Nestled just a short drive away from Birmingham, the Shelby County Museum & Archives finds its home within the distinguished Old 1854 Courthouse in the charming town of Columbiana, AL. Erected in 1854, this courthouse is an esteemed example of Jeffersonian Architecture and gained recognition as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

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Operated by the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc., the courthouse serves as a repository for one of the finest local archives in the state, housing a vast collection of research materials. Within our archives lie over 800 County Record Books dating back to the early 1800s, offering a treasure trove of information encompassing wills, probate estate files, early court documents, marriage records, surname files, and more. These resources include numerous rare volumes chronicling the histories of Shelby County families, communities, schools, and churches.