For more than 110 years, the Alabama Museum of Natural History has celebrated Alabama’s natural history through exhibitions, collections, and quality programs of teaching, research, and service. Explore Alabama through remarkable exhibitions and specimen collections detailing the state’s natural history and ancient past. Venture out and experience Alabama’s natural history and its beautiful rivers and trails firsthand through our camps, expedition, and special programs. Discover what makes Alabama special with Museum events and programming.

Built in 1829, the Gorgas House Museum is the oldest building on the University of Alabama’s campus. It originally served as a dining hall and steward’s residence, and later as a lecture space, post office, and campus hospital. The Gorgas House is one of four main buildings to survive the destruction of campus in 1865 near the end of the Civil War.

Now, named for the Gorgas family that occupied the home from 1879-1953, the Museum houses original Gorgas furnishings, memorabilia, and a collection of 19th century artifacts. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Located nine miles northwest of Tuscaloosa and Northport, this 1,625-acre park is a scenic retreat set on the banks of Lake Lurleen and offers plenty of recreation and relaxation. Facilities include a modern campground, activity building, picnic areas, play areas, pavilions, a beach and bathhouse, fishing piers, RV storage, boat rentals and boat-launch areas.

The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park is one of the nation’s premier Native American heritage sites. Called “The Big Apple of the 14th Century” by National Geographic, Moundville Archaeological Park was once the site of a powerful prehistoric community that, at its peak, was America’s largest city north of Mexico.

Located on the Black Warrior River 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa, the park preserves 326 acres where, 800 years ago, Mississippian people constructed 29 massive flat-topped earthen mounds, arranged carefully around a vast central plaza. The mounds served as elevated platforms for civic and ceremonial structures and the homes of nobles.

Today, the panoramic landscape provides stunning views of these ancient monuments while the park’s museum displays many of the beautiful treasures that have been unearthed at the site, including the famous stone Rattlesnake Disk. The park also features a half-mile nature trail, picnic areas, scenic views of the Black Warrior River, and a campground.