Alabama Bureau of Tourism, 401 Adams Avenue #126, P O Box 4927,
Montgomery AL 36103-4927; 334-242-4169; 800-252-2262; Fax: 334-242-4554. Email:
info@tourism.state.al.us.
Web: http://www.touralabama.org.
State Agricultural Museum: Dotham Landmarks Park
State American Folk Dance: square dance
State Amphibian: Red Hills salamander
State Barbecue Championship: Demopolis Christmas on the River Cook-Off
State Bird: yellowhammer woodpecker
State Coat of Arms:
State Creed: Alabama's Creed
State Dance: folk dance
State Flower: camelia
State Fossil: Basilosaurus cetoides (an extinct whale)
State Freshwater Fish: largemouth bass
State Fruit: blackberry
State Game Bird: wild turkey
State Gemstone: star blue quartz
State Historic Theatre: Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts
State Horse: racking horse
State Horseshoe Tournament: Stockton Fall Horseshoe Tournament
State Insect: monarch butterfly
State Mascot and Butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail
State Mineral: hematite (red iron ore)
State Motto: We Dare Defend Our Rights
State Nicknames: Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie, Cotton State
State Nut: pecan
State Outdoor Drama: William Gibson's The Miracle Worker
State Quarter:
State Quilt: Pine Burr quilt
State Reptile: Alabama red-bellied turtle
State Rock: marble
State Saltwater Fish: fighting tarpon
State Seal:
State Shell: caphella junonia johnstoneae
State Soil: Bama soil series
State Song: Alabama
State Spirit: Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey
State Tree: Southern longleaf pine
State Wildflower: oak-leaf hydrangea
State Capitals
Mobile, Alabama — Until 1720, the capital of French Louisiana.
St. Stephens, Alabama — St. Stephens Historical Park, Highway 34,
P O Box 78, St. Stephens, Alabama 36569; 251-246-6790. Web: http://www.oldststephens.com.
Alabama's territorial capital. Two sessions of the territorial legislature met at this site (1817 to 1819).
Huntsville, Alabama — Alabama Constitution Village, 109 Gates Avenue, Huntsville,
Alabama 35801; 256-564-8100. Web: http://www.earlyworks.com/village.html. The site where the state's first constitution was written in 1819. Also where the first session of the Alabama General Assembly met.
Cahawba, Alabama — Old Cahawba Archaeological Park. Site of the first permanent capital from 1820 to 1826.
Eventually replace because the site was unhealthy due to heavy flooding.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama — Capital of Alabama from 1826 to 1846. Eventually the capital was moved to a more central location.
Montgomery, Alabama — Selected as the state capital on January 28, 1946. It is the present state capital. Also the location of the first white house of the Confederacy.
Address: Alabama State Capital, 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104; 334-242-3935; Fax: 334-242-2788.
State Songs
Alabama; Sweet Home Alabama; Stars Fell on Alabama.
State Specials
The only state with the major natural resources to make iron and steel, Alabama is the largest supplier of cast-iron and steel pipe products.
Alabama introduced the Mardi Gras to the western world. The celebration is held on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.
Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday.
