History
Attracted to the healthful spring waters and mountain air, Dr. Burritt chose to build his retirement home on this 167 acre portion of Monte Sano, known as Round Top Mountain. Construction on the unique X-shaped house began in 1934. Dr. Burritt chose to insulate the home with bales of wheat straw. Before his first night in the house in 1936, a fire destroyed the home. During reconstruction of the current home, the shape and insulation remained the same, but concrete and concrete-fiber-reinforced shingles replaced a majority of the wood in the original design. Having no heirs from his three marriages, Dr. Burritt left the mansion and surrounding property to the City of Huntsville to become the city's first museum.