Historical marker describes Selma, Alabama history, early vice president

Highlights of Selma History marker

This week’s featured historical marker is the “HIGHLIGHTS OF SELMA HISTORY / WILLIAM RUFUS DeVANE KING” marker in downtown Selma, Alabama. The marker is located on Broad Street in front of Selma City Hall, which sits on the former site of the old Hotel Albert.

This marker was erected by the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society in 1981. There’s text on both sides of this marker, and both sides are unique. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

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“HIGHLIGHTS OF SELMA HISTORY: Dallas County was created by Territorial Legislature Feb. 9, 1818. Selma Land Company formed March 19, 1819 by George Caleb Tate. Selma incorporated Dec. 4, 1820. LaFayette visited 1825. First newspaper established 1827. Dallas County Male and Female Academy incorporated 1845 – was forerunner of public school system. Selma Arsenal and Confederate Naval Yard established 1862. Battle of Selma won by Union forces and most of city burned 1865. First non-rail bridge over Alabama River opened 1885. Both U.S. Senators, Morgan and Pettus, were from Selma 1897-1907. Craig Field established 1940. Civil Rights demonstrations in 1965 culminated in Selma to Montgomery march which influenced passage of 1965 Civil Rights Act.”

“WILLIAM RUFUS DeVANE KING, 1786-1853, Vice President of the United States: William Rufus DeVane King was born April 7, 1786 in Sampson Co., N.C., admitted to the bar in 1806; served in the N.C. House of Commons 1807-1809; U.S. Congress 1811-1816; and as Secretary of the U.S. Legation to Naples and St. Petersburg 1816-1818. “He moved to Dallas Co., Alabama in 1818; named and was a founder of the City of Selma; a delegate to the 1819 State Constitutional Convention; U.S. Senator 1819-1844 and 1848-1852; U.S. Minister to France 1844-1846; and President Pro tempore U.S. Senate 1836-1841 and 1850-1852. “King was elected Vice President in 1852 and because of his poor health traveled to Cuba. By a Special Act of Congress he was permitted to take the oath of office in Matanzas, Cuba on March 24, 1853. His health did not improve and he returned to Alabama where he died April 18, 1853 at his King’s Bend Plantation.”

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I encountered this historical marker in late August when I took the downtown Selma walking tour. This marker is located in the what’s said to be the largest historic district in the state, and it’s one of many such markers in the same area. In fact, it’s just a few feet from a marker that describes a large cannon that was made in Selma and used during the Battle of Mobile Bay. If you’re interested in Alabama history, and Selma history in particular, I highly recommend that you take the time to take this walking tour. It’s well worth the trip to Selma, I assure you.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.