Metropolitan
The area slicing through Alabama’s north-central region was once the center of ancient civilization in North America. Moundville, with its 26 earthen mounds, was the largest city in North America from 1000 to 1450 A.D. Today, visitors can see what archaeologists have discovered.
contained residential apartments.
But while the region can claim an ancient city, it is also the home of Alabama’s largest city and one of its newest. Birmingham, with a metropolitan population near 1 million, lies within 50 miles of the three main ingredients for producing iron and steel. It sprang like magic from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1800s. The 19th-century furnaces at Tannehill and Brierfield near Birmingham and the 20th-century Sloss Furnaces are vestiges of this age.
Along with the industrial development came a boom in art and culture. Vulcan Park, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Alabama Theatre and Rickwood Field—the world’s oldest ballpark—are rooted in the city’s history.
Perhaps Birmingham is best known for the historic role it played in the Civil Rights struggle of the mid-20th century. Visitors will learn about this pivotal time in history at the Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park and the 16th Street Baptist Church.
From dinosaur bones to the only meteorite known to have struck a human, the collection at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa reflects Alabama’s rich, natural diversity. The Alabama Mining Museum in Dora illustrates the difficult conditions endured by miners in the 1900s. Marion is home to both Judson College and Marion Military Institute.
Elsewhere in the region are museums that one wouldn’t expect to find in Alabama. The artwork created by World War II German prisoners of war incarcerated in Alabama is exhibited at the Aliceville Museum. Personal items that belonged to George and Martha Washington make up the collection of the Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington in Columbiana. Adolph Hitler’s silver tea service, Asian art and European sculpture are among the items on display at the Berman Museum of World History in Anniston. An entire Colonial village has been recreated at American Village in Montevallo.
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Attractions
Admission: Unknown
Accepted: Personal Checks, Travelers Checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover
Collection of shotgun houses depicting low-income black life 1930s–1960s. Houses named for Civil Rights pioneers such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy. Photographs, articles, other memorabilia.
Admission: Unknown
Fascinating collection of old radios, photographs and other memorabilia. Also wall-mounted story boards which present step-by-step technical development of radio.
Admission: Free
Country’s most comprehensive education and rehabilitation program for deaf and blind children and adults. Campus buildings notably restored include Manning Hall (1850), Jemison House (1898) and Grace Hall (1878).
Admission: Free
Tribute to jazz greats with ties to Alabama. Features such artists as Lionel Hampton, Erskine Hawkins, Sun Ra and many others. Visitors taken from beginning of jazz to present day.
Admission: Free
Bronze plaques honoring men who have made significant impact statewide, nationally or internationally. Also high school essay contest.
Admission: Free
Located in 1935 gym built by WPA. 1900s train, mining cars, one-room Black school, Old Wyatt Elementary School, 1900s Kellerman Post Office, Oakman Depot.
Admission: Free
Visit historic Smith Hall. View Grand Exhibition Hall built at turn of century: displays of fossils, rocks, minerals from Age of Dinosaurs, Ice and Coal Ages. See only meteorite known to have struck a human.
Admission: Admission charged
Accepted: Personal Checks, Travelers Checks
Museum: equipment, instruments and objects representing the history and development of the health sciences in the U.S., with special emphasis on Alabama. Library: Collection of rare books on medical history.
Admission: Free
Outfitting for backpacking, climbing, adventure travel, whitewater boating, other outdoor pursuits. Rentals, instructional classes, sales.
Admission: Unknown
Accepted: Personal Checks, Travelers Checks
The only full-time professional skydiving center serving Alabama. State-of-the-art skydiving equipment, commercial jumpships offering the highest skydive available, video and still photograpy of dives.
Admission: Admission charged
Canoe the Cahaba River: 2.5-hr. and 5-hr. trips suitable for all ages. Guided kayak trips—details on website. All types boating equipment.
Admission: Unknown
Accepted: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Personal Checks, Travelers Checks, Visa
Original memorabilia from 200+ inductees, including Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, boxer Joe Louis, track and field greats Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis. 2 Heisman trophies, 3 World Series trophies, awards. Theater, touch-screen videos.
Admission: Admission charged
Accepted: Travelers Checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express
1927 movie palace maintained in original form. Built by Paramount, now functions as performing arts facility and houses largest Wurlitzer pipe organ in South.
Admission: Admission charged
Accepted: Travelers Checks
Salute to all Alabama veterans killed in all wars from 20th century to present. All U.S. veterans honored in Flag Plaza with purchase of Step Stone marker.
Admission: Unknown
Bronze plaques in honor of women who made significant contributions on a state, national or international level during their lifetime.
Admission: Free
Located on the University of West Alabama campus in Sumter County. Built over the Surcarnoochee River in 1861 of hand-hewn heartpine timbers joined with wooden pegs, and later moved to Alamuchee Creek, this is west Alabama's only remaining covered bridge.
Admission: Free
Company store of former Montevallo Coal Mine displays pictures and artifacts of community of Aldrich, coal mine, prison, stores, churches and post office. Collection teaches history of coal mining in Alabama. Has only coal miner monument in Alabama.
Admission: Admission charged