Alabama Online

Alabama Fun Facts

Symbols of Alabama
Listed here are the state symbols for Alabama. Most of these symbols were selected by the General Assembly. The year in parentheses indicates when the symbol was chosen.

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State Parks and Recreation Areas
Alabama has numerous state parks and recreational areas. These parks were established by the state government for the preservation of nature and the enjoyment of its citizens. For example, Rickwood Caverns State Park protects 260 million-year-old limestone cave formations. Found in this immense network of caves are blind cave fish and countless pools.

Another interesting location is DeSoto State Park. This park stretches across 5,067 acres along Little River. Visitors can enjoy waterfalls and wildflowers while hiking along the water. Lookout Mountain also affords excellent hiking and views. A campground and nature center provide many services to visitors.

Gulf State Park lies on the Gulf of Mexico. This park preserves 2.5 miles of sandy beaches for public enjoyment. Visitors can enjoy the seagulls, seashells, and blue water.

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Places of Interest
Alabama is home to many places of interest that draw visitors from all over the state. The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery is an example of Alabama’s devotion to the preservation of history, even in its most difficult moments. In 1989, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) established this memorial, which was designed by the famous architect Maya Lin. The memorial was built at the entrance to the center, near the site of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The Fort Morgan State Historical Site is the site of a military fort built in 1834 on a peninsula in Mobile Bay. It was used during four wars. Today, there is a museum at the site dedicated to celebrating the fort’s rich history and retelling the story of the United States’ efforts to defend its coasts.

The Tuskegee Institute is a National Historic Site that relates the rich history of Alabama. In 1881, the Institute was founded by Booker T. Washington as a school for training African American teachers. With George Washington Carver as a faculty member from 1896 until his death, the school grew to become one of the most important centers of agricultural development in the country.

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Notable People from Alabama (Past and Present)
Many of Alabama’s citizens have contributed to the success of our nation. In the early twentieth century, Julia Strudwick Tutwiler, who was in the first graduating class at Vassar College in New York, led the movement to allow women to enter the University of Alabama. Tutwiler also worked for reform of the state prison system.

Other Alabamans achieved national fame. For example, Harper Lee wrote the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. This novel instantly became a classic of American literature. The Alabama Legislature even passed a resolution congratulating her on her success. In 1966, she was named by President Johnson to the National Council of Arts.

Hugo Black became a U.S. Senator and later served for more than 30 years on the U.S. Supreme Court. As a senator, Black supported Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs that helped the nation survive the Depression of the 1930’s. Roosevelt nominated Black to the Supreme Court in 1937. As a justice, Black was a strong defender of free speech and other civil liberties.

Condoleezza Rice was born in Birmingham, Alabama. In college she studied political science and international relations. In 2001, President George W. Bush named Rice the National Security Advisor. The person in this important position helps to ensure that the United States is secure.

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