Beginnings of the Coleman Center

A dream of Dorothy “Tut” Altman Riddick became reality in 1982 when the J.A. Coleman Estate made a gift to the City of York of a former general store building dating from 1905 (last used as a tire re-capping plant) and other property to the City of York to house the City Library, a museum focusing primarily on contemporary art and crafts by Alabama artists, and space for art and craft workshops and other community activities. In 1985, in a completely renovated facility, the Coleman Center for the Arts opened with a show of contemporary arts and crafts from the collection of Tut and Harry Riddick.