Swayne Hall, National Historic Landmark building at Talladega College, Alabama.
Swayne Hall is a three-story brick structure located on the Talladega College campus that was completed in 1857. The building displays classical design elements with four Doric columns at its entrance and decorative cast-iron balconies on its upper levels.
The structure was built in 1857 by enslaved workers and originally served a male seminary. After the Civil War ended, it became part of Talladega College in 1867, marking its transformation into an institution for Black education.
The building stands as part of a campus that served as a center for Black education and empowerment during a transformative period. Today it represents the resilience and community pride of African American higher education in the South.
Access to the building is on the north side of West Brattle Street near Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard on the college campus. The structure remains in active use for academic purposes, so visitors should respect campus guidelines and operating hours.
The building bears the name of General Wager Swayne, a Union Army officer who served as military governor of Alabama during Reconstruction. This unusual connection between a Northern commander and a Southern Black college reflects the complicated relationships forged during that pivotal era.
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