Citronelle is a small town nestled in the pines of Southern Alabama. Its history can  be dated back 300 years to the first settlement of Indians in the 1700's. It is an old Indian legend that the red man roamed throughout the Gulf Coast region in search of a land that yielded life giving vegetation and springs of curative powers. Guided by inherent instinct, the Indians trekked on until they arrived in the location of Citronelle. There they found natural healing herbs growing in abundance and clear springs stirred from the elevation of the land. At 366 feet above sea level, the water moved just enough to prevent stagnation and contamination. These springs now nourished the land and its inhabitants.

In 1775, English botanist William Bartram, made a trip to Citronelle to secure the leaves of the Collinsonia Canadensis, which is a citronella plant used in tea that cures fever. This was the beginning of a undiscovered secret. In an effort to expand, English settlers came to Citronelle in 1811 and later flourished due to the arrival of the Ohio and Mobile Railroad in 1851. Today you can visit the Railroad Station, now cited as a historical landmark, and view the effects of transient access on small towns in the South.

Historic Ohio & Mobile
Train Depot

After the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was established, resort hotels became the vacationers need. In search of the healing springs, tourists flocked to the Citronelle resorts. The Pullman Hotel, The Hotel Citronelle, and The Drummer Hotel accommodated the tourist rush in the late 1800's. The Hygeia Hotel also served as a tuberculin hospital of sorts. Small cottages were built around the back perimeter of the hotel to give patients access to the healing springs. Several of the hotels became Alabama landmarks until they were destroyed. The Hotel Citronelle, the last remaining hotel, was torn down in the 1970's.

Historic Hygeia Cottage

The tragic history of the Civil War also finds a place in the town of Citronelle. The last surrender of the Confederate Army, east of the Mississippi River, was made at "Surrender Oak" on May 4, 1865. Led by Commander General Richard Taylor forces laid down their guns to Union General E.R.S. Canby near Sydney Station. A memorial marker placed by the Preservation Society of Mobile marks where the original white oak (destroyed by the hurricane of 1906) once stood.

Marker at the site of the Historic
"Surrender Oak"

The Citronelle Chautauqua was established in 1905 for the purpose of entertainment. It was an auditorium that seated 2000 spectators for events such as plays, lectures, and concerts. The Chautauqua Association was composed of 141 members, which were responsible for the organization and promotion of all events. Season tickets could be purchased for $3.50. In the 1930's attempts were made to restore the Chautauqua, but despite the efforts the building was destroyed.

The economy of Citronelle flourished once again in 1955 when oil was accidentally discovered. In the next nine years over 400 oil wells were established. Citronelle was and still is declared the Oil Capital of Alabama.

Citronelle is a small town that has made its place in history, and continues to make its place in the 21st century. Throughout the 300 years of its existence it has remained a quiet secret to most, but to some it has become a home where heritage is built generation after generation. We invite you to come and see a part of the past left in this small town.