Located on the Black Warrior River in central Alabama, Moundville is a large Mississippian culture settlement that was inhabited from about 1000 to 1450 AD. The site is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Check the hours before your visit.
History, Civil Rights and Spaceflight
At the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Movement Gallery takes visitors through the history of the movement from 1955 to 1963. The institute’s mission is intended for every generation: to learn about civil and human rights, explore our shared past and work together in the present to build a better future.
One gallery at the institute offers a view of Kelly Ingram Park, directly across the street, where numerous protest demonstrations took place in the 1960s. The story of the Little River offers another historical perspective: during the forced removal of the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek), more than 1,100 men, women and children traveled through its territory.
Space history is another discovery. The Davidson Center for Space Exploration houses a fully restored, full-scale Saturn V rocket. At the Marshall Space Flight Center, interactive exhibits and historic artifacts illustrate the center’s important role in NASA’s exploration and science missions.
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and display of motorcycles, historic vehicles and motorsports history. Together with the space and civil rights exhibits, it shows the variety of topics you can encounter in Alabama’s museums.
Trails, Water and Caves
In northeastern Alabama, the Little River flows along Lookout Mountain for most of its course. Forested plateaus, waterfalls, canyon rims and rocky outcrops, pools, boulders and sandstone cliffs offer opportunities for a range of recreational activities.
On the Tree Top Nature Trail, you can observe resident birds from the elevated wooden walkway; the trail passes through a secluded, wooded valley. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is a paved trail system more than 28 miles long through Gulf State Park. It is suitable for hikers and cyclists and offers accessibility in accordance with ADA standards.
DeSoto State Park has more than 35 miles of hiking trails. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum and guided tours in the park offer insight into the region’s history. A boardwalk and unpaved paths on either side of it lead to Bald Rock Outlook.
The caves also offer practical information for visitors: the cave at Rickwood Caverns State Park can only be entered on a guided tour. The tour is one mile long and includes 365 steps, 110 of which lead to the exit. At Cathedral Caverns State Park, you can search for gemstones by sifting mining material embedded with gemstones and shells through specially made flumes with flowing water.
There is a small boat launch near the DeSoto Falls Picnic Area. The scenic West Fork of Little River is suitable for boating, swimming and fishing; conditions on site may vary. Three main routes lead to Cheaha State Park. Talladega Scenic Drive is recommended for large recreational vehicles.
Discover more destinations: Baldwin, Mobile, Montgomery, Jefferson, Talladega, Walker, Etowah, Jackson, Lee, Tuscaloosa, Pike, Macon, Madison, Russell, Houston, Chambers, Shelby County, Washington County, Covington County, Autauga County, Clarke County, Morgan County, Escambia County, Dekalb County, St. Clair County, Cullman County, Clay County, Dallas County, Coffee County, Limestone County, Colbert County, Calhoun County, Conecuh County, Lauderdale County, Dale County, Sumter County, Tallapoosa County, Chilton County, Barbour County, Marshall County, Marengo County, Lawrence County, Cleburne, Elmore, Franklin County, Marion County, Blount County, Pickens County, Greene County, Fayette County, Geneva County.
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