Alabama Preservation

While Alabama has definitely defined its own local character and culture since its unification in 1819, there have been settlers living in the region for much longer.  Several sites recognized as National Historic Landmarks in the area remind us of the cultures that preceded the Alabama of today.

The Bottle Creek Indian Mounds are located at the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in Mobile, Alabama.  Archaeologists recognize the site as one of the premier locations of Mississippian culture—the Native American tribes that occupied the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern US between 800 CE and 1500 CE.  The Bottle Creek site is thought to have been occupied between 1250 and 1550 CE, and consists of 18 earthen mounds.  The tallest one is 45 feet high.  The mounds usually served as platforms for temples or houses, which were built on top. (more…)

The residents of Huntsville take 4-D to a whole new level when they live out the past of the Alabama Constitution Village. This isn’t a movie or a documentary, its real people, dressed up in colonial clothing, engrossing themselves in the day to day activities of the past. The historically clad tour guides will take you on a journey through eight reconstructed Federal style buildings. Let your imagination take over as you hear the whir of the spinning wheel, smell freshly baked bread, and chat with villagers who don’t seem to realize 200 years have passed as they go about their daily chores.

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Can you imagine going through life unable to see OR hear? For 19 month old Helen Keller, this nightmare of sorts became an unfortunate reality. After a severe illness as an infant, Helen lost two of her most important senses—but this didn’t stop her from becoming one of history’s most remarkable women of all times. Thanks to Dr. Alexander Graham Bell (inventor of the telephone), Helen was united with Anne Sullivan—more commonly known as ‘The Miracle Worker’. By the age of seven, Ms. Sullivan had gotten through to Helen and taught her to read, write, and speak a language which was previously unknown to the southern wild child. (more…)

Located in Childersburg, Alabama, DeSoto Caverns is comprised of a series of caves at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.  Legend and lore runs deep at the caverns, as locals tell tales of the caverns various uses over the past centuries.

DeSoto Caverns houses a Woodland Indian burial site, named “Copena,” uncovered by a team of archaeologists in 1965.  Among the remains was the enormous jawbone, researchers believe to belong to a Native American over 7 feet tall.  It is believed, the local native tribe found the cave to be a peaceful, protective environment to both guard and give rest to the souls of their departed. (more…)

Set deep in the heart of Alabama, Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium pumps crimson lifeblood all across the other extremities of the state.  The gargantuan college football temple is the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference, holding worship every Saturday for the historic Alabama Crimson Tide football program.  With all 101,000 seats filled to capacity every home game, the sprawling stadium is quite the spectacle with legions of passionate fans hanging on every play.  The Crimson Tide boast one of the nation’s most proud, loyal fan bases, selling out every home game in Bryant-Denny stadium, dating back to the 1988 season. (more…)

Not many current cities have buildings that lasted through two depressions and the Civil War. Decatur, Alabama is an exception. Start your historic tour at the Old State Bank, one of three banks authorized by the Alabama General Assembly in 1832. Since its construction, the building has served as a hospital guardhouse, a bank, and a dance hall.  The building is authentically decorated with antique pieces from its time.

If you’re in the mood to take a stroll through history, we recommend Decatur’s Historic Walking Tour. These historic tours take you on a journey through Decatur’s colorful past. Interestingly enough, the historic aspects have merged with modern day technology—you can download the tour to your iPhone, Droid, iPod Touch, or straight to your computer. (more…)

The fork of the Coosa and the Tallapoosa River became home to French explorers in 1917 with the building of Fort Toulouse.  During the 18^th century the French used this as a trading post with the Creek Indians.  After the French moved on from this site, the fort was neglected and collapsed.  Later, Andrew Jackson, after the defeat of the Red Stick Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, began construction of another fort, which later was named Fort Jackson in his honor.  In 1960, the site became a National Historic Landmark and recent projects to reconstruct the two original forts have been undertaken.  Fort Jackson is still under construction.  An Indian mound, dated to 1100 A.D., along with the two rebuilt forts that visitors can explore are a great way for visitors to relive Alabama history. (more…)