William King Beck House, Greek Revival plantation house near Camden, Alabama.
The William King Beck House is a Greek Revival residence near Camden featuring six octagonal columns supporting a full-width front porch. The one-story wood-frame building displays a pyramidal roof that was added during late 19th century modifications.
The house was built in 1845 by architect Alexander J. Bragg for William King Beck, an attorney originally from North Carolina. Beck was the nephew of Vice President William Rufus King.
The house takes its alternate name, River Bluff Plantation, from its position above the Alabama River. William King Beck, a North Carolina attorney who moved to Wilcox County in the 1820s, built it as a plantation seat; his uncle was William Rufus King, the 13th U.S. Vice President.
The house stands on the bank of the Alabama River off the road near Camden, in Wilcox County; the grounds are private, so the six-column porch is seen from the approach rather than entered. The rural setting means unpaved ground and no visitor facilities, so plan for a short roadside stop.
The house is attributed to architect Alexander J. Bragg, though no building contract or drawings survive to confirm his role. Its six octagonal columns are an unusual choice for a Greek Revival cottage, and the porch runs the full width of the main roof rather than sitting under a separate porch roof.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,031 contributors worldwide.