Welcome To Old Cahawba "Alabama's most famous Ghost Town"
An Archaeological Park managed by the Alabama Historical Commission
Open Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Near Selma, Alabama
Visit the Welcome Center. Start your visit here. Exhibits feature archaeological finds and photographs of the homes and businesses that once were located in Old Cahawba. If you want to learn more about Cahawba's history, you can purchase a book from the gift shop. You can also learn more about special programs. Explore a landscape of ruins & relics. Water still flows through the old ornamental well heads. Columns and chimneys mark old house sites. Gravestones tell the stories of forgotten people. Old-fashioned roses and bulbs still bloom each spring. Look for other fascinating remnants of the old town and interpretive signs throughout the park. Hike the Clear Creek Nature Trail. Experience this half-mile of nature on your own, or pick up a free trail brochure and let Anna Gayle Fry, a resident of the town during the Civil War, be your guide. How did Cahawba survive the Union blockade of her ports? If you walk the trail, Mrs. Fry will share this secret with you. Stroll through the Cemetery. Here's your chance to meet the residents of Old Cahawba! A free map guides you through the graveyard and illustrates just how diverse the residents of this Southern antebellum town were. Celebrate! The ghost town returns to life every second Saturday in May. The Old Cahawba Festival features family fun, music, games, living history, story telling, an arts &/ crafts sale, and real Southern barbecue. The fee is only $5 per car, so bring the family. All proceeds from the festival benefit historic preservation and park development. Or . . . just relax & take it easy. Try out the porch rockers at the Welcome Center. Dip your toes in artesian well water. The shaded picnic area has grills, restrooms and water points. Cahawba has a boat launch, and the fishing is good!
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