You should never underestimate Alabama’s smaller towns. While exploring the Yellowhammer State, you’ll discover many unique sites, including some of the state’s, and even nation’s, top historical attractions. Interestingly, many of these attractions are located in some of Alabama’s smaller towns.
Listed below are nine historical attractions in Alabama that you’ll most certainly want to add to your bucket list.
- Demopolis — Gaineswood
google/Gary Lazar Demopolis is located in Marengo County, Alabama and was incorporated in 1821. One of its top historical attractions is Gaineswood, a Greek Revival-style plantation home that was built from 1843-61. Address: 805 South Cedar Avenue, Demopolis, AL, 36732
- Orrville — Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
tripadvisor/EllenS123 Orrville is a tiny Alabama town that’s located in Dallas County. It was incorporated in 1908 and is home to Old Cahawba Archaeological Park. This unique park attracts history lovers of all ages because Cahawba (also spelled Cahaba) was Alabama’s first permanent capital. Address: 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville, AL, 36767
- Moundville — Moundville Archaeological Park
google/Cindy Woodhead Moundville, which was incorporated in 1908, is located in both Hale and Tuscaloosa counties. It’s home to Moundville Archaeological Park, one of the country’s premier Native American sites. Address: 634 Mound State Parkway, Moundville, AL, 35474
- Tuskegee — Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
google/Erika Tuskegee was incorporated in 1843 and is the county seat of Macon County, Alabama. One of the town’s most popular attractions is the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the U.S. military. They received their pilot training at Tuskegee’s Moton Field in 1941. Address: 1616 Chappie James Avenue, Tuskegee, AL, 36083
- Mooresville — Mooresville Post Office
facebook/Mooresville, Alabama With a population of around 60, Mooresville is one of Alabama’s smallest towns. What’s really unique is the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including its post office. Mooresville’s post office was built in 1840, which makes it Alabama’s oldest operational post office. Address: 24995 Lauderdale Street, Mooresville, AL, 35649
- Dauphin Island — Fort Gaines
tripadvisor/FelixD Dauphin Island is located on the beautiful Gulf Coast and is best known as the “Sunset Capital of Alabama.” It’s home to Fort Gaines, one of the nation’s best preserved masonry forts from the Civil War era. Address: 51 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528
- Tuscumbia — Ivy Green
google/Pamela Lane Tuscumbia was incorporated in 1820 and is the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama. One of the town’s top historical attractions that welcome visitors from all across the country is Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller. Address: 300 North Commons Street West, Tuscumbia, AL, 35674
- Cleveland — Swann Covered Bridge
wikimedia commons/M.L. Devall/Mld74 Cleveland is a small rural town that’s located in Blount County, Alabama. One of its most popular attractions is its Swann Covered Bridge, Alabama’s longest covered bridge. The Swann Covered Bridge was built in 1933 and spans the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. Address: 1590 Swann Bridge Road, Cleveland, AL, 35049
- Houston — Houston Jail
google/phil white The tiny town of Houston is located in Winston County, Alabama. The historic Houston Jail is the only site in town that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s one of Alabama’s only known surviving log jails. Built in 1868, it’s also one of the nation’s oldest jails. Address: 4806 County Road 63, Houston, AL, 35572
Have you ever visited any of these small towns’ historical attractions? If so, what did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
google/Gary Lazar
Demopolis is located in Marengo County, Alabama and was incorporated in 1821. One of its top historical attractions is Gaineswood, a Greek Revival-style plantation home that was built from 1843-61. Address: 805 South Cedar Avenue, Demopolis, AL, 36732
tripadvisor/EllenS123
Orrville is a tiny Alabama town that’s located in Dallas County. It was incorporated in 1908 and is home to Old Cahawba Archaeological Park. This unique park attracts history lovers of all ages because Cahawba (also spelled Cahaba) was Alabama’s first permanent capital. Address: 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville, AL, 36767
google/Cindy Woodhead
Moundville, which was incorporated in 1908, is located in both Hale and Tuscaloosa counties. It’s home to Moundville Archaeological Park, one of the country’s premier Native American sites. Address: 634 Mound State Parkway, Moundville, AL, 35474
google/Erika
Tuskegee was incorporated in 1843 and is the county seat of Macon County, Alabama. One of the town’s most popular attractions is the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the U.S. military. They received their pilot training at Tuskegee’s Moton Field in 1941. Address: 1616 Chappie James Avenue, Tuskegee, AL, 36083
facebook/Mooresville, Alabama
With a population of around 60, Mooresville is one of Alabama’s smallest towns. What’s really unique is the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including its post office. Mooresville’s post office was built in 1840, which makes it Alabama’s oldest operational post office. Address: 24995 Lauderdale Street, Mooresville, AL, 35649
tripadvisor/FelixD
Dauphin Island is located on the beautiful Gulf Coast and is best known as the “Sunset Capital of Alabama.” It’s home to Fort Gaines, one of the nation’s best preserved masonry forts from the Civil War era. Address: 51 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528
google/Pamela Lane
Tuscumbia was incorporated in 1820 and is the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama. One of the town’s top historical attractions that welcome visitors from all across the country is Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller. Address: 300 North Commons Street West, Tuscumbia, AL, 35674
wikimedia commons/M.L. Devall/Mld74
Cleveland is a small rural town that’s located in Blount County, Alabama. One of its most popular attractions is its Swann Covered Bridge, Alabama’s longest covered bridge. The Swann Covered Bridge was built in 1933 and spans the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. Address: 1590 Swann Bridge Road, Cleveland, AL, 35049
google/phil white
The tiny town of Houston is located in Winston County, Alabama. The historic Houston Jail is the only site in town that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s one of Alabama’s only known surviving log jails. Built in 1868, it’s also one of the nation’s oldest jails. Address: 4806 County Road 63, Houston, AL, 35572
For more information about the town of Mooresville, be sure to check out our previous article: The Historic Small Town That Every Alabamian Should Visit At Least Once.
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