Black Belt History/Heritage Trail
Choctaw County
Contact the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce at (205) 459-3459 for more information.
Bladon Springs State Park
Site of an antebellum spa and hotel. The hotel burned in 1938, but the mineral water springs that made it famous remain. Today it is used as a recreation area providing modern campsites, shelters, tables and grills for daytime and nighttime family outings. The Bladon Springs Community still has several historic homes and churches.
Choctaw County Museum
Located in Gilbertown, the Choctaw County Museum contains many local artifacts. The centerpiece of the museum is a small country store that was donated with its contents intact which sits on the grounds of the museum.
Clarke County
Contact Clarke County Museum at (251)275-8684 or Alabama Tombigbee Tourism at (334)-636-5506.
Clarke County Museum
Museum of local history, which along with the records of the courthouse (one of the few in the state which did not burn) and the Grove Hill Public Library comprises an extensive archive of Clarke County records. This museum is a good genealogical resource.
Salt Works
The Salt Works are located in the Stimpson Game Sanctuary near Carlton. These salt water springs were used by the Indians for salt and by the Confederate Army in weapons manufacture.
Alabama Forestry Museum
This museum is located on Highway 84 in Grove Hill. It houses many antique implements related to the forestry industry.
The Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum
This museum is located on the campus of Alabama Southern College in Thomasville. The museum houses a sculpture of Windham by world renowned metal sculptor Charlie Lucas.
Conecuh County
Contact the Evergreen-Conecuh Public Library for historical information and genealogical information can be contacted at (251) 578-2670.
Evergreen Depot
Built in 1907, restored as the Chamber of Commerce and Community Center. Originally the Depot was the hub of the greenery shipping trade that gave Evergreen its name.
Lowery Trust Store
One of the few remaining old country stores that has remained in business continually since 1908. A two story white frame building, it is located on the Conecuh-Monroe County line in Burnt Corn.
Dallas County
Headquarters for Tourist Information are the Chamber of Commerce (1-800-GO SELMA) and the National Voting Rights Museum (334-814 -0800).
Old Depot Museum
Located on Water Street, this museum contains varied local collections. It is housed on the grounds of the Selma Civil War Munitions Plant as indicated by a historic marker. The annual reenactment of the Battle of Selma takes place nearby.
Smitherman Museum
This antebellum structure has been used as a school, a hospital, and the county courthouse. The museum contains Confederate-era antiques and memorabilia.
Sturdivant Hall
Selma’s finest antebellum home is a museum that is open daily to the public. It contains period antiques, has gardens and a quality gift shop. This home is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Old Cahaba
The site of the first permanent capitol of Alabama, located 15 miles south of Selma off HWY 22. Cahaba was the capitol until 1826 when it was finally abandoned due to repeated flooding. During the Civil War, 3,000Union prisoners were held at Cahaba.
Keenan’s Mill
Located north of Selma, this mill site was built in the mid 1800’s and produced water-ground meal, grits, and corn. The site was donated to the Dallas County Historical Society and is being restored. It is open by appointment.
Marengo County
Contacts: Kirk Booker with the Marengo County Historical Society at (334)289-1595 or Kelly Smith with the Demopolis Chamber of Commerce at 334-289-0270.
Bluff Hall
Bluff Hall is owned by the Marengo County Historical Society. It is open daily, except Monday. Admission is charged. A gift shop is located on the premises.
Gaineswood
Owned by the State of Alabama, it is one of the finest antebellum homes in the state. The home is open daily. Admission is charged. A gift shop is located on the premises.
Laird Cottage
Headquarters of the Marengo County Historical Society. A museum showcasing the works of Geneva Mercer, an internationally known artist and sculptor from Marengo County, is housed here.
Alabama Rural Heritage Center
Located in Thomaston, the Center is housed in a structure designed by the Auburn Rural Studio. It houses a gallery of Alabama arts, crafts, and literature.
Monroe County
Headquarters for tourist information is the Old Courthouse Museum located on the square in downtown Monroeville (251-575 -7433).
Old Courthouse Museum
The museum contains the courtroom reproduced in Hollywood for the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The annual production of the play “To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place here every May. The museum also houses galleries where local artists are featured. There is a gift shop with a comprehensive selection of literature of the south with emphasis on the local area.
Southwest Alabama Art Museum
The museum is located on the campus of Alabama Southern College. It has ongoing showings of art of the area as well as special events. The annual Alabama Writers’ Symposium is held here annually.
The Old Masonic Hall located in Perdue Hill
Where Layfayette spoke when he came through the area during the early 1800s.
William Barrett Travis Law Office in Perdue Hill
Where the hero of the Alamo practiced law before he left for Texas.
The Old Jewish Cemetery in Perdue Hill
This cemetery dates back to the 1840s. It has become a site of Jewish pilgrimages from as far away as Israel.
Rikard’s Mill
A re-creation of an early mill site including a mill for stone grinding wheat and corn. It is the home of the annual Syrup Making held annually in November. Open by appointment for tour groups (call 251-575-7433), when not in season. Stone ground meal can be purchased throughout the year from the Monroe County Heritage Museum Gift Shop.
Alabama River Museum
This museum is located on the east bank of the Alabama River. It is a former Corp of Engineers facility. It houses Indian artifacts and prehistoric relics. It is open throughout the summer season starting with an Indian festival in the spring. It is open by appointment (call 215-575-7433) for tour buses at other times during the year.
Perry County
Contact the Perry County Chamber of Commerce for information and brochures (334-683-9622).
Judson College
A Baptist women’s college. It is home to the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame which commemorates famous Alabama women.
Marion Military Institute
The first site of Howard College (1842) which became MMI in (1888). Several buildings predate 1861. The chapel built in 1857 was a Confederate Hospital during the Civil War. A museum, the Military Hall of Honor, is housed on the campus.
Sumter County
Headquarters for tourist information are the home of “Miss Kitty’ Harrison in Gainesville (205) 652-1629, University of West Alabama in Livingston (205) 652-3400, the Coleman Center in York (205) 392-2005, and the Sumter County Welcome Center on I-59& 20 in Cuba, Ala(205) 392-5443.
Gainesville
The whole town is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many historic homes and churches in the town. There isa Civil War cannon and a monument to the troops of Gen Nathan Bedford Forest who were dispersed from here one month after the war when they learned it was over.
University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston State Teachers’ College)
Founded in the 1840s as a women’s college by the famous educator Julia Tutweiler. Its library contains many significant archives including the Ruby Pickens Tartt collection of slave songs and stories, many of which are also housed in the National Archives of the Library of Congress through her collaboration with Alan Lomax.
Bored Well
The well on the lawn of the Sumter County Courthouse is currently being renovated. Julia Tutweiler took her students down to the well to drink every afternoon because she believed in its healthful benefits.
The Coleman Center
Founded by natives of the area for the promotion of the arts; this arts center now has a national reputation. It is located in the York Public Library with revolving exhibitions of local artists work. Adjoining the library is a complex of buildings including the Coleman Center office, a print shop run by famous printer Amos Kennedy.
Blackbelt Designs
A couture design clothing shop which has been featured on National Public Radio.
Washington County
For tourist information contact Jim Long at the St. Stephens historical Commission (251)246-6790.
Washington County Museum (Chatom)
Located in the basement of the Washington County Courthouse, this museum contains many local artifacts as well as the Washington County Hall of Fame. Genealogical information is available here.
Washington County Courthouse (Chatom)
The site where Aristotle Onasis divorced his first wife to marry Jackie Kennedy. His lawyer, Pierre Pelham of Mobile was instructed to find a place where the press was not likely to find out about the divorce.
Washington County Public Library (Chatom)
Features educational exhibits such as those traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute which local residents enhance with additional local folklore. Ask about the local recipes gathered for the food exhibit. The library also has rotating art exhibits.
Wilcox County
The Wilcox County Library is tourism headquarters for Wilcox County (334) 682-4355.
The Wilcox County Public Library has an early and extensive collection of genealogical information. The Pine Apple National Historic District is located in eastern Wilcox County, there are many significant structures here. Residents celebrate their homes with an annual Front Porch Tour in May. The Oak Hill National Historic District is located between Pine Apple and Camden, Oak Hill is a residential community of historic homes.
The Furman National Historic District
Some of the earliest antebellum homes in Wilcox County in a variety of styles. Located 12 miles north of Camden on Hwy 25.The Camden Downtown Historic District includes many historic structures including many homes.
The Wilcox Female Institute
An antebellum structure housing an early female academy.
The Sam Dale Masonic Lodge
One of the earliest Masonic lodges in the state and is named for the famous Indian scout.
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