Alabama Museum of Natural History (Alabama)
Museum Information
| Name | Alabama Museum of Natural History |
|---|---|
| Location | Smith Hall, The University of Alabama Campus, Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Street Address | 427 Sixth Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 |
| Opening Hours | Mon–Sat 9:00 AM–4:30 PM |
| Admission Fee | Yes (Paid Admission; Free Options Available) |
| Founded | 1831 |
| Phone | (205) 348-7550 |
| almnh@ua.edu | |
| Website | https://almnh.museums.ua.edu/ |
| View on OpenStreetMap | OpenStreetMap |
| Directions | Open in Google Maps |
Step into Smith Hall and you’re immediately surrounded by Alabama’s natural story—not as a timeline on a wall, but as real specimens, real places, real discoveries. The Alabama Museum of Natural History focuses on natural history with a museum style that feels academic yet welcoming, built for families, students, and anyone curious about fossils, geology, and the living world.
What The Museum Covers
- Deep time in Alabama, from ancient seas to later landscapes, explained in plain language with museum exhibits.
- Major paleontology moments, including large reptiles and marine life tied to Alabama fossils.
- Geology, minerals, and the building blocks of the state’s natural diversity, presented with hands-on clarity.
Spaces You’ll Move Through
- The Grand Gallery, a signature interior where large specimens and classic cases create a true natural history atmosphere.
- First-floor exhibit areas that highlight research, collections, and Alabama-focused stories in a clear, modern format.
- A building designed for teaching and discovery, with exhibits that support learning at any age.
History and Role in Alabama
The Alabama Museum of Natural History is recognized as the state’s natural history museum and is described as the oldest museum in Alabama, founded in 1831. Its scope is intentionally wide—geology, zoology, mineralogy, paleontology, and more—so visitors get a grounded view of what makes Alabama’s natural environment distinctive.✅Source
Notable Collection Threads
- Iconic specimens tied to Alabama’s record of discovery, presented as part of a broader natural history collection.
- Multiple scientific fields in one place, so a visitor can connect rocks, fossils, and living systems without switching contexts.
- A museum identity built around education and sustained curiosity, not just display—exhibitons are designed to teach, not merely impress.
Grand Gallery and Building Details
Smith Hall was built to support museum work at scale, with a central section designed for the Alabama Museum of Natural History and wings that have long supported academic departments. Inside, the building’s classic design leads to the Grand Gallery, described as a sunlit hall framed by columns and a large glass roof, with exhibits displayed in traditional glass-and-wood cases across upper levels.✅Source
Why The Architecture Helps Learning
- The Grand Gallery layout supports slow looking—you can take in large objects, then move to cases for detail.
- Natural light and clear sightlines make the space feel open, even when exhibits focus on dense scientific information.
- The building itself becomes part of the experience, reinforcing that natural history is studied, collected, and cared for over time.
Museum Areas Commonly Mentioned
- Atrium spaces that transition visitors into the museum’s upper-level exhibits, with Grand Gallery access.
- First-floor exhibit sections that connect research and public understanding in a direct way.
- Upper-level cases and mezzanine areas where the collection feel is strongest.
Exhibits and Signature Specimens
The museum frames Alabama’s natural history as a long arc—its exhibits are described as telling a story that reaches back hundreds of millions of years, using specimens and interpretive panels to connect ancient environments to today’s landscapes. You’ll see a mix of fossils, reconstructed displays, and modern exhibits tied to University of Alabama research and outreach.✅Source
- Deinosuchus content focused on a large ancient crocodilian, presented with Cretaceous context and fossil-based interpretation.
- The Safford Mosasaur display in the Grand Gallery, tied to a reconstructed skull and Alabama’s marine past.
- A first-floor exhibit featuring Dr. Edward O. Wilson awards, linking scientific achievement to local academic history.
- A Discovering Alabama exhibit that connects the museum to nature education and public outreach through television storytelling.
| Exhibit Theme | What It Helps You Understand |
|---|---|
| Ancient Seas | Marine reptiles, changing coastlines, and how Alabama fit into broader geologic history. |
| Fossil Predators | How fossils are used to reconstruct ancient ecosystems and food webs. |
| Scientific Legacy | The role of research and collections in building trustworthy natural history knowledge. |
| Public Nature Education | How museums translate field science into clear learning for broad audiences. |
Hours and Admission
For day-to-day visiting, the museum publishes a straightforward set of details: regular hours, admission prices, and the main exceptions (such as certain University holidays or home-game days). It also outlines access-focused features like The Sensory Sea and partner support for sensory needs, keeping the experience welcoming for many types of visitors.✅Source
Published Visitor Details
- Regular hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (with listed exceptions).
- Adults: $5
- K–12 students: $3
- Children 5 and under: Free
- Free categories: Blue Star families, Museums for All / SNAP, UA faculty/staff/students, and select membership programs.
Location and Getting There
The museum is located in Smith Hall at 427 Sixth Avenue on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. The museum also publishes driving directions, visitor parking options (including dedicated spaces), and a public transportation note about the Tuscaloosa Trolley connecting downtown parking to campus.✅Source
Parking Notes
- Five dedicated visitor parking spaces are noted behind Smith Hall, accessed from Hackberry Drive.
- A nearby parking deck is identified at Campus Drive and Hackberry Lane with published hourly visitor rates.
- On arrival, the museum describes how an admission receipt can support visitor parking access for those dedicated spaces.
Public Transportation Mentioned
- The Tuscaloosa Trolley is noted as running from a downtown parking deck to campus.
- Transit routing is referenced through the local transit authority’s official maps and University Shuttle Route.
Contact and Museum Office
If you need the most direct point of contact, the museum lists front desk details along with the main office location in Smith Hall. For specific questions—education, research outreach, or facility needs—its directory also provides named contacts, which can be useful when your request is time-sensitive or highly specific.✅Source
- Main location: Smith Hall, 427 Sixth Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
- Phone: (205) 348-7550
- Email: almnh@ua.edu