This southern state, “the Heart of Dixie” covers some 51,000 square miles and became part of the United States in 1819 after rule by the French, English and Spanish. Alabama was a Confederate stronghold during the Civil War 1861–65 and it later became a centre of resistance to the black civil rights movement.

Nicknamed “The Cotton State”, Alabama was famous for its cotton growing, until the crops were attacked by weevils that caused massive devastation. Alabama is now better known for peanut growing. Alabama’s neighbours are Tennessee to the north, Mississippi to the west, Florida to the south and Georgia to the east. The term “Deep South” refers to Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, and throughout the region you encounter the renowned Southern charm, hospitality and courtesy.


State Capitol

The capital city, Montgomery, sits on the Alabama River in the centre of the State, some 135 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. It is a business and industrial centre harnessing hydroelectric power that serves neighbouring regions. Oil and natural gas are also produced. Poultry and cattle are reared in the State that also grows Soya beans, peanuts and maize.

In 1955 Rosa Parks made history in Montgomery when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. The then quite young Martin Luther King. took up her cause, and after a year of pressure on the companies, brought about non-segregation on public transport. In 1965 he led a successful march from Selma to the steps of the Greek Revival State Capitol. A beautiful Civil Rights Memorial Fountain is a feature of Montgomery City, and tourists enjoy the River walk in the Downtown area.


Alabama Theatre

Prattville, second largest town of the region lies some ten miles from Montgomery. Monroeville, another city in Alabama receives pilgrimages from fans of Harper Lee, born here in 1926, and the author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama, and lies in a valley at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Here, the Carver Theatre acknowledges the importance of Jazz, with a Hall of Fame tribute to all the great names from the area.

Huntsville is where North Alabama’s Railroad Museum is to be found, as is the US Space & Rocket Centre where Apollo capsules are on display along with a life size model of a space shuttle.


US Space & Rocket Centre

From the beautiful port city of Mobile, a scenic harbour tour will take in the bird reserves of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island and the USS Alabama, former World War II battleship, can be seen in Mobile Bay.

Getting there

The largest airport serving Alabama is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. It is located five miles (8 kilometres) northeast of downtown Birmingham. Other airports serving Alabama are Dothan Regional Airport, Huntsville International Airport, Mobile Regional Airport and Montgomery Regional Airport.

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