Tuscaloosa Experience Itinerary

Explore your City!

 Tuscaloosa Museum of Art, River Walk, River Market, Transportation Museum, Amphitheater, Capitol Park/Old Tavern driving tour

The Tuscaloosa Museum of Art displays approximately 1000 works of fine and decorative arts. The collection was amassed by Jack Warner, over several decades, as investments for Gulf States Paper, now the Westervelt Company. Operated by 501 (c) foundation the museum was asked by the Westervelt Company to share its collection with the community to promote a better understanding of the arts and connecting to all areas of education. Considered to be one of the greatest private collections of American Art, it is truly a treasure within the community.

The Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum features the transportation history of the Black Warrior River, lock and dam development, stagecoach line, horse drawn carriages, electric streetcars, bicycle history, railroad and other transportation related topics that gave rise to the City of Tuscaloosa’s development. The museum is housed in the historic Queen City Park Pool Bathhouse which was designed by architect Don Buel Schuyler, a student of world renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The pool, bathhouse, fountain and bleachers were dedicated May 18, 1943 and were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in l992. The art deco and art modern styles were popular from the 1920′s to the early 1940′s. The original pool complex project was funded by the David Warner Foundation in memory of David Warner, Jr. (1916-1931) and the Work Projects Administration funds. The pool closed in the late 1980′s.

The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater opened on April 1, 2011. It is used primarily for music performances, but also is the focal point for community events, such as the Annual Tuscaloosa 4th of July Celebration, the start and finish of the Tuscaloosa Half-Marathon and Mayors Cup, and other races and walk-a-thons. It has a seating capacity of 7,470.

The Old Tavern has been a fixture in downtown Tuscaloosa since the time of the capital era. Innkeeper William Dunton built the structure in 1827, three blocks from its current site as a tavern and hotel on the stagecoach route that passed through Tuscaloosa. One of the few remaining nineteenth-century inns in the state, the Old Tavern provides visitors with a rare glimpse of early Tuscaloosa commercial architecture. During its operation as a hostelry, it served as the temporary home and meeting place of legislators, Confederate soldiers, and countless people traveling to or through the city. At one time, it was even the temporary home of Governor John Gayle (1831-1835). From 1882 to 1964, the structure was occupied as a private residence by several local families. The Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society acquired it through a deed in 1964. It was relocated to Capitol Park, and TCPS began a much-needed restoration on the tavern. Today the Old Tavern is a museum showcasing the early history of Tuscaloosa County. Capitol Park was the site of the Alabama Capitol when Tuscaloosa was the seat of state government from 1826-1846. In 1847 the capitol was moved to Montgomery, and the building became the home of the Alabama Central Female College. A visible reminder of the old capitol building that burned in 1923 is the stone foundation and two small columns.  Depart and drive to 1st African Baptist Church/Greenwood Cemetery/Murphy African American Museum and on to Greensboro Avenue Landmarks: Jemison Mansion, Battle- Friedman Home, Jemison Mansion, Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center/UA Gallery/Bama Theater

1st African Baptist Church was the site of one of Alabama’s most important Civil Rights events. On Tuesday, June 9, 1964 black citizens attempted to march to the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse in protest of separate restrooms and water fountains. They were met with a group of law enforcement, and private citizens who had been deputized. The marchers were beaten, the church was tear gassed and over 90 people went to jail. 33 marchers were hospitalized. It is noted though, that this effectively ended the strife in Tuscaloosa as a majority of residents moved toward equality and things began to change for the better. Just down T.Y Rogers Drive, you will find Howard’s & Linton’s Barber Shop, where Rev. Thomas Linton still cuts hair today. He was a part of the movement in Tuscaloosa then and now his shop houses a complete collection of the Cir=vil Rights history in Tuscaloosa.

Greenwood Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Tuscaloosa County, having been laid out shortly after the first survey of the city of Tuscaloosa in 1821. In it are the graves of many of early Tuscaloosa’s most prominent citizens. Among those is Dr. John Drish, a famed doctor and landowner, and Solomon Perteat, a prominent free, black craftsman who lived in Tuscaloosa prior to the Civil War. Murphy African American Museum was the home of Tuscaloosa’s first licensed black mortician. Mr. Will J. Murphy, built this two- story craftsman bungalow in the early 1920s as his private residence. Materials from the old state capitol building a few blocks away, such as bricks and window sills, were salvaged when it burned in 1923 and used in the house’s construction. Today, the structure operates as a museum focusing on the lifestyle of affluent blacks during the early 1900s. The Murphy-Collins House is the home of the Murphy African American Museum Battle-Friedman Home is the home of the oldest documented antebellum garden in Alabama. The Battle-Friedman House was built about 1835 by Alfred Battle, a North Carolina native who had come to Tuscaloosa in 1821. The house and its outbuildings occupied the entire city block. Originally, the house consisted of the two front parlours, central hallway and the rooms above. The columned porch and the rooms at the back of the house were added at various times before the Civil War. In 1875, the house was bought from the Battles by Bernard Friedman, a local merchant who had immigrated from Hungary. It remained in the Friedman family until 1965, when it was willed to the city of Tuscaloosa by Hugo Friedman. The house is operated by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society and is available for rental for weddings, receptions etc. The exterior of the house is stucco over brick and painted to resemble red marble. The front porch has distinctively Tuscaloosa styled paneled square columns. Inside, elaborate plasterwork decorates the walls and ceilings of the front parlours and hallways. Some of this is original to the house, but the distinctive art deco nasturtium frieze in the halls was added by the Friedman family in the early part of the twentieth century. The house also contains a fine collection of renaissance revival furniture.

Jemison Mansion is one of the most elaborate mansions built in Alabama during the Civil War. This magnificent Italianate house was built in 1859-1862 by Senator Robert Jemison Jr. to serve as his town house. The architect was John Stewart from Philadelphia, who along with his partner, Samuel Sloan, designed Bryce Hospital. The Jemison Mansion was incomplete when the Civil War erupted, causing many finishing touches to be left undone. Most of the building materials came from Jemison’s extensive plantations, and the majority of construction was performed by skilled slaves under the supervision of Philadelphia craftsmen. The house was ahead of its time technologically: it was the first in Tuscaloosa to have a fully plumbed bathroom and even had its own gas plant to provide gas for illumination.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center (CAC) is a hub for the arts in Tuscaloosa and houses a black box theatre/workshop space which is perfect for family programming, educational opportunities and rehearsal space or community meeting space for rent.

The Bama Theatre is a historic theatre located in downtown Tuscaloosa surrounded by restaurants and night life. The theatre has been a Tuscaloosa feature since 1938 and continues as a venue for entertainment and art.

Embassy Suites & Home2 Suites, Harrison Gallery, O’Connor Art Studio, Black Warrior Brewing Company

Embassy Suites, Home2 Suites and coming soon: Hotel Indigo! Downtown T-town is becoming more hip and vibrant daily. With the addition of Downtown hotels, Tuscaloosa is poised to capture more tourists, conventions, and groups that are looking for exciting downtown areas to explore and enjoy.

Black Warrior Brewing Company A Tuscaloosa brewery and tasting room in the heart of downtown Tuscaloosa. Stop in for a pint and view the brewery or head upstairs for some shuffleboard, cornhole, foosball and darts. Tuscaloosa is home to two breweries - Druid City Brewing Company was the first to open. The beers of these two breweries are featured in many restaurants and nightspots all over Tuscaloosa.

Harrison Galleries features a permanent collection of a variety of 19th and early 20th century works in oil and prints; The gallery offers prints and original works by Basil Ede and award-winning photographs by local artists on the second floor; Special exhibits by local artists and groups throughout the calendar year.

O’Connor Art Studio & Federal Building and Courthouse houses murals painted by Caleb O’Connor depicting history of West Alabama. The O’Connor Art Studio was opened by Caleb and his wife Ruth, as they fell in love with the Tuscaloosa Community after moving here from Chicago when he was commissioned to paint these murals, and is located on University Boulevard only two blocks from the Courthouse.

 University of Alabama Campus Tour to include: Bryant Denny Stadium, President’s Mansion, Gorgas House, Round House & Old Observatory, Bryant Museum/UA Athletics, Foster Auditorium & Hood-Malone Plaza

Bryant-Denny Stadium is quickly becoming one of the most prominent college football venues in the nation. Located on the southwestern edge of the University of Alabama campus, the history-laden stadium ranks among the nation's top 5 on-campus football stadiums with a seating capacity of 101,821 after completion of the latest expansion in the summer of 2010.

The President's Mansion is a historic Greek revival style mansion on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It has served as the official residence of university presidents ever since its completion in 1841.

The Gorgas House Museum is the oldest structure on the University of Alabama campus. Built in 1829, the building served as a dining hall, hotel, and residence for the University’s Steward. Converted into a faculty residence in the 1840s, it was one of seven buildings to survive the campus Civil War burning in 1865.

The Round House was originally the Guard House of the University back when it was a military campus in the 1860s under the 3rd president, Landon Cabell Garland. It was built to protect the students on guard duty from the elements.

The Old University of Alabama Observatory, now known as Frederick R. Maxwell Hall, was an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Although no longer used as an observatory, the building has been restored and preserved.

Paul “Bear” Bryant museum is named after the famous Paul “Bear” Bryant football coach at the University of Alabama. The museum holds memorabilia from the university’s athletics and hall of famers.

Foster Auditorium is the site of Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace's "stand in the schoolhouse door" on June 11, 1963.

The “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” was Alabama Governor George Wallace’s symbolic opposition to school integration imposed by the federal government. On June 11, 1963, he stood in the doorway of UA’s Foster Auditorium in a failed attempt to prevent the enrollment of two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood. The day marks the beginning of school desegregation in Alabama. The plaza is in dedication to the two students.

Depart campus via Hackberry Lane: features include: Old slave cemetery in front of Biology Building, National Water Center, Manderson Landing & new UA Rowing Facility, Riverwalk