Swayne Hall
United States historic place in Talladega, Alabama. Added to the National Register in 1974, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
Swayne Hall is the oldest building on the campus of Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama, United States. It was built in 1857 by slaves for use by a Baptist men's college. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974 for Talladega College's role as one of the few historically black colleges and universities to maintain a liberal arts focus. It was the only liberal arts college open to black Americans in Alabama for many years.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | Talladega College campus, Talladega, AL |
| County | Talladega County |
| Listed | Dec 2, 1974 |
| Listed for | Black heritage, Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 74002223 |
| Type of place | university building |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places contributing property |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Talladega College campus, Talladega, AL |
| Coordinates | 33.4295° N, 86.1175° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Freedom Riders National Monument · 19 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Turnipseed Campground 16 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs






Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 6 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Talladega County
Local history books for Talladega County
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Alabama
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Swayne Hall listed on the National Register?
Dec 2, 1974. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit Swayne Hall?
Yes. Swayne Hall is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Swayne Hall?
Talladega College campus, Talladega, Talladega County, Alabama. The nearest national park unit is Freedom Riders National Monument, 19 miles away.
Source: Freedom Riders National Monument
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Swayne Hall?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Swayne Hall?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Swayne Hall?
One federal campground is within reach, Turnipseed Campground, 16 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Swayne Hall?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G and AT&T 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 74002223. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.