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Alabama Historical Commission adds theatre to register of landmarks

By Kris Harrell

The Georgiana Opry House has been added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage by the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC), recognizing its historical significance to Alabama’s music heritage. 

The historical register recognizes buildings, structures, sites, objects and districts of historical, architectural, and/or archaeological significance. On Nov 19, 2024, the Georgiana Opry House announced that they were added to the list. 

The Opry House staff worked together to provide information about its musical and historical heritage during the nomination process. Tracy Eason, president of GA-ANA Opry House described the excitement felt over the announcement.

“When you start a business, you have goals, and getting this building and its history listed with the register was one of my goals,” Easton said. “The word ‘ecstatic’ comes to me. I’m just very, very happy to see us setting goals and pursuing them, I’m excited about that.

The venue has been open for 85 years, marking it a local pillar for music and cultural history.  

“Georgiana Alabama has been full of history since 1855, from Amasa Coleman Lee, father of

Harper Lee to Hank Williams Sr.,” said Eason. “Music lovers and fans of Hank Williams Sr. can now come to the Georgiana Opry House and stand where Hank and the Drifting Cowboys once stood.
“We are playing a role in preserving another element of the story of Hank and the Drifting Cowboys. While preserving this historical music heritage, we are also bringing music acts from across the country and providing free music education for children in our area. Here at the Georgiana Opry House, we want to be a catalyst for economic and cultural growth in Georgiana, Alabama.”

Eight months after opening in 1939, Georgiana native Hank Williams Sr. performed with the original Drifting Cowboys band. Williams Sr. and the Drifting Cowboys performed two more times that same year. 

Williams Sr. became a well-known and awarded artist, regarded as one of the most significant and influential singer-songwriters of the 20th century. To commemorate his contribution to country music, the Georgiana Opry House installed a five-foot gold star where Williams Sr. and the band performed in 1999.

“Hank Williams is huge, he’s a legendary artist,” Easton said. “He came from little Georgiana [and] that gives kids [or] anybody that dreams in this small community and looks around and goes ‘wow, it can happen.’ It gives them a hope. It can be a motivator to them.”

Additionally, the Georgiana Opry House is important for other historical aspects. One of these is the original projector, used by the building in the 1920s and still housed within the Opry House. The venue is also known for its effect on the local community and economic impact on Georgiana.

Through the years, the Georgiana Opry House has preserved the area’s history. Its addition to the AHC’s register has helped to accomplish this goal.

“So much of this history has been lost, but there are so many talented musicians, artists and writers that have come from this area, and we need to preserve that.” Easton said. “In just my experience of going out and talking to people to try to get the history, these people are old, they’re dying, their story changes [with] every generation, every mouth, and it’s really important for us to get the facts and preserve them. The Georgiana Opry house is a means to do that.”

After being added to the register, the Georgiana Opry House is working to install a physical marker to commemorate their addition. This soon-to-be marker will be affiliated with the AHC and the register, and a date for installation is in the works. 

The Georgiana Opry House is accepting donations to continue to work to preserve the musical history of Georgiana and provide music camps for children in the area. Visit https://www.georgianaopryhouse.com/donate-to-georgiana-opry-house for more information.