DECATUR
INCLUDED HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOUR
Remember! Your vacation, your choices. Visit as many or few of the included attractions in Decatur listed below at no cost. View the largest concentration of Victorian era homes in Alabama or visit the genealogical archives.
OLD STATE BANK BUILDING
Built over 180 years ago, the Old State Bank in Decatur stands today as a reminder of Decatur’s rich history. Completed in 1833, the building originally housed the Tennessee Valley branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama. After the failure of the state bank, it saw many varied uses and even survived the destruction of Decatur during the Civil War. Throughout an often turbulent history, the Old Bank has stood sentinel over the growing city of Decatur and today it is preserved as a building filled with both historical and architectural significance.
HISTORIC RAILROAD DEPOT This railroad depot has stood in Decatur since 1905, and symbolizes Decatur’s railroad history which extends back to the 1830’s. Having recently undergone a major restoration, the depot now contains a museum dedicated to the original railroad. The artifacts on display include pieces of the original railroad and model trains, showcasing the history of transportation in Northern Alabama from the nineteenth century to now.
MORGAN COUNTY ARCHIVES
The Archives is home to hundreds of volumes of historical and genealogical subject matter. There are also permanent and rotating exhibits of the many artifacts and images from the Archives’ collection. Included is an exhibit about the “Scottsboro Boys,” which displays images from the 1933 trial of Haywood Patterson. Many of the books in the Archives collection are rarities that can seldom be found elsewhere, including histories of local churches, communities, and schools.
PRINCESS THEATRE
Originally built in 1887 to serve as the horse stable for the Casa Grande Hotel, the Princess was transformed into a theatre in 1919. At the beginning of the 1920’s when vaudeville was all the rage, the Princess was remodeled to host vaudeville acts and other live performances, and in 1940 it was again remodeled, this time in art deco, to become, in the words of Albert Frahn, “… the South’s brightest gem.” In 1978 the Princess was rescued from demolition through its purchase by the City of Decatur. Since that time private citizens have combined forces with the city in an ongoing effort to renovate the Princess. As part of the movement to keep the Princess Theatre alive, in 1995 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
CARNEGIE VISUAL ARTS CENTER
The Carnegie Library – the historic building in which the Center is housed – was constructed in 1904 with funding from the Carnegie Foundation. For nearly 70 years, Decatur’s public library was housed in this facility. Today, visitors can find local and touring exhibits, which feature all mediums of visual art.
16 Check online for the most up-to-date excursion information. All tours are subject to change.
