The main attraction in Huntsville, which has preserved some attractive old quarters, is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where visitors can try out flight simulators and see the newest spacecraft.
Huntsville was founded in 1805 by John Hunt and became the birthplace of Alabama in 1819. Huntsville was also the first English speaking settlement in Alabama. The Tennessee River is located nearby offering great opportunity for a variety of recreational activities.
Burritt on the Mountain in Huntsville was the home of Dr. William Henry Burritt, physician and inventor. The 11-room mansion features exhibits such as antique furnishings, archeological artifacts and rock and mineral displays. The grounds are home to restored 19th C rural log homes furnished in period to provide a glimpse of farm life from 1850 to 1900.
Address: Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Drive SE, Huntsville, AL 35801-1142, United States
Phone: 1 (256) 536-2882, Fax: 1 (256) 532-1784
Hours:
April 1 to October 31: 9am-5pm; Sun:12pm-5pm; Closed: Mon
November 1 to March 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:12pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
Always opened on: President's Day - USA (3rd Monday, February ), Memorial Day - USA (last Monday, May ), Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September)
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Huntsville Depot served as a passenger station until 1862 when it was seized by Union Forces and used as a prison for Confederate soldiers. At the end of the war, it continued as an active passenger station until 1968. Displays at the Huntsville Depot include locomotives and railway cars, a HO model train exhibit, and a kid's corner with costumes, puzzles, and maps.
Hours:
March 1 to December 31: 10am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Huntsville Botanical Gardens features year-round gardens such as perennial, day lily, rose, annual, wildflower, fern, herb and aquatic gardens. The Tessmann Butterfly House is also located on the grounds.
The demonstration vegetable garden has interpretive labels to educate visitor's and the nature trails with shaded woodlands and wildflowers are available to discover. The Central Corridor Gardens feature aquatic, perennial, and annual displays.
Address: Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805, United States
Phone: 1 (256) 830-4447, Fax: 1 (256) 830-5314
Hours:
May 1 to September 30: 9am-6pm; Sun:12pm-6pm; Thu:9am-8pm
October 1 to April 30: 9am-5pm; Sun:12pm-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Works by nationally and regionally acclaimed artists are featured at the Huntsville Museum of Art. There are seven galleries with a variety of exhibitions including travelling exhibits, children's art and displays from the 2,500 items found in the permanent collection.
The Huntsville Museum of Art, North Alabama's leading visual arts center, moved to its beautiful facility in Big Spring International Park in March 1998.
Address: Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church Street SW, Huntsville, AL 35801-5523, United States
Phone: 1 (256) 535-4350, Fax: 1 (256) 532-1743
Sci-Quest of Huntsville offers over 150 interactive exhibits featuring the basic principles of science such as engineering; electricity and magnetism; world ecosystems and weather sciences; fluid dynamics; physiology; waves, light and sound; chemistry and material sciences; and early childhood education.
Address: North Alabama Science Center (Sci-Quest), 102-D Wynn Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805-1957, United States
Phone: 1 (256) 837-0606, Fax: 1 (256) 837-4536
The Space and Rocket Center is a space museum with hands-on attractions, a full-size space shuttle, Saturn V rocket, full-size Hubble Space Telescope exhibit, actual Apollo 16 capsule, moon rock, Journey to Jupiter motion-based simulator, Shuttle to Tomorrow, and Russian space artifacts.
Replica of Saturn V rocket, Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville.
Address: U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Box 070015, Huntsville, AL 35805-7015, United States
Phone: 1 (256) 837-3400, Fax: 1 (256) 837-6137
Hours:
February 24 to November 29: 9am-5pm
November 30 to February 23: 9am-5pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Weeden House was the birthplace of artist-poet Maria Howard Weeden. Built in 1819, Weeden House features Federal furniture and architecture. It is considered Alabama's oldest public building.
The curved staircase, central hall, and well-maintained rose garden have made Weeden House a popular location for weddings.
Maria Weeden's watercolor paintings hang on many of the walls, and visitors can enjoy listening to her poetry as it is read during guided tours.
Read More
Read Less
Read More
U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville
Huntsville
