Jemison-Van De Graaff Mansion, Tuscaloosa Travel Guide

The Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, offers a captivating journey into the past. Constructed between 1859 and 1862 for Robert Jemison Jr., a prominent state senator and businessman, the mansion stands as a testament to the aspirations and affluence of the pre-Civil War South. Jemison, wanting a home closer to Tuscaloosa, which had served as the state capital from 1826 to 1846, built the mansion for entertaining and housing visiting colleagues.The 26-room mansion was considered state-of-the-art for its time, boasting innovations such as running water, gas lighting, a hot water boiler, and even an indoor toilet—some of the earliest modern plumbing in the state. The house also features 14 different types of wood, most of which came from Jemison's own land holdings, showcasing the region's natural resources. The Italianate-style house was designed by Philadelphia architect John Stewart, who was also supervising the construction of Bryce Hospital. Jemison spared no expense, spending almost twice the amount it took for the state capitol building just in the frills.After remaining in the Jemison family for several generations, the mansion served as Tuscaloosa's public library from 1955 to 1979. Today, it operates as a historic house museum, offering guided tours that delve into the Jemison family history, the mansion's architecture, and Tuscaloosa's past. Some visitors have reported feeling cold spots and strange presences within the mansion, adding to its mystique. Legend has it that the spirits of Jemison's daughter, Priscilla Cherokee, and her husband, Andrew Coleman Hargrove, haunt the premises after Hargrove tragically took his own life in the mansion's library in 1895.