Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM, to tour the house museum [4].
  • Check the Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens website for special events, such as weddings and holiday parties [5, 10].
  • Allow at least 1-2 hours to fully explore the house and gardens [5, 7].
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Getting There

  • Driving

    If driving from downtown Birmingham, head southwest on I-20 W/I-65 N. Take exit 124 for US-11/AL-149 toward Ensley/Brighton. Turn right onto US-11 N/AL-149 N/Bessemer Rd. Continue straight onto Cotton Ave SW. Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens will be on your right. Parking is available on-site [5, 7]. Expect to pay around $5 for parking [5].

  • Public Transport

    From the Birmingham Intermodal Facility (Central Station), take the MAX bus Route 3 towards Jefferson/Wenonah. Get off at the intersection of 31st St N and Cotton Ave SW. Walk west on Cotton Ave SW for about 0.5 miles. Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens will be on your right [5]. A one-way bus fare is $1.50 [5, 7].

  • Taxi/Ride-Share

    From downtown Birmingham, a taxi or ride-share (Uber/Lyft) to Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens will cost approximately $10-$15, depending on traffic and demand [7].

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Discover more about Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens

Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is a captivating reminder of the city's rich and complex past [5, 7, 12]. This historic house museum, the only antebellum mansion in the city, offers visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the elegance and charm of the Old South [5, 7, 12]. Located on six acres of beautifully landscaped gardens in the Arlington-West End neighborhood, Arlington provides a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of modern city life [3, 5, 7]. The story of Arlington begins in 1822 when Stephen Hall, a settler from Georgia, acquired 475 acres of land and built a modest four-room house [5, 7, 12]. In 1842, William S. Mudd, a prominent jurist and legislator, purchased the property and transformed it into a grand eight-room mansion in the Greek Revival style [3, 5, 7, 12]. Mudd named his estate "The Grove" [5, 7, 11, 12], and he and his wife, Florence Earle Mudd, raised nine children there [7, 8, 12]. The house was constructed between 1845 and 1850, showcasing the architectural trends of the time [5, 7, 13]. During the Civil War, Arlington served as the headquarters for General James H. Wilson while he planned his raid to destroy Confederate factories and munitions in Selma [5, 7, 11, 12]. Remarkably, the house emerged from the war unscathed [5, 7, 12]. After Mudd's death, the property changed hands several times, eventually being purchased by Robert S. Munger, a wealthy cotton gin manufacturer, in 1902 [5, 7, 12]. Munger renamed the estate "Arlington" and made extensive renovations, adding modern amenities such as indoor plumbing, electricity, and central heat [5, 7, 12]. In 1953, a group of concerned citizens and the City of Birmingham joined forces to purchase Arlington, ensuring its preservation for future generations [5, 7, 12]. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, solidifying its significance as a historical landmark [4, 6, 12, 13]. Today, Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens is owned by the City of Birmingham and managed by the Arlington Historical Association [5, 6, 12]. Visitors to Arlington can explore the meticulously preserved rooms, which are furnished with a collection of 19th-century decorative arts, including furniture, textiles, silver, and paintings [3, 5, 6, 7, 13]. The garden features a restored garden room that is used for special events [4, 6, 7, 13].

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