Historic Places
From the Civil War to the struggle for Civil Rights, the River Heritage Region has seen many historic events that have shaped not only the state but also the nation and American society as a whole. Below are just some of the more significant landmarks in the area. Tuskegee Institute National Historic SiteThe Tuskegee Institute served not only as a center for educating freed slaves and their children, but also became a beacon of hope for all African Americans in the decades after emancipation. Officially opened on July 4 1881 as the Tuskegee Normal School with Booker T. Washington as its first principal, the original buildings were built by the students themselves with bricks made in the Institute's brickyard. Today the original institute is a national historic site located on the campus of modern-day Tuskegee University, and includes the George Washington Carver Museum. Old Alabama TownOld Alabama Town is the South's premier historic village. The Town features over 40 restored 19th and 20th century structures, all of which stretch along six blocks in downtown Montgomery. Visitors can relive and experience the lives of those who settled and developed the area. The Selma to Montgomery National Historic TrailIn March of 1965, thousands of civil rights advocates marched through rain and cold for five days and four nights on a 54-mile trek to the state capitol. The demonstration, a push for to end the disenfranchisement of African Americans, stands as a triumph of the Civil Rights Movement. Trail markers and several walking tours trace the route of one of the most important political marches in American history. Governor's MansionBuilt in 1906, this beautiful mansion that blends colonial and Greek revival architecture has been home to the Governor of Alabama since 1950. |