The Johnson Center for the Arts is housed in a neoclassical post office building dating from around 1910 in downtown Troy. Art, local history, and landscape offer different perspectives on the area, from galleries and historical collections to trails through forests, wetlands, and open meadows. To plan your stay, you can first decide whether culture, history, or nature will shape it.
Art and History
At the Johnson Center for the Arts, exhibitions are spread across seven galleries. The two-story main gallery covers 1,400 square feet. Admission to the Center is free to the public.
The Pioneer Museum of Alabama explores both prehistoric Alabama and rural life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. More than 22 historic buildings on the grounds illustrate the heritage on display. In the Main Gallery, topics range from agricultural implements and textile arts such as quilting and weaving to the material culture of pioneer Alabama and the archaeology of Native Americans of the Southeast. The exhibits also include military artifacts from the Civil War and World War I, as well as Victorian-era Troy.
At Troy University's International Arts Center, the Fred “Nall” Hollis Museum displays works by Nall from the 1960s to the present. The Huo Bao Zhu Gallery, by contrast, features rotating art exhibitions and guest exhibitions. Together, the two venues offer different perspectives: a broad span of work at one, rotating exhibitions at the other.
Troy's historic downtown is the heart of the community and a center for local commerce, administration, and culture. The College Street Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Festivals and Events
TroyFest is a two-day arts and crafts festival honoring Jean Lake in downtown Troy. A statement from 2024 described Pioneer Days as the Pioneer Museum of Alabama's largest annual event. If you want to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the current event date in advance.
Trails and Nature Activities
At the Troy University Arboretum, the Magnolia Loop Trail and Meadow Loop Trail offer different landscapes. The Magnolia Loop passes through mixed upland pine and hardwood forests into a wetland along a small stream. The Meadow Loop passes through an upland pine forest into an open grassland and wildflower area. You can choose based on the landscapes described: forest and wetland on one trail, open grassland and wildflowers on the other.
The Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park features a pond, an amphitheater, and walking trails. Visitors can picnic and fish at Pike County Lake. The Heart of Dixie Trail Ride offers miles of trails through Alabama's wooded landscape. These activities offer different options: walking trails in the park, time by the water, or trails through the forest. Alongside museums and galleries, there are also concrete options for a nature-focused stay.
Discover more destinations: Brundidge
For the broader travel overview: Pike.
