Old Cahawba Archaeological Site

From 1819 to 1826, Cahawba served as Alabama’s first capital. It was once a thriving antebellum river town, a major distribution point for cotton shipped down the Alabama River to Mobile, a Confederate prison for captured Union soldiers, and a rural community of African American families. By 1900, however, most of Cahawba’s buildings had burned, collapsed, or had been dismantled. A place of picturesque ruins, Cahawba today is an important archaeological site with an extensive descendants’ network.

Things to do:

• Visit the Welcome Center with exhibits, visitor information, restrooms and gift shop.

• Explore a landscape of ruins and relics, chimneys and gravestones, ornamental well heads and columns with our self-guided brochures.

• Enjoy the picnic areas with tables, grills, water fountains and restrooms. Wheelchair accessible picnic tables are available.

• Hike our nature trail with scenic overlook that is fully accessible for visitors in wheel chairs or with other mobility impairments.  (Distance: half mile loop; Grade: Maximum 3%; Cross Slope: Maximum 2%; Width: Minimum tread 60"; Surface: 100% of the trail is paved)

Contact Information: Old Cahawba Archaeological Site
9518 Cahaba Road
Orrville, AL 36767
Phone: (334) 872-8058
Fax: (334) 877-4253
Email: cahawbam@bellsouth.net

Free admission

Hours
The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Welcome Center from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Directions
The ghost town of Old Cahawba lies at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers. From Selma, take Highway 22 west 9 miles. Turn left onto County Road 9 and follow this 5 miles. Turn left onto County Road 2 and follow this into the park.

Visitor Services
Tour rates*:

*School groups are required to have 1 adult per 15 students.

Those adults are admitted at no charge.

Scheduling a Tour

Guided tours are offered by appointment only.  Please call 334-872-8058. Visitor information and self-guided driving and walking trail brochures are available at the Welcome Center daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For morning visitors, a selection of brochures is available on the Welcome Center porch.

All tours must be booked 2 weeks in advance.  You may download a Request a Tour form.

To view this form, you will need to download  Adobe Acrobat Reader which is free.

OLD CAHAWBA TOUR OPTIONS

EXPLORE CAHAWBA TOUR:

Our most popular tour takes you into Cahawba's past as your guide helps you recreate the town in your mind's eye.  Learn of the rise and fall of Alabama's first state capital and most famous ghost town. Recommended for everyone grade 4 and up.  Tour lasts 2 hours.

CAHABA DURING THE WAR TOUR:

Even though Cahawba is best known as the first state Capital site, the town actually flourished during the years just prior the Civil War.  Learn how Cahawba's citizens dealt with the war and the devastating effects that war had on the town.  Recommended for everyone grade 4 and up. Tour lasts for 3 hours.

HISTORY MYSTERY TOUR: $2 tour fee + $2 material fee.

History Mystery Tours are designed to let your students explore Old Cahawba while sharpening their learning skills.  Students will be grouped into teams and given "mysteries" to solve through careful observation and critical thinking.  Recommended for students grades 3 to 5. This tour is self paced but generally lasts for 3 hours.

Special events

Civil War Preservation Trust Park Day
April 2, 2011

Haunted History Ghost Tour
October 22, 2010

"Hear the Dead Speak" Walking Tour
 

See also Calendar of Events.

Facilities Rental The picnic area is available for family reunions and large gatherings.

Genealogists and Civil War Buffs:

DO YOU HAVE A CAHAWBA ANCESTOR?

If you have an antebellum ancestor that lived in Cahawba or was imprisoned in the Cahaba Prison (sometimes called "Castle Morgan") as a captured Union soldier, the Cahawba Site Director might have some information for you.  Just drop her a note requesting a search of her research files.  Be sure to include your return address, your ancestor's name, and as much additional information as possible.  Be patient however, since inquiries will be answered on a first come first serve basis. Write to: Site Director, Old Cahawba, 719 Tremont Street, Selma, AL 36701-5446.