Pickens County, Alabama Historic Courthouse

The Pickens County courthouse is open for tours by request only. Please contact the Courthouse committee by email at pcfaceinthewindow@gmail.com.

The original Pickens County courthouse was built in 1840. However, in 1865 invading Union soldiers burned the building. The courthouse was rebuilt and in 1876 was burned again by Henry Wells and some friends after an attempted robbery. Wells was arrested in 1878 and convicted of burning the courthouse. He was moved from the lower level of the courthouse to the attic area by the sheriff for his safety. The famous face image is attributed to a lightening flash from an electrical storm that occurred as Wells looked down on an angry crowd below.

The story of the "Face in the Window" was made famous by Katherine Tucker Windham in her book "Thirteen Alabama Ghosts."