Alabama Southern Community College Literary Courtyard

During the 2003 Alabama Writers Symposium, Alabama Southern dedicated the Fountain of Literary Inspiration in honor of ten outstanding writers who have at one point called Monroeville or Monroe County home. The fountain, also called the Monroeville Writers Fountain, is the centerpiece of a beautifully landscaped courtyard outside the library. The fountain and courtyard provide a space for campus events and quiet reflection. As the Literary Capital of Alabama, Monroeville has been home to some of the South's best writers: Harper Lee, Truman Capote, Mark Childress, Marva Collins, Rheta Grimsley Johnson, Riley Kelly, Mike Stewart, William Barrett Travis, Cynthia Tucker and Hank Williams. The Monroeville Writers Fountain and Courtyard celebrates these writers and the power their words have had in the lives of citizens around the globe. The names of the 10 honored writers are etched into the limestone that borders the pool at the fountain's base. The Alabama Center for Literary Arts' art collection features five works by Nall depicting the luminaries of the New South. These mixed media works highlight the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Booker T. Washington, Helen Keller, and Monroeville natives Truman Capote and Harper Lee.