Historical Treasures
Danielle Gibson • March 25, 2022
STEP INTO THE PAST WITH THESE HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS
Day 1
- Begin the day with a stop at the Decatur Morgan County Tourism and pick up walking guides.
- Start with a cup of coffee at Java Jaay’s (1713 6th Ave SE Decatur).
- Take a tour of Historic Old Decatur with your first stop at the Old State Bank. Take the free guided tour through the building’s vault and replicated period teller’s cage. Learn about the life of Washington Keyes, the bank’s first cashier, while viewing his second floor apartment. See if you can find the marks from Civil War-era musketfire and miniballs.
- Continue walking through Old Decatur Historic District following the walking guide. Many of the houses were built in the early 1900s and represent a wide-range of architectural styles. Also included in the walking tour is Decatur’s first courthouse, Fort Nash, the Carnegie Library, and the Old Cemetery.
- After lunch, begin the walking tour for New Albany. Start on Second Avenue and travel south to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Follow the walking guide to see Victorian, Colonial Revival and other historic homes.
- Finish the New Albany walking tour and roam through the historic shopping districts to find treasures from the area’s many antique stores.
- Return to the hotel to rest.
- End your evening with a quiet dinner at Mellow Mushrrom (202 Moulton St SE).
Day 2
- Begin in historic downtown Decatur and take the Civil War Walking Tour. Visit the sites where Confederate and Union soldiers fought, including Rhodes Ferry Park the location for the Charge of the 14th Colored Infantry.
- Next, visit the Morgan County Archives, genealogical materials, an extensive photograph collection, and other archival and manuscript materials dating from the early 1800s. The archives also contain rare photographs from the infamous “Scottsboro Boys” case.
- Have lunch at The RailYard
- Head south to Hartselle’s Historic District. Make your first stop Hartselle’s Depot Station before wandering through the historic shopping district.
- Return to Decatur for dinner at B B Perrins (608 Holly Street NE) or Simp McGhee’s (725 Bank Street NW).
Twinkling lights, festive shopping, Jingle Boats, Christmas trees, and a little holiday magic are coming to Downtown Decatur!
Big things are happening in Decatur, Alabama, and our newest recreation destination is officially open!
A record year for artists, a permanent piece of art going up downtown, and the story of how a fine arts festival took root. Every October, something happens downtown that did not used to happen here. The courthouse lawn fills up, artists unload their vans, and for two days, a few thousand people wander downtown Decatur with no agenda beyond looking at beautiful things and talking to the people who made them. Most of them go home carrying something they had no intention of buying when they woke up that morning.
Rock the South 2026 is this weekend October 1 st -4 th , here is everything you need to know before heading to the biggest party in the south!
Rock the South is known for its lively music, hosting the biggest stars on country radio, and for being the biggest party in the south, but there’s more to experience this year than the music. The Midway Fair brings classic carnival fun to the festival, giving visitors a chance to continue the fun in between artists’ sets!
There’s something special about finding a piece of art you love, but what if you could go a step further and watch the artist bring it to life?
All aboard for a day of family-friendly fun! Depot Days in Hartselle, AL returns September 19, 2026, celebrating Hartselle’s rich railroad heritage in the heart of historic downtown.
When anglers think about Decatur & Morgan County, fishing is often times one of the first things that comes to mind.
Get ready to look to the sky! The North Alabama Airfest returns to Pryor Field Regional Airport in Tanner, Alabama September 12–13, 2026.
Fun doesn’t always have to cost money, here’s a few ways to have a good time in Decatur-Morgan County for free!
