5 Huntsville museums + a unique item we found inside each one

Huntsville museums are filled to the brim with interesting information about Rocket City. We’ve gone to five of Huntsville’s best and brought you something unique from each. Keep reading for the deets.

1. Huntsville Museum of Art

The Huntsville Museum of Art is filled with incredible art—you could spend all day here. Something interesting we found? Clown Princess, a sculpture made by Dale Lewis.

We’re in the business of celebrating the state of Alabama, so Lewis is an Alabama native, of course. Clown Princess is a chair sculpture made out of dyed maple. Check out the details!

• Location: 300 Church Street S, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10AM-4PM | Thursday 10AM-8PM | Sunday 12-5PM
• Tickets: Purchase tickets at the door or online
  • $12 Adults
  • $10 Seniors (Ages 60+)
  • $10 Military and Educators
  • $5 Students
  • $5 Children (Ages 6-11)
  • $5 After 5PM on Thursdays
  • Free for Members + Children under 6

2. U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum

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Curious about military history? Look no further than the U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum. You’ll find huge tanks, uniforms of the past and even a whole room dedicated to Huntsville’s very own Redstone Arsenal.

What could be more interesting than that? A large case displays weapons used in World War II. You can see weapons used by American, Japanese, German, Italian, USSR, French and British troops. It is so cool to spot the differences.

• Location: 2060 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10AM-4PM
• Tickets: Purchase tickets at the door
  • $5 Adults
  • $4 Seniors
  • $3 Students (Under 18)
  • Free for active duty in uniform and guests

3. U.S. Space & Rocket Center

U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a Huntsville favorite, for obvious reasons. Huntsville is all about space and we, for one, love it. This museum feels like a trip to space—don’t miss the flight simulator for the complete experience.

Something the U.S. Space & Rocket Center has that you might not see every day? Moon boots. You’ll find suits on display. This A7L Apollo suit was made for the moon, so it supports life and the boots are made to walk on the moon’s surface. Each is made specifically for its astronaut—this suit was for Richard Gordon, Jr.

Those red stripes signify that he is the mission commander—the boss, if you will. Imagine being the boss on the moon.

• Location: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805
• Hours: Monday-Friday 10AM-4PM | Saturday 10AM-5PM | Sunday 11AM-5PM
• Tickets: Purchase tickets at the door or online
  • $25 Adults (13+)
  • $17 Children
  • Free for children 4 and under
  • Free for members

4. The Weeden House Museum

The Weeden house was built in 1819. Here’s a question for my Alabama history buffs—what else happened in 1819? If you answered statehood for the Yellowhammer State, you would be correct!

Ready to stand in a house as old as Alabama? Visit The Weeden House Museum. Aren’t interested in getting out the ol’ calculator and doing the math? I’ll do it for you—202 years old. Wow.

You’ll find something unique in the foyer of the house. You know that knob at the end of the staircase? Fun fact: it’s called the newel cap.

During the 1900s, when your house was finally paid off you’d remove the newel cap, wrap your mortgage documents around it and burn it. Then, you’d put the ashes into the newel post and seal them with a mortgage button.

This tradition let your guests know you’d paid for and owned your house. The tradition started in New England and found its way to the South. Here, it’s called a “brag button.”

The family who lived in the house in the 1900s decided to give this tradition a try. Check it out.

• Location: 300 Gates Ave SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Hours: Tours are held Tuesday-Saturday at 10AM & 1PM
• Tickets: Purchase tickets for the tour at the Weeden House (cash only)
  • $5 Adults
  • $3 Children under 12

5. Burritt on the Mountain

Burritt on the Mountain can be found on Round Top Mountain, a portion of Monte Sano. Here, you’ll find a mansion that belonged to Dr. William Burritt.

When Dr. Burritt died in 1955, he left his beloved mansion to the City of Huntsville. The Burritt mansion became Huntsville’s first museum in 1957—how cool is that?

Dr. Burritt loved color, you’ll notice that the second you step into his mansion and take a look at his blue walls with pink accents in the parlor. Same rules apply to his car—you’ll find a seafoam green custom 1949 Desoto Coupe in the garage.

He even ordered his car to be right-hand drive, so he could see the edge of the road when driving up and down the mountain.

• Location: 3101 Burritt Drive SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Hours: April-October: Tuesday-Saturday 9AM-5PM & Sunday 12-5PM | November-March: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-4PM & Sunday 12-4PM
• Tickets: Purchase tickets at the Burritt Welcome Center
  • $12 Adults
  • $10 Military + Seniors
  • $8 Children + Students
  • Free for children under 2 + members

Huntsville, what’s your favorite museum in Rocket City? Let us know by tagging @thebamabuzz.