Smith Hall, Tuscaloosa Travel Guide

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

Smith Hall, home to the Alabama Museum of Natural History, is a Classical Revival building on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. Established in 1831, the museum showcases the state's natural diversity from the dinosaur age to the ice age with exhibits of fossils, minerals, and historical artifacts.

A brief summary to Smith Hall

427 6th Ave, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487, US
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From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Smith Hall.

Visit on a weekday for a less crowded experience.
Check the museum's website for information on special events and temporary exhibits.
Allow at least two hours to fully explore the museum's exhibits.
Ask museum staff for guided tours to enhance your understanding of the exhibits.

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Other nearby places you may find interesting

The closest places of the same kind, if this one is not quite what you had in mind.

Murphy-Collins House

Tuscaloosa River Walk

Battle-Friedman House & Gardens

Historic Alabama Capitol 1826-1846

The University of Alabama Arboretum

Explore Smith Hall on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Smith Hall, mapped for you.

Getting There

Walking

From the University of Alabama campus, walk east on University Blvd toward 6th Ave. Turn left onto 6th Ave and continue north. Smith Hall is located at 427 6th Ave.
Public Transport

From the Greyhound Bus Station in Tuscaloosa, walk to the bus stop at 14th St & 7th Ave. Take Tuscaloosa City Transit Bus Line 1 toward the University of Alabama. Get off at University Blvd & 6th Ave. Walk one block north on 6th Ave to Smith Hall. The cost for a single ride is $1.25.
Driving

From I-20/59, take exit 73 for McFarland Blvd and head west toward the University of Alabama. Exit right onto University Blvd and follow it to Hackberry Lane. Turn right onto Hackberry Lane and turn into the second parking lot on the left behind Smith Hall. There are five dedicated visitor parking spaces. Upon paying museum admission, you will receive a parking pass for these spaces. Alternatively, a parking deck is located at Campus Drive and Hackberry Lane. Parking here costs $1 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour.

Discover more about Smith Hall

Smith Hall, located on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, is home to the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The museum, founded in 1831, is the oldest in the state and a lasting monument to Dr. Eugene Allen Smith, who surveyed and collected specimens for nearly 40 years as the state geologist. The cornerstone was laid in 1907, and the building was dedicated in 1910.The building itself is designed in the Classical Revival style, reminiscent of Beaux-Arts architecture. The facade features eight prominent Ionic columns. Inside, a sweeping staircase made of Alabama marble and iron leads to the Grand Gallery Exhibition Hall. This hall is ringed with Corinthian columns and topped by a barrel-vaulted ceiling with skylights. Museum exhibits are displayed in glass and polished wood cases on the second floor and mezzanine.The museum's exhibits depict Alabama's natural diversity through time. Highlights include a replica of the Basilosaurus cetoides, Alabama's state fossil, and the Hodges meteorite, the only meteorite known to have struck a human. Visitors can also view the skull of an American mastodon and a large collection of Mosasaur fossils. The museum also sponsors expeditions throughout the year.