Old Shelby County Courthouse

The Old Shelby County Courthouse, also known as Columbiana City Hall, is a defunct courthouse in Columbiana, Alabama. It was built in 1854. It served as the courthouse for Shelby County until 1906 when a larger court facility was built. It also served as Columbiana's city hall. Since 1982, it has housed the Shelby County Museum and Archives and its operator, the Shelby County Historical Society.^[2]

Columbiana City Hall
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Location	Main St., Columbiana, Alabama
Coordinates	33°10′38″N 86°36′26″W
Built	1854
Architect	McCan & Williamson
NRHP reference No.	74000437[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 29, 1974
Designated ARLH	January 25, 2011

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1974.^[1] It was subsequently listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on January 25, 2011.^[3]

Shelby County Courthouse Historical Marker

In 1826, Columbiana, Alabama won an election against Montevallo, Alabama to house the courthouse. The people of Columbiana threw a huge celebration which involved the destruction of a tree sitting in the very spot they planned to move and build the courthouse. To destroy the tree, gunpowder was packed into holes that had been drilled into the tree. Once ignited, the blast was said to have been heard for miles. The wood building which was built following this celebration no longer stands and was replaced with the Old Shelby County Courthouse in 1854.^[4]