Alabama Museum of Natural History

Activity Overview

The Alabama Museum of Natural History is located in Smith Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This fascinating natural history museum was founded in 1831, making it the oldest museum in the state. Its extensive collections contain artifacts related to paleontology, paleobotany, mineralogy, ethnology, history, osteology, entomology, mammals, humans, and photography. If your family interested in learning about nature and science, then stop by the museum to explore its diverse displays which feature everything from dinosaur skeletons and mastodon skulls to insect specimens for a very reasonable admission fee.

Things to Do

• Explore the collections! Children will be especially interested in the mammal and entomology collections, which feature thousands of specimens. Informative displays inform visitors all about Alabama's native mammals and insects - including thousands of butterfly species.
• If you're visiting with a group, go on a guided tour of the museum! The Discovery tour costs just $3 per person, while the Discovery Lab Experience costs $5 per person.
• Visit the mesmerizing photograph collection, which contains thousands of photographs of Alabama and other areas of the Southeast that were taken in the 1930s and 1940s.
• Don't miss the ethnology collection - it contains artifacts from cultures around the world, including items from native groups in New Guinea, Australia, and the Amazon.

Alabama Museum of Natural History Insider Tips

• Check out their schedule to learn about upcoming events like preschool days, family nights, hands-on activities, festivals, and fairs.
• Parking behind the museum is limited - another option is the Campus Drive Parking Deck which costs $5, or you can park downtown and take a Tuscaloosa Trolley to the University of Alabama campus. Find more details about parking here.
• Stop by the gift shop before you head home - you can buy some beautiful minerals to add to your mineral collection, jewelry, educational books, and more.