The Drish House is a historic mansion with a rich history. It was built in the 1830s by Dr. John R. Drish, a physician, and his wife, Sarah. The Drish House served as their home for 50 years. At the time of construction, Tuscaloosa served as the State Capital and the University of Alabama had just opened in 1831. The mansion’s ornate architecture makes it an iconic landmark and one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Tuscaloosa.

The house changed hands several times after the death of Sarah Drish; while it was still a residence the surrounding property was sold and subdivided to create Tuscaloosa’s first major expansion. The house was bought by the Tuscaloosa Board of Education, which opened the Jemison School in 1906, one of the area’s first public schools.

One of the most famous photographs of the Drish House was taken by Walker Evans when the house was an auto parts warehouse for the Tuscaloosa Wrecking Company. Evans worked for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of the Great Depression on American society. His photographs captured the hardships and struggles of the American people and are considered iconic representations of that era.

In the 1940’s the Drish House was purchased by the Southside Baptist Church and served the community in this role for 50 years. The church renovated the house, opening the main hall on the first floor for assembly space and added the “Sunday School” rooms on the second floor.

The Drish House stood empty until 2014 when Matt and Nika McCool purchased the property and began the transformation that exists today. The Historic Drish House continues to serve the community as a Premier Event Venue in one of Tuscaloosa’s most historic and architecturally significant buildings.