Comprised of three museums in one, the Early Works Museum houses the Alabama Constitution Village, the Early Works Children's Museum, and the Huntsville Depot and Museum. This is where actors bring history to life, showing kids a little slice of life in the 1800s. You can see where the Alabama Constitution was signed, visit the railway, listen to a talking tree tell stories, or play on giant musical instruments.
In the 1940s, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-Americans to be trained as military pilots. This important breakthrough in civil rights is memorialized in this historic site, where you can watch an informational video and see a World War II training plane. The site has coloring activities and scavenger hunts aimed specifically at children. You will need to ask a ranger for times when these activities will take place either ahead of time or when you arrive on site.
At the American Village, participants become physically involved in the action. Actors portray famous icons from our nation's past. They portray Rosa Parks, Betsy Ross, or Benjamin Franklin and teach children about important moments in history while interacting with them. Children will even get to pantomime loading their own muskets to fight the Red Coats in the Revolutionary War. This attraction aims to teach American history and civics in a fun and entertaining manner.
Hailed as "America's most unique military attraction," Battlefield Park houses the USS Alabama, a warship that sailed on active duty from World War II to the Iraqi Freedom initiative. Visitors can walk the decks of the ship and learn about this vessel, climb into the cockpit of a combat plane, or even go below in a World War II submarine. Overnight adventures are open to scout troops, though coed facilities are not available.
When Rosa Parks made her stand and started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, she made a huge impact on the civil rights movement. Troy University sought to collect information pertaining to this moment in time and built a museum to educate people even further on what took place. The Children's Wing of the museum takes visitors on a journey with the Cleveland Avenue Time Machine and shows them that anyone can make a difference, even today.
