Horace King (1807-1885) was enslaved, but his legacy as a master builder of bridges, renowned for his lattice-covered bridge designs, extends far beyond his lifetime. King’s work had a profound impact on the infrastructure of the Deep South.
Horace King was born on a South Carolina plantation. When King’s enslaver died, he was sold to John Godwin as a teenager. Godwin taught King to read and write and how to build. Both Godwin and King apprenticed under the noted architect and bridge builder Ithiel Town, one of the first professional architects in America. King’s hard work and determination, regardless of the obstacles, led to him being publicly recognized as a “co-builder” of Godwin by 1840.
In 1846, Horace earned enough money to buy his freedom and continued to work with John Godwin, with whom he collaborated on eight major projects throughout the South. King constructed covered bridges over every large river between western Georgia and eastern Mississippi. As King’s wealth grew, he became the wealthiest Black man in Alabama. Additionally, Horace King served two terms in Alabama’s Reconstruction legislature from 1868 to 1872. His impact on the South, both as a builder and a legislator, is a testament to his resilience and technical expertise.