The Big Spring of Today

By 1957, the Big Spring that had once been essential to Huntsville's origin and growth was no longer the city's primary water supply. Big Spring Park remained a source of pride for the city and a monument to its founding. Even with its industrial uses, the spring had served as a functioning park for many years. While stationed in Huntsville during the Spanish-American War, Colonel W. Hiram Chittenden of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took an interest in the spring and relocated the pump house, installed a fountain, and lined the lagoon. The Big Spring still generates 7-20 million gallons of water per day, providing a source of natural beauty around which the community can congregate and connect. The park has been home to numerous events and remains the central feature of downtown Huntsville.

Huntsville, Alabama · United States