Decatur Alabama Attractions

Key West Inn's Newest Location

Located less than 80 miles north of Birmingham, you will find the charming and historic community of Decatur Alabama. Our community, known as "A Grand City on a Charming Scale" is proud of its history and offers locals and visitors a wide variety of unique things to do. While visiting here you can enjoy the historic downtown area with its charming shops as well as The Point Mallard Park Facilities and Civil War Walking Tour just to name a few.

The town of Decatur is rich in history. Decatur was the eastern terminus of the Decatur-Courtland-Tuscumbia Railroad in the late 1820s and early 1830s, the first railway built west of the Appalachian Mountains. Because of its location on the strategic Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Decatur was the site of several encounters during the American Civil War. All but three buildings were burned down during the 1864 Battle of Decatur. The three that remained are the Old State Bank, Dancy-Polk House, and the Burleson-Hinds-McEntire House. The Old State Bank, on the edge of downtown, is the oldest bank building in the State of Alabama, at 173 years old.

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic is the oldest hot air balloon race in the mid-south. The event started in 1977 and is held every Memorial Day Weekend at Point Mallard Park. The average attendance is between 50,000 and 100,000 and the admission is free. What a lovely time to visit Decatur and see the sky filled with these colorful balloons.

Whether you're coming for the history, the shopping, the friendly people or the hot air balloons, you're certain to enjoy Decatur and all it has to offer.

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Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge   •   1.3 miles

The Givens Interpretative Center, The Visitor Center, should be the first stop for all groups planning a visit to the Refuge. The 10,000 square foot Givens Interpretive Center offers a variety of displays depicting area wildlife and habitats. The Wildlife Observation Building offers a large, glass-enclosed room with bleachers and spotting scopes for viewing waterfowl and wading birds in the Display Pool. November-February is the peak time for waterfowl viewing. The building overlooks a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Area complete with a waterfall which is maintained to attract songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Many species of birds are frequently visible here.

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Cook's Natural Science Museum   •   1.8 miles

Cook's Natural Science Museum, in Decatur, Ala., began some three decades ago from one man's interest in natural science and his desire to develop one of the best Entomology and Related Science Courses for the pest control industry anywhere in the country. This dream has grown into an extensive collection of more than 2,000 highly rated exhibits ranging from mounted wildlife and birds, minerals and rocks, to exotic insects, sea shells, snakes and coral. All are housed in a modern, 5,000-square-foot facility and are available for viewing at no charge as a community service of John R. Cook, Sr.

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Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts   •   3.6 miles

The Princess Theatre has been a north Alabama landmark for more than a century. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Princess completed the first phase of a new Master Plan during 2000-2001 and continues to restore and renovate the much-loved building. Today, the Professional Series brings national touring arts events from Broadway musicals to major concert artists and family events.

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Point Mallard Park   •   3.5 miles

Hidden among North Alabama's wooded pines, the 500-acre family park lets you stay in tune with nature 365 days a year. Come play 18 holes on one of the South's best golf courses, visit America's first wave pool at our seasonal Waterpark, and/or cool off in the year round indoor ice skating rink! Point Mallard's additional facilities include tennis courts, batting cages, hiking/jogging/biking trails, and a driving range.

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The Carnegie Visual Arts Center   •   3.9 miles

Decatur's own art museum and education facility, strives to promote learning, creation and appreciation of the visual arts while preserving of one of the area's significant historical buildings. The Carnegie hosts local, regional, national and international art exhibits and art classes are offered to all ages.

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Old State Bank   •   4.2 miles

Built over 170 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 burning of Decatur during the Civil War. Today the Old State Bank is considered as a historic landmark in Decatur. The Old State Bank Board of Directors has worked to preserve the bank as a museum and the bank currently provides a unique insight into the beginning of banking in Alabama. By serving as host to programming and special events, the bank offers its visitors a glimpse into Alabama history.

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Decatur Civil War Walking Tour   •   4.2 miles

The Civil War Walking Tour is located in the Old Decatur and New Albany Historic Districts, just off the southern bank of the Tennessee River near downtown Decatur. Covering thirteen blocks, the self-guided walking tour chronicles events surrounding Confederate General John Bell Hood's attempted advance across the Tennessee River, a four-day battle that took place in October of 1864. The tour also showcases the largest concentration of Victorian era cottages and bungalows in Alabama. The Civil War Walking tour, part of the national Civil War Discovery Trail, begins at the Old State Bank Building. Free walking/driving tour brochures are available at the Old State Bank Building and the Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau office.

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Alabama's Largest Victorian Era Historic Districts   •   4.2 miles

The Old Decatur and Albany Historic Districts of Decatur make up the largest concentration of Victorian era craftsmen and bungalow homes in Alabama. Often referred to as "The Painted Ladies," some date to the early 1800s, while others were constructed around the turn of the century. Both are listed in the National Register of Historical Places.

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Ingalls Harbor   •   5.0 miles

Decatur's newest riverside, open-air park. Includes public fishing boat launch, docking area, parking, and green space suitable for family gatherings and festivals.

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U.S. Space and Rocket Center   •   27.5 miles

Home to Space Camp, Aviation Challenge and X-Camp; The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight hardware museums in the world. The facilities include Spacedome Theater, Rocket Park, the Education Training Center, which houses NASA's Educator Resource Center, and more. Visitors to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center will experience Huntsville's role in the making of the moon rocket, the space race, the Apollo missions, learn about the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and onto the next beginnings with NASA's Constellation project. Visitors may trace the evolution of humankind's ventures into space and watch as tomorrow's potential engineers, scientists and astronauts train in one of the Space Camp or Aviation Challenge Programs.