This Long-Abandoned Alabama Town Is Now A Tourist Attraction And Archaeological Site
By Lisa Battles|Published April 03, 2024
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Lisa Battles
Author
Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
For all of my life, I’ve known Alabama’s capital as Montgomery, as it has been since 1846. However, there were two other towns that claimed the title – Tuscaloosa from 1826 to 1846 and, before that, the abandoned Alabama town of Cahawba (or Cahaba … both are correct). Alabama’s first state capital for six years, the ghost town, is now a tourist attraction and archaeological park preserved by the Alabama Historical Commission.
Old Cahawba whispers tales of a bygone era. Once Alabama's capital, now a ghost town, its moss-draped ruins echo with the voices of history. Visitors wander cobblestone streets, imagining the bustling life that once thrived here, amidst the serene beauty of its Southern landscape.
The commission erected a "ghost" structure to show the dimensions of the former capitol. Most accounts say the capital was moved to Tuscaloosa because of persistent flooding conditions. After the town lost that status, it prospered nonetheless.
With its location at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba rivers, it became an important transportation town for cotton grown throughout this fertile region of the state. A rail line only increased its economic strength.
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One significant sign of the period of prosperity is the Crocheron Columns, which are what remained of an impressive family home built in the early 1840s. The Crocheron family was from New York and established businesses in the earliest days of Cahawba. A nephew, Richard Conner Crocheron, moved down for the family businesses, which included owning steamer ships.
The Crocheron family – and just about everyone else – was long gone when the home burned in 1920 leaving only the columns as ruins. The Selma-Dallas County Historical Preservation Society helped raise funds for the park to buy the columns and lot.
Cahawba was booming at the time of construction for St. Luke's Episcopal Church, between 1852 and 1854. The church was dismantled in 1878 and moved 15 miles away, eventually serving two other congregations. Auburn University architecture students in the Rural Studio program moved the church back to Cahawba from 2006 to 2008.
There are three cemeteries full of stories at Old Cahawba, with people lain to rest here ranging from prosperous local families to enslaved African Americans to Union soldiers imprisoned here during the Civil War. You can do a walking tour when you visit the site.
A popular short trail on the site is the wheelchair-accessible Clear Creek Nature Trail, which is just under a mile. The park also has five miles of smooth roads that are perfect for exploring by bicycle. The visitor center has a few cruiser bikes to borrow free of charge with a valid driver's license.
The Clear Creek Nature Trail is among the more than 11 miles of trails at Old Cahawba for enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings. A top pick is the 2.2-mile Old Cahawa Prairie Forever Wild Land Indian Trail.
For more information about this abandoned town in Alabama, visit the Old Cahawba section of the Alabama Historical Commission website. Keep up with the latest news from the park on the Old Cahawba Facebook page.
Have you ever visited Alabama’s first state capital? We’d love to hear about your experience.
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