Vaughan-Smitherman Museum: A Window into Selma's Soul

The Vaughan-Smitherman Museum, located in Selma, Alabama, is a treasure trove of local history housed within a significant Greek Revival building. Constructed in 1847 by the Selma Fraternal Lodge No. 27 of the Free and Accepted Masons, it initially served as a school for orphans and children of indigent Masons. Over the years, the building has played many roles in Selma's development, including a Confederate hospital, a Freedman's Bureau Hospital (Selma's first African American Hospital), the Dallas County Courthouse, a military school, and the Vaughan Memorial Hospital. Today, the museum's exhibits showcase Selma's history up to around 1960. The first floor features Civil War artifacts and documents related to slavery. The second floor is dedicated to a political collection, while the third floor recreates a 19th-century hospital ward, reminiscent of its time as Vaughan Memorial Hospital. Visitors can also view antique furniture, Native American artifacts, and rotating art exhibits. The building itself is available for rent and is used for weddings, receptions, and meetings. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Visitors have reported unusual occurrences in the museum, adding a layer of intrigue to the historical experience. From footsteps and self-flushing toilets to elevators operating on their own, the stories add to the museum's unique atmosphere.