In Barbour County, tales of the past come alive even for those who've recently arrived. Whether it's the stories of founding fathers, war heroes, Southern belles, or daring heroines, their indelible marks are etched into the fabric of the region. Some may dismiss these narratives as exaggerated, blending facts with imagination. However, for others, the resonating echoes of heels clicking on hardwood floors during home tours transport them to a bygone era, evoking a nostalgic immersion akin to wading into a cool stream on a mid-July day. These visitors, in a temporal reverie, can relive a leisurely afternoon on a veranda, gazing at the meandering river. For those with a discerning perspective, Eufaula transcends being merely a beautiful house with enchanting allure; it becomes a legendary entity, rich with historical significance.

Built in 1884, this grand residence underwent significant renovations in 1906, adopting its current Neoclassical Revival style at a staggering cost of approximately $100,000. Formerly named "The Columns," Shorter Mansion stands prominently as the centerpiece of the Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District, boasting over 700 structures enlisted on the National Register of Historic Places. Noteworthy for its 17 free-standing Corinthian columns, the mansion plays a pivotal role in preserving the rich history of the area.

The acquisition of Shorter Mansion in 1965 played a crucial role in the establishment of the Eufaula Heritage Association, marking the inception of the preservation movement in Eufaula. Presently, the mansion serves as the association's headquarters, orchestrating Alabama's oldest tour of homes, the Eufaula Pilgrimage, on an annual basis.

Adorned with exquisite antiques, Shorter Mansion houses the Eufaula Historical Museum, featuring artifacts and exhibits that delve into Eufaula's illustrious past. Furthermore, the museum pays homage to the eight Alabama governors from Barbour County and Admiral Thomas M. Moorer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Drawing over 10,000 visitors each year, Shorter Mansion opens its doors for weddings, teas, meetings, parties, luncheons, receptions, and various public events. It takes center stage during the Eufaula Pilgrimage, a highlight of the first weekend in April.

Tours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Admission: $5.00 adults | $3.00 children
• Group rates are available.

Shorter Mansion
340 North Eufaula Avenue
Eufaula, Alabama 36027
(334) 687-3793

Constructed around 1860 by E.B. Young, a prominent figure in Eufaula, this Italianate residence stands as a testament to antebellum architecture. Over five generations, Fendall Hall served as the cherished home of the Young family and their descendants. Today, under the ownership of the Alabama Historical Commission, the house is open to the public year-round, meticulously restored to reflect its 1880-1916 era.

As a historic house museum, Fendall Hall showcases the quintessential elements of a Southern suburban mansion. Its grandeur includes towering columns, an imported marble entranceway, heart pine flooring, and a flourishing landscape. Unique to Fendall Hall are original period furnishings and three rooms adorned with exquisite Victorian-era murals, painted in 1884—unmatched by any other house in America. A visit to Eufaula reveals a meticulously landscaped lawn and a commanding cupola.

Beyond its historical significance, Fendall Hall is available for a variety of events, ranging from board meetings to weddings. The venue has hosted bridesmaid luncheons, club meetings, teas, intimate indoor gatherings, expansive outdoor parties, group Picnics on the Porch, holiday celebrations, family dinners, and corporate events. The dedicated staff is eager to assist with inquiries related to your special occasion.

Tours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Admission: $5.00 adults | $3.00 children
• Group rates are available.

Fendall Hall
917 West Barbour Street
Eufaula, Alabama 36027
(334) 687-8469

Barbour County Chamber of Commerce underwent a two-year renovation project, concluding in 2002. Serving Eufaula and its vicinity for nearly a century as a freight depot, the building fell into disrepair in the late 1980s before its revival.

Today, the renovated structure not only houses the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce but also functions as the Eufaula Welcome Center and hosts a historic interpretive center overseen by the Eufaula Barbour County Historic Foundation.

Named after the late James S. Clark, who served as Eufaula's mayor from 1976 to 1978 and held four consecutive terms in the Alabama Senate from 1959 to 1975, the building stands as a testament to its historical significance. Clark's political career extended to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1983, where he was reelected for three additional terms. His remarkable service also included being elected Speaker of the House in 1987, 1991, and an unprecedented third term in 1995.

The Eufaula Barbour County Historic Foundation plays a crucial role in preserving the county's rich history. Funding interpretive panels that narrate the county's stories, the foundation has also been enriched by the generous donation of A.S. Williams III's "Eufaula Collection" from the Eufaula Athenaeum estate. This collection, along with five display cases and an extensive array of Eufaula and Barbour County artifacts, is showcased in the interpretive center. A reference library containing printed materials is also available for visitors, contributing to the vibrant storytelling of our community's history.

Open for tours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Located in...
Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce
333 east broad street
Eufaula, Alabama 36027
(334) 687-6664

The Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District remains the largest historic district in east Alabama and the second-largest in the state. Encompassing over 700 structures on the National Register of Historic Places, the district stretches throughout the oldest part of town.

Stop by the Eufaula Barbour Chamber of Commerce for a Walking/Driving Tour Guide.

The Eufaula Community Center features an indoor heated, 25-yard, 8-lane competitive swimming pool, sauna, racquetball court, large fitness room, training room, multi-purpose community room with an upper and lower level walking/running track, basketball and pickleball court, and three meeting rooms. There is a catering and concessions area, activity room, and administrative offices for the Eufaula Parks and Recreation Department. The Eufaula community center offers a wide variety of interests to the community... Some of those interests include group fitness classes, personal training, CPR/first aid training, swim team, and swim lessons for all ages. The community center also offers its facility to the public for special events such as birthday parties, family reunions, business meetings, and receptions.

The Eufaula Community Center
750 Lake Drive
Eufaula, Alabama 36027
(334) 687-1246.

A delicate iron fence that once surrounded Eufaula's Union Female College encloses Fairview Cemetery. Hidden behind the entrance foliage is the old Jewish section, the graves of European settlers and Confederate soldiers, as well as burial grounds for enslaved people.

723 North Randolph Avenue
Eufaula, Alabama 36027
(334) 687-8031

Alabama's Civil War Governor, John Gill Shorter, was laid to rest, along with the Governor's father, the famous Indian fighter General Reuben Clark Shorter, in Shorter Cemetery. The cemetery's graves date back to 1840.

Contact the Staff at Shorter Mansion for access to this gated attraction. Phone (334) 687-3793 for details.

A cherub crowns the three-tiered wrought-iron fountain and fits in perfectly with the character of downtown. It was purchased from the city of Dayton, Ohio, in 1880.

In honor of Eufaula being the "Big Bass Capital of the World," it is only appropriate that we have a big bass named Manny in honor of renowned fisherman Tom Mann, who helped make Eufaula a fisherman's paradise.

“Tom Mann achieved fame as a fishing lure designer/manufacturer and helped put Lake Eufaula on the map with his popular television shows,” the inscription states. “with an investment of $5, he and his wife, Ann, started Mann's bait company in 1958. Later, he would launch Humminbird Industries and Southern Plastics…he made Eufaula the hub of the fishing lure industry.”

Mann was inducted into the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named by the Alabama Tourism Department as one of Alabama's “most unforgettable faces.”

Be sure to visit and take a picture with Manny, located across from the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, next to the Yoholo Micco Walking Trail.

In 2010, the 2nd Phase of the Rails to Trails Project was completed. The conversion of 3.2 miles of abandoned rail bed is now a beautiful walking trail with a gorgeous water view and many other hidden jewels.

The trail begins in the heart of historic downtown Eufaula, Alabama, in front of the Eufaula Barbour Chamber of Commerce. Winding along with the beautiful scenery, you will find squirrel & eagle crossings along with a completely restored railroad trestle that crosses over Lake Eufaula. The trail eventually ends at Old Creek Town, a beautiful waterfront recreational area that houses the Playground of Dreams, a public beach, and a boat launch.

Interesting facts and finds along the trail are:

• 3.2 miles of paved trail perfect for walking, running, and bicycling.
• Several nature trails along the way that are clearly marked.
• Old hardwood forest that leads to a breathtaking waterfall.
• "Treehugger Park" to enjoy an afternoon picnic.
• Bird Watcher's Alley
• Benches along the way, just in case you need to relax and soak up the scenery!
• "Passport to Fitness," one of Alabama's 60 top places to hike or walk.

This statue of a World War I doughboy honors the men from Eufaula who perished in WWI. It was erected and dedicated in 1920.

Presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1904 and standing at 35 feet tall, the Confederate monument towers over the intersection of Broad Street and Eufaula Avenue.

Ten Wiregrass Counties came together in November 2012 to launch the Wiregrass Birding Trail. This trail of twenty sites is the last of eight organized trails and 250 sites covering Alabama. The ten counties that make up the Wiregrass Birding Trail are Barbour, Bullock, Pike, Crenshaw, Covington, Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, and Houston. Eufaula has four of the sites out of the total of twenty sites in the region. An ongoing project for over five years, trail development has coincided with birding becoming an increasingly important source of tourism revenue for Alabama.

The sites in Barbour County are the Eufaula Wildlife Refuge, Lakepoint State Park, Old Creektown Park, and Yoholo Micco Walking Trail.

In addition to the Eufaula sites, the Wehle Center in Midway provides excellent birding opportunities in nearby Bullock County.

Alabama has perhaps the most diverse habitat in the Southeast, with a tremendous range of birds that can be seen in the state and certainly on the Wiregrass Birding Trail.

Renowned outdoorsman and pioneering fishing lure creator Tom Mann, who caught a 1-pound bass at Lake Eufaula in 1973, helped make the unusual fish famous by sharing stories about how the aggressive largemouth with a personality guarded his territory in Mann’s 38,000-gallon aquarium for seven years. Named “Leroy Brown” from the popular Jim Croce song, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” the fish thrived in Mann’s now-defunct Fish World museum, growing to almost 6½ pounds.

“That fish would follow Tom as he walked around the aquarium,” Scott said. “When Leroy Brown died, Tom called me, and I could almost hear the tears in his eyes.

After the closure of the museum and then Mann’s death in 2005, Mann’s widow asked Scott to take possession of the famous fish and the elaborate tombstone/sculpture with the inscription, “Most bass are just fish, but Leroy Brown was something special.” Scott did it for his dear friend, and now Eufaula is ready to re-take possession of its aquatic superstar.

Leroy brown can be found at the beginning of east broad street beneath the canopy of trees.

The splash pad attraction opened in 2020 and is the product of a community effort spearheaded by the Barbour County Extension office that resulted in grant funding for the construction of this popular attraction. The splash pad is next door to the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce and across from the Yoholo Micco walking trail. The facility is open to the public during the spring and summer seasons and is free of charge.

Nestled in the Seth Lore Historic District, under the canopy of live oaks, talented artisans show and sell their wares to appreciative locals and tourists alike. Coupled with local entertainment and food vendors, this festival has become one of the year's most anticipated events. This event strives to improve the quality of life and foster a deeper appreciation of the arts in our community. We are excited to invite you to EufaulaFest! 

For more information, contact:
Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce
333 East Broad Street
Eufaula, Alabama 36027
(334) 687-6664

The annual Wallace Community College Golf Tournament is anticipated by golfers everywhere! Golfers of every skill level enjoy food, cheer, and many good people in 18 fun holes. Large and small businesses come together to support a good cause; proceeds go to funding two scholarships at Wallace Community College–Sparks Campus here in Eufaula. 2015 marked the 20th consecutive year the Wallace and the Chamber teamed up to host the golf scramble, raising over $60,000 in scholarship funds for Wallace Community College-Sparks Campus over the life of the event.

For more information, contact:
Wallace Community College
3235 South Eufaula Avenue
Eufaula, AL 36027
(334) 556-2626  |  (334) 556-2451

Come see some of Eufaula's finest historic homes, all dressed up for Christmas! This tour is hosted by the Eufaula Heritage Association and is held on the first Saturday in December to coincide with the downtown Mistletoe Market. This is an enchanting tour of the South's finest homes draped in holiday cheer.

For more information, contact:
The Eufaula Heritage Association
P.O. Box 486
Eufaula, AL 36072
(334) 687-3793 | 1 (888)-EUFAULA

The City of Eufaula hosts this annual event celebrating Independence Day. The event is held at Lakepoint Resort State Park the weekend of Independence Day. This event is free to the public. Vendors and various activities are available all day, with a magnificent fireworks show to end the evening.

Every April, spring blooms in Eufaula just in time for the annual Eufaula Pilgrimage. Set on a backdrop of colorful azaleas and dogwoods, Alabama's Oldest Tour of Homes draws you back in time to experience the settlement of Eufaula, confrontation with Yankee troops, and life when "cotton was king." Marvel at pristine Greek Revival, Victorian, and Italianate architecture as you meander through picturesque streets with homegrown entertainment and award-winning artists. While the homes open for tours vary each year, the warm hospitality does not. Southern belles draped in colorful hoop skirts guide you through the houses, sharing history and legend. At the close of the day, you will leave with your piece of charm and history to travel home with you.

The Pilgrimage Includes:
• Daily Tours of public & private residences.
• Candlelight Tours
• Garden and Church Tours
• Art Walk - Artists from the region gather in Downtown Eufaula
• Afternoon Teas at selected homes

For more information, contact:
The Eufaula Heritage Association
P.O. Box 486
Eufaula, AL 36072
(334) 687-3793  |  1 (888) EUFAULA

Business Referrals and guaranteed opportunities to advertise freely in the Chamber’s marketing materials.