Reviewed by: Caleb Turrentine
17 Alabama museums to visit on a rainy day
Reading time: 7 minutes
Whether you are planning a weekend trip, an afternoon indoors or just looking for something new to explore, Alabama offers plenty of educational and captivating museums.
Here is your guide to just a few of the must-visit museums across our state.
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn
This university museum features classical and contemporary galleries, engaging exhibitions and sculpture gardens.
- Location: 901 South College Street Auburn, Alabama 36849
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10AM-6PM | Sunday + Monday: Closed
- Admission: Free
Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham
Home to more than 29,000 works, the Birmingham Museum of Art is one of the top regional museums in the country.
- Location: 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd Birmingham, AL 35203
- Hours: Sunday, 12-5PM | Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM – 5PM
- Admission: Free
Museum of East Alabama in Opelika
Home to more than 5,000 artifacts, the Museum of East Alabama highlights the rural, business, and architectural history of Chambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa, and Russell counties.
- Location: 121 S. 9th Street Opelika, Al 36801
- Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10AM-4PM
- Admission: Free
Anniston Museums and Gardens in Anniston
At the Anniston Museum of Natural History, you can see prehistoric predators, explore a replica Alabama cave, and view ancient mummies. The Berman Museum next door highlights military history, Asian art, and the world of espionage.
- Location: 800 Museum Dr. Anniston, AL 36206
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10AM–5PM | Sunday, 1–5PM
- Admission: Adult $12 | Senior Citizen $10 | Child $8
Gulf Shores Museum in Gulf Shores
The Gulf Shores Museum offers a look at the city’s coastal roots, from early fishing and tourism to the storms that helped shape the community. Housed in a historic beach cottage, it gives visitors a small but meaningful glimpse into Gulf Shores’ past.
- Location: 244 W 19th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
- Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10AM-5PM | Saturday, 10AM-2PM | Sunday-Monday, Closed
- Admission: Free
U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville
At the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, you can stand beneath massive rockets, see real artifacts from NASA missions, and get a close look at the history that helped launch America into space.
- Location: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805
- Hours: 10AM-4PM daily
- Admission: Adult & Seniors (ages 13+) $30 | Children (ages 5-12) $20
Mobile Museum of Art in Mobile
The Mobile Museum of Art is the only art museum of its kind in South Alabama and features more than 6,400 works, including paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts.
- Location: 4850 Museum Drive Mobile, AL 36608
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM | Sunday and Monday, Closed
- General Admission: Adults $12 | Seniors- $10 | Active and Retired Military $8 | Students $8 | Children Under 6 FREE | NARM and SEMC Members FREE | Thursdays for Mobile County Residents FREE
The Legacy Museum in Montgomery
The Legacy Museum brings history to life through powerful first person accounts, interactive exhibits, immersive technology, and an art gallery that leaves a lasting impact.
- Location: 400 N. Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104
- Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 9AM-5PM | Monday-Tuesday, Closed
- Admission: $5
Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa
The Paul W. Bryant Museum showcases the long history of University of Alabama football with artifacts, memorabilia, and state of the art displays.
- Location: 300 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
- Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9AM-4PM | Closed Monday
- Admission: Members and children under 5 Free | Adults $5 | Children (K-12) $3 | Free admission to University of Alabama faculty, staff, and students
Kennedy-Douglass Art Center in Florence
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts includes three historic buildings dedicated to celebrating the arts, with galleries, studio spaces, and outdoor areas that invite the community to learn, create, and explore.
- Location: 217 East Tuscaloosa Street Florence, Alabama 35630
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 9AM–4PM | Sunday: 1PM-4PM | Saturdays, Closed
- Admission: Free
Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame celebrates Alabama’s rich musical legacy, honoring artists from every genre and preserving the stories behind the state’s most influential musicians.
- Location: 617 Highway 72 West Tuscumbia, Alabama
- Hours: Sunday-Monday, Closed | Tuesday-Friday, 10AM-5PM | Saturday, 10AM-4PM
- Admission: Adult $15 | Senior (55+) $12 | Student (13-18) $10 | Children (6-12) $8 | 5 & Under Free
Wiregrass Museum of Art in Dothan
The Wiregrass Museum of Art inspires a lifelong love for the visual arts through thoughtful exhibitions and creative educational programs that welcome visitors of all ages.
- Location: 126 Museum Ave, Dothan, AL 36303
- Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 10AM-5PM | Saturday, 10AM-3PM | Sunday-Tuesday, Closed
- Admission: Free
Old Depot Museum in Selma
The Old Depot Museum traces local history from Native Americans to the Civil Rights Movement, preserving key artifacts and stories from Bloody Sunday.
- Location: 4 Martin Luther King St, Selma, AL 36703
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 10AM-4PM | Closed Saturday-Sunday
- Admission: Adults $7 | Seniors $5 | Students 18 and under $4
Negro Southern League Baseball Museum in Birmingham
The Negro Southern League Museum preserves the history of African American baseball while highlighting the league’s lasting impact on Birmingham and the game of professional baseball.
- Location: 120 16th Street South Birmingham, AL 35233
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM
- Admission: Free
Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur
The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a hands on natural science museum in downtown Decatur where kids and adults can explore, interact, and learn about the world around them.
- Location: 133 4th Ave. NE, Decatur, AL 35601
- Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM | Closed Sunday
- Admission: Adult (15+) $20 | Children (3-14) $15 | Infants (2 and under) FREE | Senior (65+) $17 | Military (with ID) $17 | Groups (15 or more) $17 for adult and $13 for child
Barber Motorsports Museum in Birmingham
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum features more than 1,800 motorcycles spanning over a century of production, with over 1,000 on display at any time. From Harley Davidson and Honda to rare international brands, it is a dream stop for anyone who loves speed and design.
- Location: 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35094
- Hours: Sunday, 12PM-5PM | Monday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM
- Admission: Adult $20 +tax | Child $15 +tax (Children ages 4-12) | Military $18 +tax
National Maritime Museum in Mobile
The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf is the only museum dedicated to the history and traditions of the Gulf, featuring more than 80 immersive exhibits for all ages. Visitors can pilot a cargo ship, explore shipwrecks, and even step inside a cargo container before heading outside for a view of the Port of Mobile in action.
- Location: 155 South Water St Mobile, Alabama 36602
- Hours: Sunday-Tuesday, Closed | Wednesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM
- Admission: Adult: $14 | Youth: $9 | Senior: $11 | Military: $11 | College Student: $11
Mobile Carnival Museum in Mobile
The Mobile Carnival Museum celebrates Mardi Gras in its true birthplace, Mobile, with 14 galleries, historic costumes, and interactive exhibits inside a restored mansion. If you want to experience the oldest Carnival celebration in the country up close, this is a must stop while you are in town.
- Location: 355 Government St. Mobile, AL 36602
- Hours: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday: Closed | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9AM-4PM
- Admission: $8 | Student tours and children: $3 | Military, Students w/ ID, AAA, AARP: $6
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