Horace King was an accomplished builder and architect. He is known for his bridges, but he also designed other buildings.

The Albany Bridge House was built by King in 1858. King was born into slavery but was granted privileges to build around the South. Albany’s founder, Nelson Tift, hired him to build a bridge across the Flint River. The bridge was built with an adjoining bridge house to serve as the official gateway to the town where the town could collect tolls.

Over the years, the bridge house served as a smith shop and an auto parts store. It now functions as the Albany Welcome Center.