Smith Hall: Alabama's Natural History Showcase

Smith Hall, a landmark on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, has housed the Alabama Museum of Natural History for over a century. Completed in 1909 and formally dedicated in 1910, the building itself is a significant historical and architectural monument. Named after Dr. Eugene Allen Smith, the state geologist who dedicated nearly 40 years to surveying and collecting specimens, Smith Hall stands as a testament to his passion and legacy. The building's design, in the Classical Revival style, features a striking colonnade of eight Ionic columns. Inside, the Atrium Gallery showcases a sweeping staircase crafted from Alabama marble and iron. This grand staircase leads to the Grand Gallery Exhibition Hall, a space adorned with ornate Corinthian columns and a glass roof that floods the interior with natural light. The Alabama Museum of Natural History, the state's oldest museum founded in 1831, presents Alabama's natural history through diverse exhibits. Visitors can explore collections relating to geology, zoology, mineralogy, paleontology, ethnology, history, and photography. Highlights include a replica of the Basilosaurus cetoides, Alabama's state fossil, a skeleton of an American mastodon, and the Hodges meteorite, the only meteorite known to have struck a human. The museum also holds the largest collection of Mosasaur, an ancient swimming reptile, and 300-million-year-old Cincosaurus footprints. For over 110 years, the museum has celebrated Alabama's natural history through exhibitions, research, and educational programs. It offers a sensory room to ensure an inclusive experience for all visitors.