The Leeds Stagecoach Route is Over 200 Years Old

The Leeds Stagecoach route has an extremely interesting history and is one of Alabama’s best-known landmarks.

The actual name of the route was the Asheville-Montevallo Road and was Central Alabama’s longest-lived stagecoach route.

It it’s beginning it was an Indian trail that started in the 1800’s and is still in existence today.

It has evolved into one of Alabama’s scenic byways and is still heavy used today.

The Leeds Stagecoach Route MarkerThe Leeds Stagecoach Route Marker

The History of the Leeds Stagecoach Route

In use for over 200 years, it began as an Indian trail that soon became a trade route for both early settlers as well as Christian missionaries.

As it became more popular, it was widened to use as a road for supply wagons, soldiers, as well as stagecoaches.

It soon became the staging ground for three different Alabama emerging cultures, which were traveling through the vast watershed lands in old southern Alabama.

The early Christian Cherokees along with European travelers to the state used it to start and build Methodist churches.

Scouts for Andrew Jackson arrived on the scene in the years 1812-1813 and widened the trail to use for their supply wagons.

When the Veterans of the Creek Indian War in Alabama came to the Leeds valley in 1820, they widened the Leeds Stagecoach route even wider. 

Once this occurred, it became a permanent stagecoach route that to this day has changed very little.

In fact, it still bears several landmarks of these early settler years, and in the year 1998 it was marked by the Leeds Historical Society as a National Landmark. 

In the year 2000, the county of St. Clair continued the marking of the Leeds Stagecoach Route when it traced the Ashville Montevallo Road to the Etowah County line.

There are over 22 markers along this historic trail that document its rich and diverse history, and they include some of the following.

  • Old Homes
  • Old Businesses
  • Several Churches
  • Several Cemeteries

Not only has the state of Alabama sought help for even more historical sites, but so has the National Historic Registry.

This beautiful scenic byway travels north for approximately 18 miles through a gorgeous valley.

This valley includes several unique archival treasures, several historical sites, as well as natural beauty that is still largely untouched.

Most of the land in the area where the Leeds Stagecoach Route runs through has been owned and operated by the same families for several generations.

Nature along the Leeds Stagecoach Route

Nature enthusiasts love this historic route, as it features Lake Purdy where they can enjoy several different activities.

These include the following attractions for you and your family to enjoy.

  • Bicycling
  • Canoeing
  • Horseback riding
  • Great fishing spots from the banks of the river
  • Nature at its finest
  • Flatboats for rent

The town of Leeds was first incorporated in the years 1887 and has a beautiful vintage downtown district.

It is decorated with numerous hanging baskets that will tantalize your entire family from the months of May through November.

You can stop and get an old-fashioned lunch at the famous Wild Berry Tea Room or enjoy first class world cuisine at Angie’s Restaurant. 

Places of Interest to See Along the Leeds Stagecoach Route

The Leeds Stagecoach MapThe Leeds Stagecoach Map

There are several places of interest for you and your family to enjoy along this scenic bypass, and they include some of the following.

  • The Wagons Road and Trails
  • The Medal of Honor Museum
  • The Leeds Historical Park
  • Fullers Mill
  • The Johnson Footbridge
  • The Lee’s Veterans Memorial

The Wagons Road and Trail

One of the first attractions along the Leeds Stagecoach Route is the Wagons Road and Trails.

This is one of the many markers along this scenic bypass that preserves the original route of the Asheville-Montevallo route.

It marks this routes ride along the Little Cahaba River that travels along the Appalachian foothills.  

The Leeds Stagecoach RouteThe Leeds Stagecoach Route

The Medal of Honor Museum

The Medal of Honor Museum is the next stop, and this honors the Leeds natives who are Congressional Medal of Honor winners.

The Leeds Historical Park

The Leeds Historical Park is located at the Leeds Memorial Park and features a one and half mile walking track along with a playground.

It is situated on the north bank of the Little Cahaba River across from Alabama Highway 119.

Originally established as a memorial to Veterans, it helps to recount the valor of three Congressional Medal of Honor winners that are recounted with brass markers on a brick monument.

This monument features flags from the three branches of service which these three brave men served the town of Leeds.

Fullers Mill

The next stop along the Leeds Stagecoach Route is Fullers Mill, which is an educational display of millstones located at the old Fullers Mill.

This mill was once the main community millstone for the town and helped it thrive and grow into what the town is today. 

The Johnson Footbridge

The Johnson Footbridge is the next stop for you and your family and is something you will soon not forget.

This old truss bridge still carries pedestrians across the creek the separates the Historical Park from the Memorial Park.

The Lee’s Veterans Memorial

The Lee’s Veterans Memorial is the final stop, and it is a tribute to both local and state soldiers who served in the Civil War, the Vietnam and Korean War, as well as both World Wars.

This special tribute also honors and remembers the POW’s, the MIAs, as well as the three local Medal of Honor winners.

The Leeds Stagecoach route is one of Alabama’s most scenic byways and makes a great day trip for you and your family.

References

https://www.alabamabyways.com/2012/09/25/leeds-stagecoach-route/

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