Florence, Alabama: Forks of Cypress Plantation Ruins

The Forks of Cypress plantation home was built in 1830. It was know for having columns surrounding the whole house. Almost all of it burned to the ground when lightning struck it on June 6th, 1966 (6/6/66; strange, huh?). The 24 columns, however, remained intact.

These columns still stand on the foundation of the house where this famous mansion once stood as a haunting reminder of what occurred on that day. A replica of the mansion was built in downtown Florence after it burned down. It is currently the home of a bank. The plantation ruins are on private property, but can be seen easily from the road.

Built in 1820 by James Jackson, the columns are all that remain of this historic plantation house that burnt to the ground in 1966 after being struck by lightning. Local rumor is that the columns survived the fire because the materials used in their construction contained ground horse-hair, which is flame retardant.

The plantation grounds are also home to the infamous "Ghost Bridge," the site of many rumored slave hangings in the mid- to late-19th Century. Across the street from the columns, and down a short trail, lies the Jackson Family Cemetery. The sites mentioned above are on private property, but good shots of the Forks of Cypress can be taken from the road.