Colorful section of Guntersville downtown

Mountain-lake setting heightens the wow factor of Guntersville’s historic downtown

There’s a lot to look forward to on a trip to this northeast Alabama port city which sits on the tip of a hilly peninsula on the edge of Lake Guntersville. Both the water and Sand Mountain are in view from the lakeside city parks, outdoor restaurant seating areas and similar spots. The main street, Gunter Avenue, rests on the slope of a ridge. Whether you’re there to enjoy the water, dine, bike or just pass through, the mountain-lake surroundings provide a pleasant setting you can’t help but enjoy.

The Downtown Guntersville Historic District was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. At the time, the c. 1963 courthouse — Guntersville is the county seat of Marshall County — was not one of the 56 buildings considered to be a contributing historic structure of the district.

Don't miss the 400 block of Gunter Avenue

You can expect to see Guntersville’s best commercial historic streetscapes here. The buildings on the 400 block face the courthouse, and, at the present time, many of them are home to law offices.

Pictured above are the buildings from 410 to 414 Gunter Avenue. The long block includes five one-story buildings and nine two-story buildings. On the north end of the block, at 400 Gunter, you’ll find the striking three-story c. 1926 Colonial Revival-style First National Bank. The attached building to its left was built in 2000. The c. 1900 building at 436-440, shown in the first two photos below, got its pretty storefront in 1990.

The red brick building at 452 Gunter was built in 1895, and the connected buildings at 454-460 Gunter were completed in 1910.

Gunter Avenue 500 block highlights include the Methodist church, the old post office and the adjacent hotel building

The c. 1940 marble clad post office building, which is individually listed with the National Register, and the c. 1933 red-brick Glover Hotel sit side-by-side in the 500 block.

The district’s application to the National Register of Historic Places describes the c. 1917 First United Methodist Church located at 539 Gunter Avenue as Romanesque Revival style.

Additional nice streetscapes on the 300 block

Those who like historic sidewalk scenes will find many more between 330 and 395 Gunter Avenue. The buildings are typical American small-downtown structures as most were built between 1910 and 1935. Several popular retail shops, salons and a pair of restaurants are currently found among the variety of small businesses.

Pictured above, the building at 395 Gunter Avenue was built in 1905 as the Bank of Guntersville. The popular Fant’s Mercantile occupies most of the space from 355 to 371 Gunter Avenue, selling clothing, antiques, home decor, art, jewelry and more. Cafe 336 and Bakers on Main occupy a c. 1940 building at 336 Gunter. Check out these streetscapes.

Plan to see these residential structures that are included in the nationally listed district

Pictured above, from top left: The c. 1854 Col. Montgomery Gilbreath House, which is the only remaining pre-Civil War structure in the district; the pink c. 1895 Albert G. Henry Jr. House; and the c. 1875 Henry-Jordan House. The Montgomery Gilbreath House is currently cared for by the Guntersville Historical Society. The two latter houses were each individually listed with the National Register:

Albert G. Henry Jr. House National Register application

Henry-Jordan House application

There are a few other 100- to 130-year-old houses just outside the historic downtown including these that are six blocks south of the Downtown Guntersville Historic District:

Other historic places of interest in the city

Three buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places apart from the downtown district. Those include:

c. 1936 Alabama National Guard Armory

c. 1926 Guntersville City School (Old Rock School)

Guntersville Hydroelectric Project

c. 1928 Saratoga Victory Mill

The old armory is now home to the Guntersville Museum, and the old school is home to the community theatre known as the Whole Backstage. Follow the signs on Loveless Avenue to find them side by side in a lovely ridge-side setting:

Additionally, the c. 1892 train depot, located just off Blount Avenue on Greenwood Street, has been restored and is also currently cared for by the Guntersville Historical Society:

Enjoy the water while you’re in Guntersville

If you are in Guntersville to dine, to shop, to see historic sights, or you’re just passing through, it would be worth it to take a little time to enjoy the water. My favorite place to do that is anywhere along the Sunset Drive walking trail, a 3.4 mile linear greenspace found on the north side of the ridge. It’s also a good place to see bald eagles.

Sunset Drive walking trail in Guntersville

For more information and photos of the Sunset Drive walking trail, see my article: Top 16 public spots for enjoying Guntersville Lake.

Another top spot, the Guntersville City Harbor development, opened in the summer of 2022:

A Huntsville-area Southern outing, it’s also easy to get to the Downtown Guntersville Historic District from Birmingham (63 miles), Chattanooga (88 miles) and Atlanta (143 miles).

The historic downtown is a great place to put the sidewalks to use. You can park near the Methodist church and walk to the city harbor and back, for a walk of only about a mile.