Museum is small but so is the ticket price. Large skeleton was cool and the replicas of the field…read morecamp and dinosaurs skull was cool. Nice break from the road for an hour.

From the owner: Our organization includes the oldest museum in Alabama, a 185-acre park on the former site of the…read morepolitical and ceremonial center of a vast Native American chiefdom, an Emmy Award-winning public television series, the oldest structure on the University of Alabama campus, one of only a handful of UA buildings that survived the Civil War, and the only museum tracing Tuscaloosa's history through the development of its transportation systems. Through our two "behind the scenes" divisions, we also develop interdisciplinary research programs focusing on museum-based research and provide archaeological and historic research and cultural resources management services to federal, Native American tribal, state, and local governmental agencies. For general information about our museums, departments, and programs, visit our webpage. How We Came to Be UA Museums as we currently know it -- a collection of multiple museums under a single administrative umbrella -- stems from a reorganization in 1990. Prior to that all the museums were under the Alabama Museum of Natural History at UA. Until 1961 the museum(s) were part of the Geological Survey of Alabama, reflecting the museums' roots in the work of pioneering geologist E.A. Smith. In 2017 UA Museums joined the College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama's largest division and the academic core of the University. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

My fiancée and I went to the Paul W. Bryant Museum before the Alabama versus North Dakota State…read morebaseball game on March 2nd. Last few times we were at Alabama, we were not able to visit this museum; since we attended Alabama football games and the games usually start late. We were able to get in free; since she is an alumni of the school. I'm not a big fan of anything Alabama Crimson Tide affiliated, but this museum was really nice! There were some things i knew about Alabama football and other things I didn't know. They also showed appreciation to Alabama basketball and softball teams.

Best trip ever!so much history and fun facts! I spent 2 hours just taking it in and reading the…read moreinformation- great gift shop.

Im visiting here from Florida and was looking up places to take my toddler I found this spot. When…read moreYou Walk in they greet you immediately. The lady that took care of us was very nice and sweet. She took her time out to explain the different levels. My daughter is under three so she went to the basement level where they have entertainment for kids under the age of three. She definitely had a ball. I will be bringing her back here whenever I'm in town. The entry price was fair. Also, the establishment was clean.

We did a Lolli, mommy, AJ day here and it was fun for all 3 of us! We spent hours exploring and…read moreplaying. It has a great location and you are free to leave (and eat, drink, rest) and return that same day. If you are close to this place and have littles, I would definitely recommend.

One of my favorite places in Tuscaloosa. The first Thursday of each much is art night (Covid…read moreprotocols strongly recommend) and it is a wonderful time to see local artists from across Alabama's work. Outside you will find live music, studios open with live demonstrations, and artist tables set up featuring their work. The art center has something to appeal to many different tastes. I have bought many pieces and gifts from here and have always had a wonderful experience.

So many creative and interesting things packed into a small shop. Just fascinating and so…read moreimpressive. There were lots of jewelry, glass art, small sculptures, tea pots, folded paper craft, artwork prints, and even more. It was a wonderful experience just wandering through the shop.

Excellent small museum. Has a good (brief) exhibit on the history of Tuscaloosa. Housed in an…read moreArt Deco pool house that is an architectural gem. Free!

An interesting and well-designed museum in one of Tuscaloosa's landmark buildings, the museum is…read morereally about more than just transportation. Rather, the museum's interactive and informative displays lead visitors through Tuscaloosa's development through a transportation-focused lens. I'd say it takes about an hour to go through the whole exhibit, but that could change depending on how much you're into reading. There are displays that will appeal to both kids and adults, but those who have lived or visited Tuscaloosa for years without knowing the region's history will appreciate both the renovated building and exhibits the most. $5 admission with discounts for students and seniors. Open Tuesday through Saturday.

I finally made my way into the Birmingham Museum of Art after driving past it for years like,…read more"Yeah, I'll get to that one day..." Well, that day finally came--and turns out, I've been sleeping on a gem this whole time. First off, free admission? That'll get your attention quicker than a "buy one get one" sign. But seriously, this place is legit. It may not be on the scale of New York City or Chicago, but it absolutely punches above its weight. Birmingham quietly flexing, and I respect it. I started out in the sculpture garden, and with it being spring, the blooming dogwood trees added a layer of nostalgia that hit just right. Between the flowers, the fresh air, and the artwork, it was one of those "slow down and take it in" moments. Not bad for a place I used to ignore at red lights--or even flying past it doing 80 on 59/20. Inside, the collections are surprisingly deep and diverse. European, American, African, Asian--you name it. I spent a good bit of time in the African galleries, which meant a lot to me having traveled to Tanzania several times. It's one thing to read about cultures, but seeing the art up close brings a whole different level of appreciation. They also had a traveling exhibit featuring Claude Monet, and I'll just say--pictures don't do that justice. The way he plays with light and color is something you've got to see in person. The Renaissance pieces were another highlight, especially the Madonna and Child panels. You can actually see the craftsmanship in the materials--it makes you realize these artists weren't just talented, they were patient... like next-level patient. There's also a really cool mix of American artwork that captures early Alabama life. One painting in particular shows a whole social scene--different classes, different backgrounds--all in one place. It's like a historical snapshot, and honestly, probably more accurate than some of the stories we've all heard growing up. Now let's talk about the staff--because that matters. Every person I interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and actually knew their stuff. I asked a few questions, and instead of getting a quick "I think so," I got detailed answers that made the experience even better. That's the kind of thing you remember. Swing by the gift shop or grab a snack on the second floor--they're ready to welcome you. What I appreciated most was how the museum connects everything. You walk through different cultures, different time periods, and somehow it all ties back to the same themes--faith, identity, daily life, legacy. Makes you realize people haven't changed all that much... we've just gotten better at Wi-Fi. Walking out, I couldn't help but laugh a little--I've passed this place for years and had no idea what I was missing. Safe to say, I won't make that mistake again. In fact, this was my second visit in less than a month. If you're local or just passing through Birmingham, this place is absolutely worth your time. Take it from someone who learned the hard way--don't wait as long as I did. Well done, Birmingham!

We decided to visit the museum to see their 'Monet to Matisse' exhibit. I checked occasionally in…read morethe week leading up to our visit. Their website displays how many tickets are remaining for the day. I wanted to ensure this wasn't selling out for our day, in which case I'd have bought tickets in advance online. However, they still showed over 1000 tickets available the day before, so I opted to just buy them at the museum. We had issues with navigation in Birmingham already, and those continued en route to the museum. For whatever reason, the app directed us over a mile beyond downtown and then had us get off the highway, cross the overpass, and double back (?). We actually switched apps a bit later as we were sure there was an issue. We eventually found the museum, though. It wasn't obvious from the front, but apparently the museum does have its own free parking lot behind the building. We ended up parking in a deck a few blocks away, but thankfully that only ended up costing us $3. The museum is normally free for entry, I believe. Donations are encouraged. However, for special travelling exhibits, there was a charge (about $25 per person). This was handled at a kiosk just outside the exhibit. We toured the exhibit and enjoyed it. Works were arranged in 3 large rooms. It was crowded, but manageable. After seeing that, we opted to check out some of the permanent collection before leaving. On the upper level (where we were) there are several rooms devoted to Asian arts (samurai armor from Japan, jade and buddha statues from China, etc.). Korea and India were also represented. If we'd had more time, we would have explored more on this floor. We descended to the first floor and checked out some of the European galleries as well as the end of the wing that is devoted to American art. They had interesting works on all these areas. If I lived in the area, I'd likely come here to check out the permanent collection. Maybe we'll be back at some point to see more of it. This was well worth stopping by if you like art. (I will limit my photos to the permanent collection.)

Movies on the mountain continues to be a fun time. Madagascar, popcorn, perfect weather. Funny…read moreenough, I still don't mind going to catch an animated movie by myself at my big age. lol Life is meant to be enjoyed and I'm taking advantage of doing so. Fun family, friend or solo event.

Vulcan Park and Museum is an excellent spot for panoramic views of Birmingham and an easy addition…read moreto any visit to the city. It's just a short drive from downtown, and one of the best perks is that parking is free and you can walk around the statue grounds without paying anything. Even if you don't go inside, the overlook alone is worth the trip for the skyline views and photo opportunities. If you're interested in the history behind the statue and its restoration, there's a museum on site that adds a lot of context. Admission is $8, and that ticket also lets you take the elevator up inside the statue to about three-quarters of the way to the top, which gives you even higher and more impressive views of the city. Overall, it's a great mix of scenery and local history. Whether you just want a quick stop for the views or a deeper dive into Birmingham's past, it's a worthwhile visit.

I enjoyed my experience here! It was my first time coming back in 10+ years so I was wondering…read moreabout the upkeep with it being so old, but you can tell they take a lot of pride in their cleanliness there. The carpet seemed in need of redoing with the amount of foot traffic it has seen. We were there for the IMAX screening of the Blue Angels documentary. It's a true IMAX dome theater. It was immaculately clean in the theater and the seats looked brand new. The movie gave me the same feeling I get whenever I have worn the 3D glasses they give you in the AMC theaters, so be forewarned I did get dizzy a few times during the movie. For 2 tickets the price came out to $21.90. I would definitely come again for the right movie, but need a break from the dizziness I got.

Plenty to do for my 2 years old grand daughter. Museum members are polite and extremely helpful .read more

The Father's Day weekend train ride for dads and father figures was an amazing experience. First of…read moreall, if you have reserved any train ride, please leave extra early. The I-65 traffic is intense. Our 1:00pm departure was delayed by ten minutes to allow extra time for guests to board. There are plenty of train cars to choose from - open air or air conditioned. We opted for the open air to get the full experience. It was about an hour and half ride RT. We got a great view of the neighboring golf course and a local vineyard. The gift shop carries awesome train themed gifts as well as local Alabama themed gifts. The train depot house a small exhibit about the history of rail. There is a neat video on the Louisville & Nashville lines that used to run through Birmingham. A must see in the area.

My husband and I attended the Mardi Gras Bourbon and Beignets event. While it was an enjoyable…read morenight out, it certainly did not exactly meet our expectations. We were under the impression this was a more formal event due to the advertising & description on the website. We felt very overdressed... We were about 15-20 minutes late boarding the train. The power then went out on the train, which really wasn't an issue considering it was cool outside thankfully. It was a very short ride to the winery. When we arrived at Ozan Winery, the tables were preset (picture attached) the food had been sitting there for only God knows how long... It was a small portion of crawfish etouffe, and a small slice of a muffuletta. the etouffe was so cold from sitting there so long it was like it had been refrigerated. that was so disappointing... the sandwich was fine. then there was a bag of chips.. The wine tasting in itself was nice, but it felt very rushed due to the train being late. We barely had finished the tasting by the time she was pouring the next one in our glass... The star of the show. the bourbon & beignets... the bourbon was.. well. bourbon. but the beignets looked and tasted as if they had been taken out of a little debbie package. so disappointing... it was not even comparable to a true beignet. tasted more like a twinkie with grape jelly in it... Overall the experience felt very cheap and thrown together. We expected a more sophisticated experience.