History Tour – Metropolitan Region
The Metropolitan Region offers a wide variety of learning experiences, from natural and ancient history to Civil Rights and science.
Day 1
Begin the tour in Gadsden at Noccalula Falls Park, where groups can experience pioneer life. Visit the Imagination Place Children’s Museum at the Center for Cultural Arts and explore the child-size “city” where children can pretend to be doctors, firefighters, etc.
After lunch, depart Gadsden for Anniston. Visit the Anniston Museum of Natural History and continue to the Berman Museum of World History to view artifacts collected by a husband-and-wife spy team during World War II. Overnight in the area.
Day 2
Depart Anniston and travel to Birmingham. Visit the Civil Rights Institute, a self-directed journey through the Civil Rights Movement. After lunch, your next stop is the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church located just across from the Civil Rights Institute. This now famous church is where four little girls were killed during the bombing by Klansmen in 1963. Your group’s next tour stop is the McWane Science Center, the largest combination IMAX Domed Theater and interactive science center in a four-state region. Cap off the day with a fun-filled visit to Alabama Adventure Theme Park in Bessemer. Overnight in the area.
Day 3
After breakfast, begin the day with a visit to the Bessemer Hall of History Museum, where students can view an extensive collection of Civil War uniforms, weapons and equipment.
Depart Bessemer and head to Montevallo for a visit to The American Village. Students will hear stories of how and why America is free and meet colorful characters from the past, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Depart for Tuscaloosa to visit The Children’s Hands-On Museum, a unique facility designed to stimulate students’ curiosity about their community and their place in it. Visit the Moundville Archaeological Park, home to one of the largest and most powerful prehistoric Native American societies in North America. Overnight in the area.