List of museums in Alabama facts for kids

Alabama is a state in the U.S. that has many interesting museums! These museums are places where you can see amazing collections of old objects and displays. They are open to everyone who wants to learn and explore.

You can find all sorts of museums in Alabama. Some focus on art and its history, while others teach you about broadcasting (like radio and TV). There are even museums just for children, with fun, hands-on activities! You can also learn about civil and political rights, different cultures, and how industries like mining shaped the state.

Other museums cover topics like law, medicine, and military history. Music lovers will enjoy places dedicated to music, and nature fans can explore natural history museums. Of course, there are many museums about Alabama's own history, from local towns to the whole state. You can also discover science, sports, and transportation.

Alabama also has many historic house museums, which are old homes that show you what life was like in the past. Some focus on famous people who lived there. There are also several hall of fames that celebrate achievements in different fields. You can even visit living history museums where people dress up and act out daily life from long ago. Plus, many non-profit and university art galleries share beautiful artworks.

This list does not include museums that only exist online.

Awesome Museums to Explore

List of Museums in Alabama

Museum Name	Image	City	County	What You Can See and Do
Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Museum Area		Montgomery	Montgomery	Learn about Alabama's court history and important legal figures.
Alabama Constitution Village		Huntsville	Madison	A living history museum where you can experience life from the past.
Alabama Department of Archives and History		Montgomery	Montgomery	The official archives for Alabama. It has a museum with exhibits on Native Americans, military history, and artifacts from the 1800s and 1900s.
Alabama Governor's Mansion		Montgomery	Montgomery	The official home of Alabama's Governor. You can take tours here.
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame		Birmingham	Jefferson Shelby	Celebrates Alabama's jazz musicians and displays cool music items.
Alabama Men's Hall of Fame		Birmingham	Jefferson	Honors important men from Alabama. It's located at Samford University.
Alabama Mining Museum		Dora	Walker	See old trains, mining cars, a one-room school, and a post office from the early 1900s.
Alabama Museum of Health Sciences		Birmingham	Jefferson	Focuses on the history of medicine and health.
Alabama Museum of Natural History		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	Explore the natural history of Alabama, including fossils and animals.
Alabama Music Hall of Fame		Tuscumbia	Colbert	Features over 50 famous musicians and more than 1200 other Alabamians who made music history.
Alabama River Museum		Franklin	Monroe	Learn about local history, including fossils, Native American items, and steamboats.
Alabama Rural Heritage Center		Thomaston	Marengo	Shows the history and folk art of rural Alabama.
Alabama State Capitol		Montgomery	Montgomery	The main building for Alabama's government. You can take tours to see where laws are made.
Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA)		Montgomery	Montgomery	Supports and promotes art throughout Alabama.
Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives		Athens	Limestone	Holds items from the Revolutionary War to today, honoring veterans.
Alabama Women's Hall of Fame		Livingston	Sumter	Honors important women from Alabama. It was started in 1970.
Aldrich Coal Mine Museum		Montevallo	Shelby	Learn about the town's old coal mine and see artifacts from it.
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame		Birmingham	Jefferson	Displays Alabama's rich sports history and famous athletes.
Aliceville Museum and Cultural Arts Center		Aliceville	Pickens	This museum is on the site of a WWII prisoner-of-war camp.
American Sport Art Museum and Archives		Daphne	Baldwin	Located at the United States Sports Academy, it focuses on sports art.
American Village		Montevallo	Shelby	Another living history museum where you can step back in time.
Ancient Wars Museum		Madison	Madison	Also called the Alabama War Museum, it has exhibits from today all the way back to 8,000 BC.
Anniston Museum of Natural History		Anniston	Calhoun	Part of Anniston Museums and Gardens, it focuses on natural history.
Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens		Birmingham	Jefferson	A historic home and gardens listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Ave Maria Grotto		Cullman	Cullman	See miniature versions of famous religious buildings from around the world.
Baldwin County Heritage Museum		Elberta	Baldwin	Learn about the history of farming and culture in Baldwin County.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum		Birmingham	Jefferson	A huge collection of vintage and modern motorcycles and race cars.
Battle-Friedman House		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	A beautiful old house and garden from before the Civil War.
Battleship Memorial Park		Mobile	Mobile	Visit the amazing battleship USS Alabama and honor military veterans.
Belle Mont Mansion		Tuscumbia	Colbert	An old plantation house built in 1832, with a special architectural style.
Bellingrath Gardens and Home		Theodore	Mobile	Beautiful gardens and a historic home.
Berman Museum of World History		Anniston	Calhoun	Explore ancient art, weapons, clothing, and lifelike displays from around the world.
Bessemer Hall of History		Bessemer	Jefferson	Learn about local history in an old railroad station from 1916.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute		Birmingham	Jefferson	Teaches about the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Birmingham Museum of Art		Birmingham	Jefferson	See art collections from all over the world.
Blount County Memorial Museum		Oneonta	Blount	Displays artifacts, art, and literature from Blount County.
Bluff Hall		Demopolis	Marengo	A historic mansion built in 1832.
Booker T. Washington House		Tuskegee	Macon	The home of Booker T. Washington, called "The Oaks," on the Tuskegee Institute campus.
Bragg-Mitchell Mansion		Mobile	Mobile	A beautiful mansion built in 1855, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Bridgeport Depot Museum		Bridgeport	Jackson	Run by the local historical group, it shows the history of the area.
Buena Vista Mansion		Prattville	Autauga	This historic house was built in 1822.
Burritt on the Mountain		Huntsville	Madison	A living history museum where you can see old buildings and learn about pioneer life.
Carnegie Visual Arts Center		Decatur	Morgan	This art center used to be the Carnegie Library of Decatur.
Central Carver Museum		Gadsden	Etowah	Works to save and share the history of the African American community.
Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	A fun museum with lots of hands-on exhibits for kids.
Children's Museum of the Shoals		Florence	Lauderdale	Interactive exhibits for young children, from toddlers to third graders.
Clarke County Historical Museum		Grove Hill	Clarke	Includes the Alston-Cobb House, a law office, and an old cabin.
Conde-Charlotte House		Mobile	Mobile	A historic house managed by a national historical society.
Confederate Memorial Park		Mountain Creek	Chilton	Has Civil War exhibits, two cemeteries, a church, and a post office.
Cook's Natural Science Museum		Decatur	Morgan	Explore the world of natural history here.
Cullman County Museum		Cullman	Cullman	Located in a replica of the home of the city's founder, Col. John G. Cullmann.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab		Dauphin Island	Mobile	A center for learning about and researching marine life.
Dexter Parsonage Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	The home where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived and began his important work for civil rights.
Don Kresge Memorial Radio Museum		Birmingham	Jefferson	Also known as the Alabama Historical Radio Society Museum.
Dowling Museum and Rudd Art Center		Ozark	Dale County	Features art from the southeastern United States.
EarlyWorks Children's History Museum		Huntsville	Madison	A large, hands-on history museum for children, with a "Talking Tree."
Evelyn Burrow Museum		Hanceville	Cullman	Located at Wallace State College.
Fairhope Museum of History		Fairhope	Baldwin	Explores the history of the local area.
Fayette Art Museum and Civic Center		Fayette	Fayette	Displays art by local artists and includes the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame.
Fendall Hall		Eufaula	Barbour	A Victorian-era home with original furniture and gardens.
First White House of the Confederacy		Montgomery	Montgomery	The home where President Jefferson Davis lived during the Civil War.
Foley Railroad Museum		Foley	Baldwin	Has exhibits and items from the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot.
Fort Conde		Mobile	Mobile	A replica of an old fort, managed by the History Museum of Mobile.
Fort Gaines		Dauphin Island	Mobile	Important during the Battle of Mobile Bay in the Civil War.
Fort Mitchell		Fort Mitchell	Russell	A rebuilt fort from the 1810s with a museum, important in the Creek War.
Fort Morgan		Gulf Shores	Baldwin	A historic fort listed as a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
Fort Payne Depot Museum		Fort Payne	DeKalb	Focuses on the local history of Fort Payne.
Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson National Historic Park		Wetumpka	Elmore	A recreated 18th-century fort with living history demonstrations.
Freedom Rides Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	This bus station was a key site during the 1961 Freedom Rides in the Civil Rights Movement.
Gadsden Museum of Art		Gadsden	Etowah	Founded by the Gadsden Art Association.
Gaineswood		Demopolis	Marengo	A historic home listed as a National Historic Landmark.
George Washington Carver Museum		Tuskegee	Macon	Located on the Tuskegee Institute campus. It is currently closed for repairs.
George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum		Dothan	Houston	Dedicated to the famous African American scientist George Washington Carver.
Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery		Montgomery	Montgomery	Managed by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, featuring Alabama artists.
Gorgas House		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	The oldest building on the University of Alabama campus.
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center		Mobile	Mobile	Offers many traveling exhibits and a Dome Theater for science fun.
Gulf Shores Museum		Gulf Shores	Baldwin	Explores the history of the Gulf Shores area.
Guntersville Museum		Guntersville	Marshall	Located in a historic armory building.
Hank Williams Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	Dedicated to the life and music of country legend Hank Williams Sr.
Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum		Georgiana	Butler County	This museum is overseen by a non-profit group that also runs a festival.
Harrison Brothers Hardware Store		Huntsville	Madison	Opened in 1879, it's both a museum and a working hardware store!
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum		Calera	Shelby	Alabama's official railroad museum, with trains and history.
History Museum of Mobile		Mobile	Mobile	Features local art and tells the story of Mobile's 300-year history.
Huntsville Depot		Madison		Shows the city's railroad and transportation history.
Huntsville Museum of Art		Huntsville	Madison	Displays art by Southern artists.
Indian Mound and Museum		Florence	Lauderdale	Visit an ancient Indian mound and see artifacts from cultures dating back 10,000 years.
International Motorsports Hall of Fame		Talladega	Talladega	See racing vehicles and items from famous motorsports figures.
Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama		Birmingham	Jefferson/Shelby	Learn about how iron and steel were made during the Civil War.
Isabel Anderson Comer Museum and Arts Center		Sylacauga	Talladega	Combines arts with local history.
Ivy Green		Tuscumbia	Colbert	The birthplace of Helen Keller, a famous author and activist.
Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall Museum		Talladega	Talladega	Focuses on the local history of Talladega.
Jesse Owens Memorial Park and Museum		Oakville	Morgan	The birthplace of Jesse Owens, the amazing track and field athlete who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics.
Joseph Wheeler Plantation		Hillsboro	Lawrence	The former home of Confederate General Joseph Wheeler, also known as Pond Spring.
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art		Auburn	Lee	Part of Auburn University, it has American and European art from the 1800s and 1900s.
Landmark Park		Dothan	Houston	Alabama's official Museum of Agriculture. It has a living history farm from the 1890s, a schoolhouse, a general store, a church, and a planetarium.
Lee County Historical Society Museum		Loachapoka	Lee	A historical museum with many different exhibits.
Magnolia Grove		Greensboro	Hale	A beautiful old mansion, famous as the home of Rear Admiral Richmond Pearson Hobson.
Mann Wildlife Learning Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	Part of the Montgomery Zoo, it teaches about wildlife.
Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education		Fairhope	Baldwin	Founded by Marietta Johnson, this school focused on how children develop.
Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington		Columbiana	Shelby	Focuses on the life of George Washington.
Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum		Thomasville	Clarke	Located at Alabama Southern Community College, it features the works of journalist and storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham.
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts		Florence	Lauderdale	Shows annual and changing exhibits of artists from the Southeast.
Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts		Gadsden	Etowah	Includes the Gadsden Community School for the Arts and the Imagination Place Children's Museum.
McWane Science Center		Birmingham	Jefferson	Has Native American artifacts, minerals, fossils, a Challenger Learning Center, and an aquarium.
Mercedes-Benz Visitor Center and Museum		Vance	Tuscaloosa	See Mercedes-Benz cars and take tours of the plant (with reservations).
Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	Shows how transportation shaped the city of Tuscaloosa.
Mobile Medical Museum		Mobile	Mobile	Houses 5,000 medical items and documents.
Mobile Museum of Art		Mobile	Mobile	Has a wide variety of 10,000 artworks and activities for all ages.
Monroe County Heritage Museums		Monroeville	Monroe	This group runs several museums, including the Old Courthouse Museum and Rikard’s Mill Historical Park.
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts		Montgomery	Montgomery	Features 4,000 works of American paintings and sculptures from the 1800s and 1900s.
The MOOseum		Montgomery	Montgomery	Learn all about the cattle industry in Alabama.
Moundville Archaeological Park		Moundville	Hale	Managed by the University of Alabama, this park shows ancient Native American settlements.
Museum of East Alabama		Opelika	Lee	Has about 4,000 items that show what life was like in East Alabama.
National African American Archives and Museum		Mobile	Mobile	Focuses on slavery and the contributions of African Americans in Mobile and the U.S.
National Voting Rights Museum		Selma	Dallas	Tells the story of the African-American Voting Rights and Women's Suffrage movements.
Negro Southern League Museum		Birmingham	Jefferson	Learn about the history of the Negro Southern League and baseball in Birmingham.
North Alabama Railroad Museum		Chase	Madison	Has a collection of old trains, a small train station, and a heritage railroad.
Northport Heritage Museum		Northport	Tuscaloosa	Focuses on the Native American history of Northport.
Oakleigh Historic Complex		Mobile	Mobile	A historic complex with the Oakleigh mansion, a cottage, and Union barracks.
Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum		Oakville	Lawrence	An 83-acre park and museum dedicated to ancient Native American monuments.
Old Alabama Town		Montgomery	Montgomery	A collection of historic buildings brought together to create a living history museum.
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park		Orrville	Dallas	A ghost town archaeological park with exhibits in the Welcome Center.
Old Courthouse Museum		Monroeville	Monroe	A restored courthouse from the 1930s, with exhibits on local authors Truman Capote and Harper Lee.
Paul W. Bryant Museum		Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	Celebrates Bear Bryant, the legendary football coach of the University of Alabama.
Phoenix Fire Museum		Mobile	Mobile	Managed by the History Museum of Mobile, located in a restored fire station.
Pope's Tavern		Florence	Lauderdale	An old stagecoach stop and tavern that also served as a Civil War hospital.
Richards DAR House		Mobile	Mobile	An 1860 Italianate house, managed by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Rickwood Field		Birmingham	Jefferson	The oldest professional baseball park still standing in the United States.
Rikard’s Mill Historical Park		Beatrice	Monroe	Features a working water-powered grist mill and a museum.
Rosa Parks Library and Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	Located on the Troy University campus, honoring Rosa Parks.
Rosenbaum House		Florence	Lauderdale	A unique house designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Samuel Ullman Museum		Birmingham	Jefferson	Explores the life and works of poet Samuel Ullman.
Sci-Quest		Huntsville	Madison	Encourages children's interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum		Montgomery	Montgomery	The last home where famous writers Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived together.
Scottsboro-Jackson Heritage Center		Scottsboro	Jackson	Located in the Brown-Proctor House, it covers local history, including Native Americans and pioneers.
Shelby County Historical Society Museum		Columbiana	Shelby
Shelby Iron Works		Columbiana	Shelby	Old iron works buildings set in a park.
Shorter Mansion		Eufaula	Barbour	A beautiful mansion designed by famous architects.
Skyline Commissary		Jackson		Also known as "the rock store," it's a historic general store.
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark		Birmingham	Jefferson	A historic iron furnace site, now a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
Southern Environmental Center		Birmingham	Jefferson	Located at Birmingham-Southern College, it has exhibits about pollution and green living.
Southern Museum of Flight		Birmingham	Jefferson	The largest civilian aviation museum in the Southeast.
State Black Archives Research Center & Museum		Huntsville	Madison	Focuses on African American history and culture.
Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum		Stevenson	Jackson	Displays railroad and Civil War items.
Sturdivant Hall		Selma	Dallas	A Greek Revival mansion from the mid-1800s.
Three Notch Museum		Andalusia	Covington	Managed by the Covington Historical Society in a historic depot.
Tuskegee History Center		Tuskegee	Macon	Used to be called the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center.
United States Army Aviation Museum		Fort Novosel	Dale	Located at Fort Novosel, it has a large collection of helicopters.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center		Huntsville	Madison	A fantastic museum about science, rockets, and space exploration!
Vaughan-Smitherman Museum		Selma	Dallas	Shows Selma's history up until about 1960.
U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum		Huntsville	Madison	Designated as Alabama's State Veterans Memorial Museum, run by volunteers.
Vulcan Statue and Vulcan Park		Birmingham	Jefferson	Learn about Birmingham's history and the famous Vulcan statue.
W. C. Handy Home, Museum & Library		Florence	Lauderdale	Focuses on the life and career of W. C. Handy, known as the “Father of the Blues.”
Weeden House Museum		Huntsville	Madison	Features the artwork of Maria Howard Weeden.
William and Emily Hearin Mobile Carnival Museum		Mobile	Mobile	Celebrates the history of Carnival and Mardi Gras in Mobile.
Wiregrass Museum of Art		Dothan	Houston	A non-profit museum that features artists from the Southern U.S.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

These museums used to be open but are now closed:

• Blue and Gray Museum of North Alabama, Decatur, Morgan County: It had a private collection of Civil War items.
• Carlen House, Mobile
• George and Lurleen Wallace Museum, Montgomery: This museum was about former Alabama governors George Wallace and Lurleen B. Wallace.
• Ma'Cille's Museum of Miscellanea, Gordo
• Magee Farm, Kushla: Closed in 2010.
• Red Mountain Museum, Birmingham
• Tom Mann's Fish World, Eufaula: Closed in 2004.
• Tuscaloosa Museum of Art
• The Water Course, Clanton: Closed in 2012.

Images for kids

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

More to See

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