FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2026
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) awarded the Historic Huntsville Foundation $75,000 from the 2026 Historic Sites Grant Program to preserve Harrison Brothers Hardware and create more free educational programs and community event space in downtown Huntsville.
Grant funds will be used to upgrade the electrical and HVAC systems of the Harrison Brothers Building, originally constructed in 1901. HHF will also use funds to protect historic artifacts and memorabilia displayed throughout the store. In addition, HHF will utilize funds to increase educational exhibitions and create multi-functional spaces to host larger community programs and events.
The grant underscores the significance of Harrison Brothers in the historical, cultural, and economic life of Huntsville and North Alabama. HHF Executive Director Donna Castellano states, “Harrison Brothers is a free heritage tourism attraction in the heart of downtown Huntsville that welcomed over 30,000 visitors in 2025. Our Historic Huntsville Museum is the only historic site in North Alabama listed by the National Park Service to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. Our support of local artists and makers directly contributes to the economic growth of Huntsville and Madison County.”
Founded in 1974, HHF is a nonprofit organization that owns and operates Harrison Brothers Hardware as part of its preservation mission. Harrison Brothers operated as a family-owned business from 1879-1983. HHF purchased the store in 1984 to preserve the building and continue a retail tradition in downtown Huntsville. HHF maintains the historic building, operates the historic store, and interprets the store’s history in relation to local, state, and national events
HHF is deeply indebted to Senators Arthur Orr and Sam Givhan and Representative Rex Reynolds, members of the Madison County legislative delegation, for their support of the Historic Sites Program, which included $3,600,000 in funding. To qualify for the grant, organizations must operate a historic site with a history-based mission and concentrate on historical-based programming.
Contact: Donna Castellano
256.508.5372
donna@historichuntsville.org