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Waddell House: A Step Back in Time

Experience early 20th-century farm life at the Waddell House in Dothan's Landmark Park, a living history museum showcasing Alabama's Wiregrass region.

The Waddell House, located in Landmark Park in Dothan, Alabama, offers a glimpse into early 20th-century farm life in the Wiregrass region [3, 7]. This preserved farmhouse showcases the daily lives of the Waddell family, who lived there for nearly 70 years, and provides an authentic experience of a bygone era [7].

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Local tips

  • Visit during one of Landmark Park's special events, such as folk life festivals or antique car shows, for an enhanced experience [13].
  • Explore the other historic structures in Landmark Park, including the one-room schoolhouse and church, to get a broader sense of Wiregrass history [9, 13].
  • Check the Landmark Park website for the most up-to-date information on hours and special events [4].
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Getting There

  • Driving

    Landmark Park is located at 430 Landmark Dr, Dothan, AL 36303, just north of Dothan [8]. From Ross Clark Circle, take US-431 N for approximately 4 miles [8, 12]. Turn left at the Landmark Park sign [8]. Parking is readily available on-site and free [8, 14].

  • Taxi/Ride-Share

    Taxi and ride-sharing services (like Uber and Lyft) are available in Dothan [8]. A ride from downtown Dothan (e.g., near the Dothan Opera House) to Landmark Park will typically cost between $12 and $18 [8, 12], depending on demand and surge pricing. Confirm the fare with the driver or app before starting your trip [8].

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Discover more about Waddell House

The Waddell House, situated within Landmark Park, transports visitors to the early 1900s, offering an immersive experience of rural life in the Wiregrass region of Alabama [3, 7, 9]. The house was originally located a few miles west of downtown Dothan and was purchased by Leska H. Waddell in 1906 [3, 7]. He and his wife, Gypsy Hall, raised their family there, cultivating corn, cotton, peanuts, and other crops [3, 7]. Leska was known for his frugality and resisted modernizing the home, even as Dothan expanded after World War II [3, 7]. The house itself is a charming example of early 20th-century architecture, featuring a balloon-frame construction that rests on brick pilings to promote airflow during the hot summers [7]. The open central hall and strategically placed windows also enhance natural ventilation [7]. The house remained largely unchanged until Gypsy Waddell's death in 1976 [7]. In 1978, the Waddell children donated the house and outbuildings to the Dothan Landmarks Foundation [3, 7]. Today, the Waddell House serves as the centerpiece of Landmark Park's living history museum [3, 7]. Visitors can explore the house and its surroundings, gaining insight into the daily lives of a Wiregrass farming family [7, 9]. The park also includes other historic structures, such as a one-room schoolhouse, a church, and a general store, further enriching the visitor experience [9, 13]. Landmark Park has been the state's official Museum of Agriculture since the late 1990s [10].

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