Murphy House: A Greek Revival Gem in Montgomery

The Murphy House, situated at 22 Bibb Street in Montgomery, Alabama, stands as a testament to the city's rich history and architectural heritage. Built in 1851 for John H. Murphy, a successful cotton broker and one of the incorporators of Montgomery's first water works, the house is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture.Murphy, a Scottish immigrant, arrived in Montgomery in 1844 and quickly became one of the city's wealthiest citizens. He constructed the house as a symbol of his prosperity and social standing. The two-story mansion features a stuccoed brick exterior, scored to resemble stone, and a full-length portico with six fluted Corinthian columns. The interior boasts a central hallway, double parlor, and a drawing room restored to its 1930s appearance.During the Civil War, the Murphy House became a social center for the Confederacy, hosting notable figures such as Jefferson Davis and William L. Yancey. In 1865, following the collapse of the Confederacy, the house was requisitioned as headquarters for Union forces.In 1902, the Murphy family sold the house, and it later served as an Elks Lodge and a VFW club. In 1970, the Montgomery Water Works and Sanitary Sewer Board purchased the property, saving it from demolition and restoring it for use as their offices. The Murphy House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.