Alabama in 48 Hours

by | Nov 30, 2021 | Middle U.S. | 0 comments

Map of trip locations of Mount Vernon, Monticello, Blue Ridge Parkway and The Biltmore road trip.

Quick Stats

Distance: 300 miles

Recommended time: 2 days

Highlights: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Montgomery, Tuskagee, backroads

Main Highways: AL-280, 431, 22, INT-85, 65

Summary: Day one was the classic Iron Bowl college football game between rivals Auburn and Alabama, and day two was a road trip covering civil rights sites and backroads. If you like college football and civil rights history, this is worth checking out!

Auburn

Auburn (pop. 75,000) is classic college town built around Auburn University. Established in 1856, it is the oldest four-year college in Alabama, and worth a couple hours to explore its historic brick buildings. The real highlight of Auburn was hitting the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium. With Aurburn 19-point underdogs for the matchup against rival Alabama, I was lucky enough to see an epic battle that went into a 4th overtime, with Auburn eventually losing.

Inside of packed football stadium, video screen of game at upper right, sundown sky with some clouds above.

Jordan-Hare Stadium (1939)

Inside of football stadium at night, fireworks launching above the scoreboard and packed crowd in stands below.

Heading into 4th Quarter vs. Alabama, 10/27/21 – Final Score 24 Alabama 22 Auburn, 4 overtimes

Brick colonial-style three-story campus building at Auburn University, clock tower at right, blue sky in background.

Auburn University

Tuskegee

On day two I headed west to historic Tuskegee University (founded 1881) and stopped at the home of civil rights pioneer Booker T. Washington and the famous Lifting the Veil (1922) monument. The downtown area is unfortunately in a state decay.

View of downtown Tuskagee with vertical sign reading "music" hanging above orange painted building with other buildings next door. Light-blue sunrise sky.

Downtown Tuskegee

Statue of Booker T. Washington on cement stand flanked by a bench. Overcast sky.

Booker T. Washington monument

Tuskagee University main building, which is a two-story brick building with greek columns in front. Grey cloudy sky above.

Tuskegee University (1881)

Abandoned theatre at right that says "Highland" above the marquee. Plain cement building. Grey sky above.

South outskirts of Montgomery

Montgomery

If you’re into civil rights history, you’ll be in heaven in Montgomery (pop. 400,000). Most the obligatory sites are within walking of the Alabama State Capitol (1850). Some highlights are the Civil Rights Memorial, The Freedom Rides Museum (which is in an 1950 Art Deco style Greyhound bus depot) and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church (1889) where Martin Luther King served as pastor and organized the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955. Country music legend Hank Williams was born in Montgomery and has a museum here also – unfortunately it is closed on Sundays and I was not able to check it out.

Alabama State Capitol Building, a two-story white classical-style building with greek columns in front. Statue at left.

Alabama State Capitol (1851), Montgomery

Brick church at left with white wooden tower perched on top, sidewalk leading straight ahead past some other buildings. Grey overcast sky.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church (1889)

Plain 1950's style tan brick Greyhound bus building, grey sky above.

Freedom Rides Museum, Montgomery

Black marble civil right monument with various events etched on it, museum in background. Grey overcast sky.

Civil Rights Memorial, Montgomery

Hank Williams Museum at left, in red brick building with white trim. Grey overcast sky.

Hank Williams Museum, Montgomery

Birmingham

Another civil rights hotspot, Birmingham (pop. 1.1M) is about an hour north of Montgomery. Probably the most well-known civil rights monument is the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (1911) which was bombed in 1963 by the KKK. I spent an hour driving around the city, and came across the Spanish Revival Alabama Theatre (1927), a National Historical Landmark that has hosted the Miss Alabama Pageant and B.B. King. Unfortunately, major parts of the downtown have seen better days.

Brick building at left with neon sign hanging from corner reading "16th Street Baptist Church." Hazy blue sky in background.

16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham

Two-story high 1920's green theatre sign with white lettering reading "Alabama" with downtown Birmingham buildings in the background. Blue sky with scattered clouds.

Alabama Theatre (1927)

Two-story brick courthouse building with round tower on top and 1950's style streetlamps lit in front. Blue sky with some clouds.

Chambers Country Courthouse, LaFayette (pop. 3000), north of Auburn

Ornate single-story colonial style brick First Universal Church with white trim in the distance among trees.

First Universal Church (1846), Camp Hill (pop. 1000)

Abandoned drive-in theatre, screen in the distance at left and old drive-in sign at upper right with lettering that reads "boat and RV storage," blue sky with scattered clouds in background.

Abandoned drive-in, south of Harpersville on Hwy 231

Random notes on Alabama:

  • Men call you “sir” and women call you “love” or “sweets”
  • Black eyed peas and okra are common side dishes
  • Churches everywhere, mainly Baptist and Methodist
  • Many homes have nativity scenes on front lawn
  • Everyone eats Golden Flake chips (dill pickle is my favorite)
  • Much of the state is low rolling hills covered in forest
Close up of white and blue bag of Golden Flake potato chips, vinegar and salt flavor.

Alabama favorite Golden Flake chips – Dill Pickle is best

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