6 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Alabama
Alabama offers a variety of tourist attractions and activities for all ages. Learn about Alabama’s history in several places, including the Civil Rights Monuments, Museums, and Historic Sites. The Civil Rights Institute and Sixteenth Street Baptist Church are just a few of the places you’ll find, as well as Montgomery’s Civil Rights Monument and National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Selma’s Voting Rights museum.
Alabama is also rich in culture. It is possible to visit the former creative workplace of W.C. Handy, you can admire architecture at the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum or view stunning collections at major art museums located in Birmingham and Montgomery.
Alabama is also full of beautiful natural attractions, especially along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile Bay, where tourists will find state parks, nature reserves, and gorgeous sandy beaches. You can also explore history and nature at the McWane Science Center. Or, visit Huntsville’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center to see the latest technology.
Find the best places to visit in the state with our list of the top tourist attractions in Alabama.
1. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Civil Rights Historic District
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a deep-dive into the Civil Rights Movement that took place in Birmingham in 1960s and in the United States in 1965. It also examines the issues African Americans face today. You will find permanent and temporary exhibitions that cover a range topics, including segregation and violent conflict.
Birmingham’s struggle to organize was part a larger social movement that eventually led changes. One of these defining moments was the bombing of The Birmingham.Sixteenth Street Baptist ChurchSeptember 15, 1963. The Klu Klux Klan orchestrated this bombing which killed four girls. It was a tragic catalyst that led to the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The corner at Sixteenth Street North (corner of Sixth Avenue North) is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which forms the cornerstone.Birmingham’s Civil Rights DistrictThis six-block-wide area includes the. You can also see these landmarks:Kelly Ingram ParkTheFourth Avenue Business DistrictPlease see the following:Carver Theater.
2. USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
Mobile’s Memorial Park is home to the iconic 1942 USS Alabama Battleship, which docks along the waterfront. The BB-60 battleship, nicknamed “The Mighty A”, was decommissioned following the end of WWII. The ship’s many parts can be toured, including the bridge, captain’s cabin and mess hall as well as the turrets.
It is also home theUSS DrumYou can also tour the submarine “Suicide” that was used in the second world war. A variety of aircraft are also available on site, including an A-12 Black Bird spy airplane and a B52 bomber. There is also military equipment from different conflicts including weapons and tanks. This park serves as a memorial for all those who served during WWII and other recent operations.
3. Gulf State Park
The Gulf State Park is a popular choice for day-trippers and campers. It offers a variety of facilities as well as more than two miles on white sandy beaches.
The Nature Center offers free classes and activities. These include guided nature walks, animal encounters and fishing lessons. There are volleyball courts, horseshoes and a swimming pool. You can also rent a bicycle, kayak and paddle-board, or take part in guided Segway tours.
There are 25 miles of paved trails that can be used by bicyclists and a championship course. All of this is available for a low entry fee to tourists who make a day trip from the Gulf State Park.
This campground has almost 500 RV-hookup sites. It is a popular family vacation spot because of its many amenities.
4. Civil Rights Memorials of Montgomery
TheCivil Rights MemorialMontgomery is home to an impressive black granite memorial that commemorates the Civil Rights Movement victims. This memorial is situated in a square near the Civil Rights Memorial Center. Here tourists can find educational displays and exhibits including the Wall of Tolerance.
Montgomery also has the landmark of theNational Memorial for Peace and JusticeThe, a six-acre site dedicated to African Americans who were victims or racial injustices. It includes sculptures, artwork, and monuments which honor different figures in Civil Rights, as well as 800 monuments representing the counties where lynchings took places.
5. U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Huntsville’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center is an attraction that appeals to all ages. It offers interactive experiences, presentations and exhibits as well as one of the largest collections of spacecraft in the world. The Smithsonian affiliate of the center, its exhibits offer information about everything, from the history and growth of NASA to the International Space Station.
Tourists have the opportunity to see multimedia presentations at the National Geographic Theater and the Spacedome IMAX. They can also explore a model for the International Space Station. Rocket Park is home to 27 rockets and missiles, as well the giant launch vehicles that take the rockets into orbit.
The most popular thing to do at the Space Center is taking turns in the simulators. There are two launch simulators, one of which allows the astronaut-in-training to experience 4 Gs of force, a few seconds of weightlessness, and then a free-fall. This simulator is also available for children. It allows them to experience a more intense version and then “lands” on top of the moon.
6. Montgomery Civil Rights Landmarks
Montgomery is home many important Civil Rights landmarks. These landmarks commemorate events and places that have been instrumental in the movement. Most famous is theDexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist ChurchIt was home to early Civil Rights activists. It is open to the public today, with a large portion of their original belongings on display. Dexter Parsonage Museum.
The Rosa Parks Library and Museum The museum is located close to the scene of Parks’ arrest in downtown Montgomery. It features exhibits that tell her story, and describe the courageous defiance that led to her public transportation boycott. The exhibits include her original fingerprints taken from her arrest records, court documents and photographs. There is also a 1955 Montgomery City Bus as well as one station wagon used during the boycott to transport protesters.
Another important historic location is the Freedom Rides Museum The Freedom Riders were continuing the movement Parks started.
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Abhijeet Johri
