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Alabama Museum of Natural History: A Journey Through Alabama's Natural Past

Explore Alabama's natural history from dinosaurs to meteorites at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa.

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The Alabama Museum of Natural History, located in Smith Hall on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, invites visitors to explore the state's rich natural history [7, 9, 13]. Founded in 1831, it's the oldest museum in Alabama, showcasing exhibits from the Age of Dinosaurs to the Ice Age [7].

A brief summary to Alabama Museum of Natural History

  • Monday 10 am-4:30 pm
  • Tuesday 10 am-4:30 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-4:30 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm
  • Friday 10 am-4:30 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-4:30 pm

Local tips

  • Check the museum's website for the most up-to-date information on exhibits, events, and hours, especially around university holidays [3, 12].
  • Take advantage of free admission for UA faculty, staff, and students with a valid UA ID [3, 5, 20].
  • If visiting with children who have sensory sensitivities, utilize the Sensory Sea and KultureCity bags available at the front desk [3].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the University of Alabama campus, the Alabama Museum of Natural History is easily accessible on foot. Smith Hall is located at 427 6th Avenue. From the main campus quad, walk north towards 6th Avenue. Smith Hall will be on your left, with its distinctive colonnade [9].

  • Public Transport

    The Tuscaloosa Trolley provides service to the University of Alabama campus [5, 13, 14]. Take the Tuscaloosa Trolley to the Lloyd Hall stop [13]. From the Lloyd Hall stop, walk north along 6th Avenue to reach Smith Hall [13]. A fixed bus route fare is $1 for adults [5].

  • Driving

    If driving, the Alabama Museum of Natural History is located on the University of Alabama campus at 427 6th Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Limited on-site parking is available, with free parking for the first hour [13]. Metered street parking is also available on 6th Avenue. Expect to pay around $1.00 - $2.00 per hour for metered parking.

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Discover more about Alabama Museum of Natural History

Step back in time at the Alabama Museum of Natural History, a treasure trove of Alabama's natural heritage [7, 13]. Housed in the historic Smith Hall on the University of Alabama campus, the museum's exhibits tell a story that spans over 500 million years, from the earliest fossils to the wonders of the Ice Age [7, 10]. Founded in 1831, the museum boasts diverse collections encompassing geology, zoology, mineralogy, paleontology, ethnology, history, and photography [7]. The Grand Gallery Exhibition Hall is dominated by a replica of Basilosaurus cetoides, Alabama's State Fossil, an ancient Eocene whale [7, 13]. Don't miss the skull of an American mastodon dredged from the Tombigbee River and the Sylacauga-Hodges meteorite, the only meteorite known to have struck a human being [7, 11]. Explore exhibits like the Safford Mosasaur, a complete reconstruction of a mosasaur skull found in Dallas County, Alabama [10]. Discover the Cretaceous Monsters of Alabama, including the world's most complete mosasaur skeleton, nicknamed Artemis [10]. Journey back to Coal Age Alabama with plant fossils and footprints from the Pennsylvanian epoch [10]. Smith Hall itself is a sight to behold, with its Classical Revival architecture, engaged colonnade of Ionic columns, and a grand sunlit room [9, 13]. The Atrium Gallery features a sweeping staircase made of Alabama marble [9]. The museum also provides a Sensory Sea, a safe space for children and adults with sensory needs, equipped with various sensory objects and tools [3].

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