Looking to take a little road trip somewhere? There are plenty of Alabama museums that’d make the perfect destination.
In fact, there are so many one-of-a-kind museums unique to Alabama throughout the state, and sometimes, that can make it hard to decide which one to visit. Whether you’re interested in Alabama’s role in music, movies, space, architecture, art, history and so much more, there’s a museum likely dedicated to it.
So without further ado, here’s a look at 10 museums unique to Alabama you need to visit.
The Isabel Anderson Comer Museum and Arts Center in Sylacauga, Ala. (Amber Sutton/AL.com)Amber Sutton
The Isabel Anderson Comer Museum and Arts Center
Tucked away in Sylacauga, The Isabel Anderson Comer Museum and Arts Center offers visitors to chance to view and learn more about the small town’s history through a wide array of exhibits with local ties, including one-of-a-kind sculptures made from Alabama marble, Native American artifacts, a replica of the Hodges meteorite and a Jim Nabors, a native of the area known for playing Gomer Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show,” memorabilia display. The museum also hosts temporary installations and special events throughout the year.
Read more:Year of Alabama Music: Jim Nabors
The Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder, located off Highway 431 in Seale, Ala., was created by nationally-renowned folk artist Butch Anthony in 2014. It displays an array of Butch’s work in addition to found and gifted curiosities.Amber Sutton
Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder
Located off Highway 431 in Seale is one museum you can check out without ever leaving the comfort of your car — The Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder. Created by nationally-renowned folk artist Butch Anthony in 2014, the museum consists of several shipping containers, all with glass windows for easy viewing, that house a rotating display of Butch’s eclectic, handcrafted designs in addition to found artifacts, gifted curiosities, like the world’s largest gallstone, and more.
Read more:10 quirky Alabama attractions worth a trip
Operated by the Mobile Carnival Association, the Mobile Carnival Museum is housed in the historic Bernstein-Bush mansion on Government Street in downtown Mobile.
The Mobile Carnival Museum
At The William and Emily Hearin Mobile Carnival Museum, you can learn about the oldest Carnival celebration in the United States by taking a guided tour of its more than a dozen galleries, which offer displays of royal robes, crowns and scepters as well as emblem costumes, favors, doubloons and more from local mystic organizations. The museum, which is located inside one of Mobile’s historic mansions, also features an interactive float exhibit, video presentations and more.
Read more:Inside the museum dedicated to Mardi Gras
Inside the Old Courthouse Museum in Monroeville, Ala., is a tourism draw for the small city of 5,700 residents. It has been restored to its 1930s appearance. This is the view from the bench. (file photo).
The Monroe County Old Courthouse Museum
For fans of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a visit to The Monroe County Old Courthouse Museum in Monroeville is a must. Not only does it house the original courtroom that served as the inspiration for the one in the 1962 film adaption of Harper Lee’s classic novel, but it also features exhibits dedicated to the works of Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Each exhibit includes a variety of artifacts, photographs and more from both authors’ lives, including a piece of the famed “Boo Radley” tree from “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
Read more:Monroeville’s Old Courthouse Museum houses spirits of authors Harper Lee, Truman Capote
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center almost annually tops in the state in paid attendance, and tops many lists as the No. 1 attraction in Huntsville. (Scott Turner/AL.com)
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Another amazing Alabama museum worth a visit is the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, which features an array of interactive exhibits and more. Plus, the museum displays more than 1,500 items in its rocket and space hardware collection, including America’s first satellite Explorer I, Saturn V Moon Rocket and so much more. Plus, if you want to get the full experience, there are simulators you can try as well as a 67-foot dome theater.
Hank Williams took his final road trip in this 1952 Cadillac, which can be seen at the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery. The country star died in the back seat of the car, while being driven to a gig on New Year’s Day 1953. (AL.com file photo/Philip Barr)bn
The Hank Williams Museum
For a look at the life of country music icon and Alabama native, plan a visit to the Hank Williams Museum in downtown Montgomery. The 6,000-square-foot museum has over 35 showcases featuring variety of items from his life and career on display, including 17 of his signature suits and out clothing, awards, musical instruments, furniture, portraits, records, albums and even his 1952 Baby Blue Cadillac. The museum also hosts special events throughout the year and has a gift shop you can browse.
Visitors can ride along the Calera & Shelby Railroad on a vintage train at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, Ala. (Kelly Kazek)
The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
For train enthusiasts, it’ll be hard to beat a stop at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, as it offers visitors the chance to take a nostalgic ride through history aboard restored open-air and vintage enclosed railroad coaches pulled by a first-generation diesel-electric locomotive through the Alabama countryside. In addition, the museum, which is housed in a renovated depot, has a large collection of railroad artifacts, memorabilia and more for guests to browse.
Read more:Learn about Alabama railroad history at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
The Rosenbaum House in Florence is an example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Usonian” concept for suburban homes.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com
The Rosenbaum House
The Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House in Florence is a single-family home designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright that is open for guided tours as an example of his Usonian house concept. In addition to touring the house, which was built for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum in 1940 and is the only Wright building in Alabama, guests are also able to view some of the original Wright-designed furniture.
Read more: Alabama’s Frank Lloyd Wright home: 5 things you didn’t know
The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Ala. (AL.com)Amber Sutton
The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum
Located in historic Old Cloverdale in Montgomery, The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum is the only museum dedicated to preserving the history and legacies of the iconic couple. Housed in a former residence of the Fitzgeralds’, the museum offers guided tours and features a display of art, books, handwritten letters and more in addition to hosting special events throughout the year. For the full experience, you can even rent out an Airbnb suite in the museum’s upper floors and stay the night.
It’s hard to miss the sign for the Alabama Fan Club and Museum in Fort Payne, Ala.bn
The Alabama Fan Club and Museum
Country music fans should plan a stop at the Alabama Fan Club and Museum in the trio’s hometown of Fort Payne. The newly-renovated museum houses more than 50 years of music memorabilia related to the chart-topping band, including personal items, videos, pictures, awards and gifts from other artists and more. In addition, you can buy exclusive merchandise in the gift shop and join the official Alabama fan club while you’re there!
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Publish date : 2024-08-23 02:10:00
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