Hassinger Daniels Mansion: A Victorian B&B In Birmingham, AL

Beautiful restoration comes to life as Birmingham's 2nd bed and breakfast

The Hassinger Daniels Mansion likely survived from 1898, when so many others around it were torn down, because only two families inhabited it from the beginning. The original owner, William Hassinger, was an iron investor who brought electricity to the area. He and his wife Virginia lived there until 1929. Afterwards, the Daniels family purchased it and moved in. The Chaffins bought it in 2010.

This lovely Victorian/Queen Anne home features light colored brick, a wrap-around verandah, and gables and turrets on the roof. The front sidewalk leads to an iron gate opening to Highland Avenue, once known as Silk Stocking Row.

Gorgeous interior architectural details

Inside the Hassinger Daniels Mansion Bed and Breakfast, the architectural details will have you gazing in wonder through every room. There are chandeliers with ornate medallions, high ceilings, and fireplaces everywhere you look. The wall colors are bright, and the wainscoting and other wood trim reflect the opulent Victorian time period. The stained glass windows in the staircase are breathtaking.

Each guest room is unique

1/2 hassinger daniels mansion: a victorian b&b in birmingham, al | each guest room is unique

2/2 each guest room is unique

Ten individually-decorated rooms are available for guests, most sleeping two but several sleeping up to four people. The names give hints of the interesting details inside. The Peacock Room features a full-size peacock bed crown, for example, and the Seraphim Room includes hand-carved angels. The Camelot Room is particularly stunning with its octagonal turret window and a hand-carved carousel horse.

Many have clawfoot tubs in the bathrooms, and all utilize antique furniture and vintage touches. There are glass transoms over the tall doors. In addition to all of these details, guests still have the advantage of complimentary Wi-Fi in each room.

On a quick note, the clawfoot tubs have high sides that might be a little challenging to get in and out of, especially for guests with short legs.

A bonus in the basement

A major bonus for the guests of this bed and breakfast is the presence of Chaffin Carousel Carving School in the basement. Ira Chaffin majored in fine arts at the University of Southern California and is a professional sculptor. He is sought after around the country for portrait sculptures in both bronze and terra cotta clay. Chaffin enjoys carving carousel horses and other animals out of basswood and invites students of all ages and ability levels to come, learn, and work alongside him. A popular treat for guests, after eating breakfast and before check-out time, is to make their way around to the back of the mansion and step inside Chaffin’s studio.

Mrs. Sheila Chaffin has impressive credentials of her own. She majored in architecture and is well-known as both a city and a campus planner. They moved to Birmingham, in fact, in order for Mrs. Chaffin to work on the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus.

The talents of both Chaffins have made the Hassinger Daniels Mansion into the showplace it is today.

Don't forget breakfast and sweets

1/2 don't forget breakfast and sweets

2/2 don't forget breakfast and sweets

With all there is to see and experience inside this bed and breakfast, you might think that breakfast is an afterthought, but nothing could be further from the truth. Breakfast is served in the beautiful dining room at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. It consists of a hot entree or sausage, croissant or biscuit, eggs and fruit with coffee and juice.

Complimentary soft drinks and other beverages are kept in the downstairs refrigerator, and there are cookies or pastries in the foyer in the afternoons.

Guests need not worry about going hungry. Dozens of restaurants, both fast food and very upscale, are within a three-block walking radius of Hassinger Daniels Mansion.