List of museums in Alabama

The list of museums in Alabama contains museums in the U.S. state of Alabama. A number of public and private institutions and organizations around the state make their collections available for public viewing. These museums contain artifacts and exhibits related to art and art history, broadcasting, children, civil and political rights, culture, industry, law, medicine, military history, music, natural history, local and regional history, science, sports and transportation. Additionally, the state is home to many historic house museums, many with a focus on the biographical history of individuals; several hall of fames; and a number of living history museums with a focus on local, state, or national history. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included in this list.

Active museums[]

To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Name	Image	Town/City	County	Region	Type	Summary
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Museum Area		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Law	Exhibits of Alabama judicial history and important figures, located in the Alabama Judicial Building.[1]
Alabama Artists Gallery		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Art	Operated by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, located on the first floor of the RSA Tower, website
Alabama Constitution Village		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Living history	Open-air museum that reenacts life in 1819.[2]
Alabama Department of Archives and History		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	History	Official archives for the state of Alabama, features the Museum of Alabama with exhibits including Native American, military history, 19th- and 20th-century historic artifacts, photos, and art
Alabama Governor's Mansion		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Historic house	Official residence of Alabama's Governor. Open for tours.[3]
Alabama Historical Radio Society Museum		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Radio	Exhibits include antique radios. Operated by the Alabama Historical Radio Society. website
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Music	Hall of Fame honors jazz artists with ties to Alabama. Exhibits include jazz memorabilia and instruments.
Alabama Men's Hall of Fame		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	History	Hall of Fame for men native to or closely identified with Alabama who have made significant contributions to their professional fields, housed in Samford University's Harwell G. Davis Library, website
Alabama Mining Museum		Dora	Walker	Central	Industry	Exhibits include a 1900s train and mining cars, one-room African American school, elementary school, post office, and depot. website
Alabama Museum of Health Sciences		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Medical	Displays illustrating the health sciences in the areas of education, research, and practice.[4]
Alabama Museum of Natural History		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	West central	Natural history	Displays of geology, zoology, mineralogy, paleontology, ethnology, history, and photography.[5]
Alabama Music Hall of Fame		Tuscumbia	Colbert	Northwestern	Music	Exhibits illustrate how Alabamians have contributed to make the music industry what it is today.[6]
Alabama River Museum		Franklin	Monroe	East central	Multiple	Open for special events by , local history including fossils, Native American artifacts, steamboats
Alabama Rural Heritage Center		Thomaston	Marengo	Southwestern	Art	History and folk art, operated by Auburn University's Rural Studio.[7]
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Sports	Exhibits of Alabama’s athletic history.[8]
Alabama State Capitol		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Capitol	State capitol building of Alabama. A National Historic Landmark, it is open for tours and is operated by the Alabama Historical Commission.[9]
Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives		Athens	Limestone	Northern	Military	Houses artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the present day. website
Alabama Women's Hall of Fame		Marion	Perry	Southwestern	History	Hall of Fame for women native to or closely identified with Alabama who have made significant contributions to their professional fields
Aldrich Coal Mine Museum		Montevallo	Shelby	Central	Mining	History and artifacts from the town's former coal mine
		Aliceville	Pickens	Southwestern	Local history	website, includes memorabilia and artifacts from former prisoner-of-war camp for German soldiers during World War II, Coca-Cola artifacts and memorabilia, local history
American Sport Art Museum and Archives		Daphne	Baldwin	Gulf Coast	Sports	More than 1,500 pieces of sport art. Located on the campus of the United States Sports Academy.[10]
		Montevallo	Shelby	Central	Living history	Focuses on United States history and civic education, future home of the Miniature Museum of American History. website
Ancient Wars Museum		Madison	Madison	Northern	History	Worldwide authentic relics from 5,000 A.C. Ancient World cultures such as Egyptian, Chinese, Roman, Viking, Persian up to Modern Era. Also known as Alabama War Museum.[11][12]
Anniston Museum of Natural History		Anniston	Calhoun	Northeastern	Natural history	Minerals, fossils, Alabama, North American and African wildlife dioramas.[13]
Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Historic house	1840s home with 19th century decorative arts.[14]
Ave Maria Grotto		Cullman	Cullman	Northern	Religious	Outdoor miniature reproductions of some of the most famous religious structures of the world.[15]
		Elberta	Baldwin	Gulf Coast	Local history	Agricultural and cultural history. website
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum		Leeds	Jefferson	Central	Automotive	Vintage and modern motorcycles and race cars.[16]
Battle-Friedman House		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	West central	Historic house	Antebellum house and garden, operated by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.[17]
Battleship Memorial Park		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Military	Collection of notable aircraft and museum ships including the South Dakota-class battleship USS Alabama and Gato-class submarine USS Drum.[18]
Bellingrath Gardens and Home		Theodore	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Historic house	Mansion and 65 acres (26 ha) of historic gardens.[19]
Belle Mont (Tuscumbia, Alabama)		Tuscumbia	Colbert	Northwestern	Historic house	A plantation house, completed in 1832, with characteristics of Thomas Jefferson-influenced Palladian architecture.[1] Operated by the Alabama Historical Commission Website
		Anniston	Calhoun	Northeastern	Multiple	Ancient art, weapons, photos, clothing, hands-on displays and lifelike dioramas from around the world. website
Bessemer Hall of History		Bessemer	Jefferson	Central	Local history	Housed in a historic 1916 railroad depot, displays include clothing, artifacts, photographs.[20]
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	History / African American	Depicts struggles during the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s.[21]
		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Local history	General history of the area, operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society website
Birmingham Museum of Art		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Art	Collections include Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and decorative arts.[22]
Blount County Memorial Museum	Oneonta	Blount	North Central	Artifacts & Records	Artifacts, Genealogical and Historical County Records, Art & Literature of Blount Countians	[23]
Blue and Gray Museum of North Alabama		Decatur	Morgan	Northern	Military	Private collection of Civil War artifacts
Bluff Hall		Demopolis	Marengo	Southwestern	Historic house	Mansion built by slaves in 1832.[24]
Booker T. Washington House		Tuskegee	Macon	East central	Historic house	Former home of Booker T. Washington, known as "The Oaks." On the Tuskegee Institute campus.[25]
Bragg-Mitchell Mansion		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Historic house	Mansion built by Congressman John Bragg in 1855.[26]
Bridgeport Depot Museum		Bridgeport	Jackson	Northern	Railroad	Historic depot with local artifacts and railroad memorabilia
Buena Vista Mansion		Prattville	Autauga	Central	Historic house	Federal style plantation house built in 1822.[27]
Burritt on the Mountain		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Historic house	Restored 19th-century houses, barnyard and animals, and exhibits
Evelyn Burrow Museum		Hanceville	Cullman	Northern	Decorative arts	website, examples of delicately crafted porcelain to artful everyday wares, collection includes porcelain, pottery, glass and bronze from the Victorian era to modern times
		Decatur	Morgan	Northern	Art	website
Central-Carver Legacy Museum		Gadsden	Etowah	Northeastern	African American	website, history of the former Carver High School
Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	West central	Children's	website
Children's Museum of the Shoals		Florence	Lauderdale	Northwestern	Children's
Clarke County Historical Museum		Grove Hill	Clarke	Southwestern	Local history	Grounds include the Alston-Cobb House, law office, corn crib and cabin
Conde-Charlotte House		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Historic house	Rooms reflect different periods
Confederate Memorial Park		Mountain Creek	Chilton	Central	Military	Includes Alabama Confederate Soldiers Home with Civil War exhibits, two cemeteries, a church and post office. Operated by the Alabama Historical Commission
		Decatur	Morgan	Northern	Natural history	website, insects, mounted birds and animals, rocks and minerals, sea shells and coral
Cullman County Museum		Cullman	Cullman	Northern	Local history	Housed in a replica of the home of Col. John G. Cullmann, the founder of Cullman
Dauphin Island Sea Lab		Dauphin Island	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Natural history	Estuarium with aquariums, boardwalk, highlights four key habitats of coastal Alabama: the Mobile Tensaw River Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands and the Northern Gulf of Mexico
		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	History / African American	website, church where Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. pastored from 1954–1960 and began his quest for civil rights.
Dowling Museum and Rudd Art Center		Ozark	Dale	Southeastern	Art	website
EarlyWorks Children's History Museum		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Children's	website
		Fairhope	Baldwin	Gulf Coast	Local history	information
Fayette Art Museum		Fayette	Fayette	Northwestern	Art	website
Fendall Hall		Eufaula	Barbour	Southeastern	Historic house	Victorian period home with furnishings and gardens, operated by the Alabama Historical Commission
First White House of the Confederacy		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Historic house	Executive residence of President Jefferson Davis and family
		Foley	Baldwin	Gulf Coast	Railroad	website, model railroads
Fort Conde		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Military	Reconstruction, at 4/5 scale, of the original 1720s French fort, operated by the History Museum of Mobile
Fort Gaines		Dauphin Island	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Military	Located on Dauphin Island, 1820s fort known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War
Fort Mitchell		Fort Mitchell	Russell	East central	Military	Reconstructed 1810s fort and museum, involved in the Creek War
Fort Morgan		Gulf Shores	Baldwin	Gulf Coast	Military	The fort features an active living history program that interprets all the military periods and holds an annual event commemorating the Battle of Mobile Bay, operated by the Alabama Historical Commission
Fort Payne Depot Museum		Fort Payne	DeKalb	Northeastern	Local history
Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park		Wetumpka	Elmore	Central	Military	Replica 18th-century fort with living history demonstrations
Freedom Rides Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	History	Bus station that was the site of a violent attack on participants in the 1961 Freedom Ride during the Civil Rights Movement
		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Historic house	information website
		Gadsden	Etowah	Northeastern	Art	website
Gorgas House		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	West central	Historic house	First building built on the University of Alabama campus, the former dining hall was later used as a faculty residence by the Confederate Chief of Ordnance and University President, Josiah Gorgas, and his family.
Gaineswood		Demopolis	Marengo	Southwestern	Historic house	Greek Revival plantation house listed as a National Historic Landmark and operated by the Alabama Historical Commission Website
George Washington Carver Museum		Tuskegee	Macon	East central	Biographical	Dedicated to African American scientist George Washington Carver, on the Tuskegee Institute campus
G.W. Carver Interpretive Museum		Dothan	Houston	Southeastern	Biographical	Dedicated to African American scientist George Washington Carver.[28]
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Science	Science center that features three permanent exhibitions, a wide variety of traveling exhibitions, a virtual theater, and an IMAX theater.
Gulf Shores Museum		Gulf Shores	Baldwin	Gulf Coast	Local history	website
		Guntersville	Marshall	Northeastern	Multiple	website, history, art, culture, natural history, located in the Company E of the 167th Infantry of the Alabama National Guard Armory
		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Biographical	website
Harrison Brothers Hardware Store		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Local history	Landmark store, established in 1879, combination museum and operating hardware business[29]
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum		Calera	Shelby	Central	Railroad	Official state railroad museum
History Museum of Mobile		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Local history	City history, culture, decorative arts, miniature house collection, local art exhibits
Huntsville Depot		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Railroad	City's railroad and transportation history[30]
Huntsville Museum of Art		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Art
Indian Mound and Museum		Florence	Lauderdale	Northwestern	Native American	Indian mound and museum with excavated artifacts from different cultures dating back 10,000 years[31]
International Motorsports Hall of Fame		Talladega	Talladega	East central	Automotive	Racing vehicles and memorabilia
Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama		McCalla	Tuscaloosa	Central	Industry	Iron and steel manufacturing during the Civil War
		Sylacauga	Talladega	East central	Art	website
Ivy Green		Tuscumbia	Colbert	Northwestern	Historic house	Birthplace of Helen Keller.
Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall		Talladega	Talladega	East central	Local history	website
		Oakville	Morgan	Central	Biographical	Birthplace of track and field athlete Jesse Owens, who participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics, where he won four gold medals.[32]
Joseph Wheeler Plantation		Hillsboro	Lawrence	Northern	Historic house	Former home of Confederate General Joseph Wheeler, also known as Pond Spring. Operated by the Alabama Historical Commission
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art		Auburn	Lee	East central	Art	Part of Auburn University, 19th and 20th century American and European Art
		Columbiana	Shelby	Central	Biographical	website, art and artifacts from the colonial period through 1865 related to the George Washington family, located in the Mildred B. Harrison Regional Library
Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum		Thomasville	Clarke	Southwestern	Biographical	Dedicated to journalist, photographer and storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham, on the Alabama Southern Community College campus.
		Florence	Lauderdale	Northwestern	Art	Features annual and changing exhibits of artists from the Southeast[31]
Landmark Park		Dothan	Houston	Southeastern	Living history	website, Alabama's official Museum of Agriculture, includes 1890s living history farm, a one-room schoolhouse, a general store, a turn-of the-century church and a planetarium, 100 acres
		Loachapoka	Lee	East central	Local history	website, includes a frontier cabin, blacksmith shop, jail, and 20th century doctors office/pharmacy/soda fountain and post office
Magnolia Grove		Greensboro	Hale	Southwestern	Historic house	Antebellum mansion, best known as home of Rear Admiral Richmond Pearson Hobson, operated by the Alabama Historical Commission
Mann Wildlife Learning Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Natural history	Part of Montgomery Zoo, wildlife dioramas with mounted mammals, mounted fish
Marietta Johnson Museum		Fairhope	Baldwin	Gulf Coast	Biographical	dedicated to educator Marietta Johnson
		Gadsden	Etowah	Northeastern	Multiple	website, includes three galleries with changing art exhibits, Imagination Place Children's Museum
McWane Science Center		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Science	Includes Native American artifacts, minerals and fossils from the former Red Mountain Museum, Challenger Learning Center, aquarium, hands-on science exhibits
Mercedes-Benz Visitor Center and Museum		Vance	Tuscaloosa	West central	Automotive	Mercedes-Benz automobiles and plant tours by advance reservations
Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	West central	Transportation
Mobile Carnival Museum		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Local history	Chronicles over 300 years of Carnival and Mardi Gras in Mobile
		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Medical	website
Mobile Museum of Art		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Art	The Mobile Museum of Art (MMofA) includes a permanent collection of close to 10,000 works of fine and decorative arts from America, Asia, and Europe. This collection spans periods from classical antiquity to the present day. website
		Monroeville	Monroe	Southwestern	Multiple	website, includes Old Courthouse Museum, Rikard’s Mill Historical Park, Alabama River Museum
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Art	19th- and 20th-century American paintings and sculpture, Southern regional art, Old Master prints and decorative arts
The MOOseum		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Industry	website, cattle industry in Alabama
Moundville Archaeological Park		Moundville	Hale	West central	Native American	Operated by the University of Alabama
		Opelika	Lee	East central	Local history	website, local history of the Auburn/Opelika area and surrounding Lee County
National African American Archives and Museum		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	African American	Themes include slavery, African American contributions in Mobile, Alabama and the United States.
National Voting Rights Museum		Selma	Dallas	Southwestern	History / African American	History of the African-American Voting Rights and Women's Suffrage movements
		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Sports /History / African American	History of the Negro Southern League and Baseball in Birmingham
North Alabama Railroad Museum		Chase	Madison	Northern	Railroad	Features a rolling stock collection, a small train station and a small heritage railroad
Northport Heritage Museum		Northport	Tuscaloosa	West central	Local history	website
Oakleigh Historic Complex		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Historic house	Includes the Oakleigh Mansion, Cox-Deasy House, a former slave quarters, and the Minnie Mitchell Archives.[33]
Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum		Oakville	Lawrence	Northern	Native American	83-acre (340,000 m2) state park and museum dedicated to ancient Native American monuments and the historic Cherokee nation of the Southeast
Old Alabama Town		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	Living history	Collection of historically significant buildings, brought together as a living history museum.[34]
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park		Orrville	Dallas	Central	Open-air	Ghost town archaeological park with exhibits in the Welcome Center, operated by the Alabama Historical Commission
Old Courthouse Museum		Monroeville	Monroe	Southwestern	Local history	Restored 1930s period courthouse, exhibits on local authors Truman Capote and Harper Lee
Paul W. Bryant Museum		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	West central	Biographical	Football coach Bear Bryant
Phoenix Fire Museum		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Firefighting	Operated by the History Museum of Mobile, located in the restored home of the Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company No. 6, includes turn-of-the-century horse-drawn steam engines and early motorized vehicles[35]
		Florence	Lauderdale	Northwestern	Historic house	Historic stagecoach stop, tavern and inn, hospital and command center for both Northern and Southern armies, features local and Civil War artifacts[31]
Richards DAR House		Mobile	Mobile	Gulf Coast	Historic house	1860 Italianate house, operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution
Rickwood Field		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Sports	Oldest surviving professional baseball park in the United States
	Beatrice		Monroe	Southwestern	Local history	Operating water-powered grist mill and museum[36]
		Montgomery	Montgomery	Central	History / African American	Dedicated to Rosa Parks, on the Troy University campus[37]
Rosenbaum House		Florence	Lauderdale	Northwestern	Historic house	Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright[31]
Samuel Ullman Museum		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Biographical	website, operated by The University of Alabama at Birmingham, life and works of poet Samuel Ullman
	Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Science	website
Scottsboro-Jackson Heritage Center		Scottsboro	Jackson	Northeastern	Local history	Located in the Brown-Proctor House, late 19th-century period house, area Native Americans, pioneers, local history
Shelby County Historical Society Museum		Columbiana	Shelby	Central	History	Local history
Shelby Iron Works		Columbiana	Shelby	Central	Industry	Former iron works buildings in a park setting
Shorter Mansion		Eufaula	Barbour	Southeastern	Historic house	Classic Revival house, operated by the Eufala Heritage Association
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Industry
Southern Environmental Center		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Natural history	Located on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College, exhibits about pollution, green living
Southern Museum of Flight		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Aviation
		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	African American	website, part of Alabama A&M University, located in James H. Wilson Hall
Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum		Stevenson	Jackson	Northeastern	Railroad	Railroad and Civil War artifacts
Rock Store Museum		Skyline	Jackson	Northeastern	History	Historic general store and former New Deal co-op
Sturdivant Hall		Selma	Dallas	Southwestern	Historic house	Mid 19th century Greek Revival mansion
Three Notch Museum		Andalusia	Covington	South central	Local history	Operated by the Covington Historical Society in a historic depot
Tuscaloosa Museum of Art		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	West central	Art	American art; formerly known as the Westervelt-Warner Museum of American Art
		Tuskegee	Macon	East central	History / African American	website
United States Army Aviation Museum		Fort Rucker	Dale	Southeastern	Aviation	Located on Fort Rucker, features large collection of helicopters
U.S. Space & Rocket Center		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Aerospace	Science, rocketry and space exploration
Vaughan-Smitherman Museum		Selma	Dallas	Southwestern	Local history	Depicts Selma’s history until about 1960
		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Military	website
Vulcan Park and Museum		Birmingham	Jefferson	Central	Industry	City history, history of the Vulcan statue
W. C. Handy Home, Museum & Library		Florence	Lauderdale	Northwestern	Biographical	Birthplace of W. C. Handy, a blues composer and musician, often called the "Father of the Blues"[31]
Weeden House Museum		Huntsville	Madison	Northern	Historic house	website, home of female artist and poet Maria Howard Weeden
Wiregrass Museum of Art		Dothan	Houston	Southeastern	Art	Located in a former power and water plant, includes traveling exhibits, collection of American contemporary and pop art

Defunct museums[]

The Grand Gallery Exhibition Hall of the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa

• Carlen House, Mobile
• George and Lurleen Wallace Museum, Montgomery, dedicated to the lives of former Alabama governor's George Wallace and Lurleen B. Wallace^[38]
• Ma'Cille's Museum of Miscellanea, Gordo, article^[39]
• Magee Farm, Kushla, closed in 2010^[40][41]
• Red Mountain Museum, Birmingham
• Tom Mann's Fish World, Eufaula, closed in 2004^[42]
• The Water Course, Clanton, closed in 2012^[43]

See also[]

• List of museums in the United States
• Nature centers in Alabama

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Museums in Alabama.

• Alabama Museums Association
• Guide to Alabama Museums