Paul Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa

On a pleasant day in January 2023, my son Amos and I made a trip to Tuscaloosa. He especially wanted to visit the Bryant Museum, and this piece reports on that visit. We also toured the grounds of the old state capitol ruins; I've written about that experience here and here.

The Bryant Museum was our first stop. Below I've included a few of the many photographs I took during the visit. I couldn't include more; there was just too much red--er, crimson. I'm an Auburn fan.

Despite that, I enjoyed the visit. I find the early history of football in the U.S. to be very interesting, and of course, this program has played and continues to play a major role in state history. I remember my maternal grandfather and Methodist minister John Miller Shores telling stories about listening to the radio as Alabama's football teams won games in the Rose Bowl on the west coast in the 1920s and 1930s. Those wins were a source of pride for so many residents of the poor state of Alabama.

I digress. Naturally, this museum has lots of space devoted to all the teams, coaches and players of the pre- and post-Bryant eras. Every coach except Mike Price gets some coverage, and I imagine they've updated the Nick Saban portion since we visited. 

Stop by the museum if you get the chance. Even non-Alabama fans might enjoy it. 

The museum includes a rather large exhibit devoted to Crimson Tide softball. Only a portion is seen here. 

Naturally there's a gift shop.

Capitol Park and Old Tavern in Tuscaloosa (2)

This post is the second one of a pair devoted to photographs I took on a trip in January 2023 to Tuscaloosa with son Amos. Here's the intro from part one:

In October 2014 I posted an item on this blog about a trip my wife Dianne, daughter Becca and I made to Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa, the site of Alabama's state government from 1826 until 1846. Naturally I included many photographs taken on that bright sunny day in late August. 

In January 2023 my son Amos and I made a trip to T-town primarily to visit the Paul W. Bryant Museum. I'll be writing about that experience in a future post. In this two-part post I wanted to share some of the Capitol Park photographs; the overcast skies made it seem like a different place.

Alabama has had a series of capitals beginning with St. Stephens in 1817 during the territorial period. Since then Huntsville, Cahaba, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery have been state capitals. 

The Encyclopedia of Alabama gives a succinct history of the Tuscaloosa structure:

"The ruins of one of Alabama's former state houses can be explored in Capitol Park near downtown Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County. The city was Alabama's seat of government from 1826 until 1846; the capitol was completed in 1829. After the state capital moved to Montgomery, Montgomery County, in 1846, the building was used by the Alabama Central Female College. The structure was destroyed by a fire in August 1923, leaving only broken columns, some areas of the foundation, and a section of wall."

Capitol Park is located on Childress Hill on the bluff above the Black Warrior River. Efforts to restore the site did not begin until until the late 1980s. The Old Tavern was built in 1827 and after use as a tavern and stagecoach inn served for many years as a private residence. In 1966 the structure was in danger of demolition but money was raised to move it to its current location. The Alabama Central Female College was a Baptist institution that began operation in the old capitol building in 1857. So far I have been unable to determine if it reopened after the 1923 fire. You can read an account of the fire in the August 23, 1923, Birmingham Age-Herald here.

Capitol Park and Old Tavern in Tuscaloosa (1)

In October 2014 I posted an item on this blog about a trip my wife Dianne, daughter Becca and I made to Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa, the site of Alabama's state government from 1826 until 1846. Naturally I included many photographs taken on that bright sunny day. 

In January 2023 my son Amos and I made a trip to T-town primarily to visit the Paul W. Bryant Museum. I'll be writing about that experience in a future piece. We also visited Capitol Park, so in this two-part post I wanted to share some of those photographs. The overcast skies almost made it seem like a different place.

Alabama has had a series of capitals beginning with St. Stephens in 1817 during the territorial period. Since then Huntsville, Cahaba, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery have been state capitals. 

The Encyclopedia of Alabama gives a succinct history of the Tuscaloosa structure:

"The ruins of one of Alabama's former state houses can be explored in Capitol Park near downtown Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County. The city was Alabama's seat of government from 1826 until 1846; the capitol was completed in 1829. After the state capital moved to Montgomery, Montgomery County, in 1846, the building was used by the Alabama Central Female College. The structure was destroyed by a fire in August 1923, leaving only broken columns, some areas of the foundation, and a section of wall."

Capitol Park is located on Childress Hill on the bluff above the Black Warrior River. Efforts to restore the site did not begin until until the late 1980s. The Old Tavern was built in 1827 and after use as a tavern and stagecoach inn served for many years as a private residence. In 1966 the structure was in danger of demolition but money was raised to move it to its current location. 

The Alabama Central Female College was a Baptist institution that began operation in the old capitol building in 1857. So far I have been unable to determine if it reopened after the 1923 fire. You can read an account of the fire in the August 23, 1923, Birmingham Age-Herald here.

Part 2 of this item can be read here. 

Old Bryce Hospital: A List

I've accumulated a few postings on this topic, so it's time for a list!

Look What They're Doing to Old Bryce Hospital

Aerial View of Bryce Hospital in 1943

A Quick Visit to Bryce Hospital

Bryce Hospital: Some Photographs (1)

Alabama Photos of the Day: Sewing and Such at Bryce in 1916

Look What They're Doing to Old Bryce Hospital

I've done several posts on this blog about Old Bryce Hospital, the state's former giant mental hospital in Tuscaloosa that opened in 1861. One described a quick visit made to the site with several family members in 2014 just before it closed. Others take a look at older photos related to the facility, an aerial view in 1943, and 1916 photos of sewing and other activities by residents. This post shares some photos I took on another quick visit with son Amos in January 2023. 

Several years ago the University of Alabama purchased the closed hospital, and it is now undergoing extensive renovation for a welcome center, the theater and dance school and a mental health museum. You can read a recent newspaper article about the present status here. More history of Bryce can be found in this article. The renovated building is expected to open in late 2023. 

A few more comments are below. 

Changes in the building are immediately apparent as you drive up to Old Main. 

These two photos are from our 2014 visit and show the old portico. Construction began in 1853 but was not finished until 1859. Peter Bryce was hired as superintendent and the Alabama Insane Hospital finally opened with patients in 1861. The portico was not original and added later while Bryce was still superintendent. The structure was not safe and need to be replaced.