The Jonathan Bass House Museum (circa 1863-1865) is located at 1129 Montevallo Road in Leeds, Alabama. The museum open to visitors on Wednesdays and Sundays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Group tours are available by appointment and can be arranged by calling Dell Harding Smith at 699-6755. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
The Jonathan Bass House is an uncommon example of architecture with unusually decorative elements of wood graining in its front parlors and stenciling on the ceiling its the Great Hall. The painted ceiling design in the Men's Parlor, which depicts a billiard table, is a rare feature in American architecture, unique for its time and place.
The house sits on one of the earliest dwelling sites along a stagecoach road that existed as early as 1820.
The Leeds Historical Society purchased the Bass House (circa 1863) in 2003 from Bold Springs Presbyterian Church and restored the historic home on Alabama Hwy. 119. The Grand Opening of the Jonathan Bass House Museum was celebrated in November 2006.
Today, the old farmhouse showcases a museum of local history. Among Leeds' famous people are scholars, soldiers, athletes, beauties and more. Olympic-great and Leeds native Charles Barkley donated his Leeds High School team shirt as well as one he wore in an NBA Championship game. Miss America Runner-Up Paige Phillips Parnell donated her Miss Alabama crown. Exhibits also feature those who made their fame as a college president, as medal of honor recipients and more.
In 2008, the Bass House was named to the National Register of Historic Places.
THE BASS FAMILY STORY 
Jonathan Bass was born Jan. 30, 1837, in Jefferson County, Alabama. His father arrived in Jefferson County in 1816, and Jonathan was a life-long resident. Although the Bass House was under copnstruction as early as 1863, Jonathan left the farm to join the Confederate Army in 1860. He finished the front two rooms when he returned from the Civil War.
He married Ruteria Watson on Dec. 6, 1865. Jonathan and Ruth were the parents of nine children. In 1870 through 1880, additions and modifications were made to the house to accomodate the growing Bass family.
Thomas Bass Jr. was the last of the Bass family to occupy the house. In 1992, he left the house to Bold Springs Presbyterian Church.
