Nowhere near the size of a "big city" library, but certainly big enough. There is adequate setting…read moreto have several folks there and still leave "social distancing space". The staff was really nice and helpful.

I hate to say it, but, this is the noisiest library I've ever been in!…read moreThe staff carried on conversations in normal tone of voice, which easily carried to the table areas. A second day visiting was as bad as the first. A patron sitting BEHIND, and adjacent, was talking (loudly) to the staff seated behind their desk area and behind the plexiglass bio-weapon shield. They were talking back just as loudly to her. I had no choice but to get up and leave. An ear pod and a hand over the opposing ear just wasn't enough! And I should not have had to sit like that anyways trying to concentrate at my task at hand!

This historical marker is appropriately enough in Ingalls Harbor and it remembers Robert Ingalls…read moreand his shipyard, which he opened in 1937 to build dredges, towboats and barges for coastal and river service. With World War II approaching, Ingalls Shipyard realized they were too small here and relocated to Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The guides are fantastic. Tons of information on the history of Decatur. The model train set is…read morereally something to see. Tour is free. Seriously go see the model train setup. The models of the local houses are incredible.

Now restored!! Drive by and check it out. The City of…read moreDecatur has bought this historic depot, and completed a $2.5 million major restoration. The south part of the depot will be a museum. It will house a theater, and there will be a large model train layout of the city of Decatur. The museum should be complete about Spring of 2017. I hope to update my review then, and add another star or two! The north part of the building will be used as office space by the Decatur civilian police department.

JUST LIKE GOING TO GRANDMA'S!…read more This office is located in a cute little house that may remind you go your grandparent's home. It is a yellow two-story home on the corner and you will need to park in the rear. Once you make your way to the front porch, you will need to knock loudly because they are on a busy and noisy main road. They also may be in the upstairs office when you visit. Once you enter, you will feel as if you have entered someone's home office because they have unique antique furnishings and a wooden stairway in the main area. You will find many brochures that are specific to the area. I was specifically interested in their downtown area and the Civil War tour. The employee who assisted us was very helpful and answered all of my husband's questions while I was taking in the decor and ambiance. We were in the area to attend their Third Friday event which proved to be very disappointing. They had no street vendors selling food and when we are attending an event, we don't want to leave the action to hunt for food. I understand that they did not want competition with the local restaurants but snacks and treats would have been appreciated. Also, a main stage with seating would have been nice to showcase the musical act that was located at one end of the street. They were also going to feature dancers but they had not arrived by the time we left around 6 pm. Since we arrived so late in the day, we missed the Civil War tour so that will be first on my list if I get to visit again in the future. I did enjoy visiting the local merchants as they were very warm and welcoming. Thanks Decatur!

Before leaving home, my husband downloaded the Old Decatur Historic District and the Albany…read moreHistoric District walking tour maps. You can stop at the Decatur Visitor Center on 6th Ave. to pick up a brochure. We did this as a driving tour. We enjoyed seeing the old homes (known as the "Painted Ladies") and the different architectural styles of the last 19th and early 20th century homes. Part of the Old Albany tour is the Princess Theater. To really appreciate it would best be done at night to see the neon lights of the marquee.

Delicious food & great customer service. Healthy options were available. Will be back next time I'm…read morein town.

In Decatur, there are four buildings that survived the Civil War, including The Old State Bank. I…read morehad really intended on just snapping a picture but it happened to be open late that day for high school seniors taking pictures so the old judge/tour guide ushered me in. Such a neat building and the guide was full of good information. The tour is free, doesn't take long and you get to see the vault used as a hospital in the Civil War, as well as the bankers apartment upstairs. Beautiful house. The second floor apartment area is furnished with antiques from the 1830's, and gives a glimpse into life in the early Tennessee Valley. The coolest part to me was seeing the big dents in the columns out front where canon balls hit and bullet holes from the CIVIL FREAKING WAR! Never would have known that without the guide! This bank was one of three banks authorized by The Alabama General Assembly in 1832. Few structures can boast as varied a past as the Bank. Since its construction, the building has weathered two depressions and a Civil War, and has served as a hospital guardhouse, bank, and dance hall. Named to the National Register of Historical Places in 1972, the Classic Revival architecture of the Bank is symbolic of the period in which it was built. The building is decorated with antique pieces from the Federal and Empire period. It's the oldest standing bank in Alabama. In the early 1800's the settlement of Decatur was virtually unknown. The placement of the state bank in Decatur gave the area a new significance and aided in its transition to established town. In addition to establishing Decatur's importance in the state, the bank also heralded a new era in which banking played an increasingly important role in developing state economy. The decision to locate a branch of the state bank in Decatur was one of the first events in the town's early history to lift Decatur from relative obscurity and give it a special role in the state. Several previous attempts to institute a state banking system had failed, but the legislature would again pass a bill in 1830 to establish a state bank. Branch bank locations were established in Mobile, Montgomery and Decatur; with the Decatur bank opening on July 29, 1833. The Decatur bank reported a profit of $84,028.22 in its first year of operation. A spirit of optimism surrounded the banks and is evidenced by the legislature's decision to run the sate government from the bank profits and abolish direct taxation. Unfortunately, the good times were short-lived, as a nationwide depression in 1837 and other factors contributed to the decline of the state banks. Despite attempts to improve and reform and improve the state banks, the Decatur bank franchise was revoked by 1845. Though the banking experience ended in failure, it showed the importance of banks in a developing state economy, and the need for a safe and stable bank system. On a local basis, the bank would serve as a catalyst for Decatur's transition from "frontier village" to "town." Architecturally, the Old State Bank played a significant role in the influence and development of architectural style in Alabama for several decades. By combining elements of the Federal style with the Greek Revival style, the Old State Bank introduced a new look and influenced building style in Alabama until the Civil War.

For more than a century, this bell rang in the Limestone County Courthouse and now it is on display…read moreoutside the courthouse. I believe that towns have an obligation The Preserve their history. These are important for us to know and to remember and A-Town should be proud of where it came from. This is a great little addition to a very cool little town square.

I'm a local and I never knew the steeple (you can see it in one of the uploaded photos) is known as…read morethe "God Rocket" and is (or at least was) in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest prefabricated steeple in the world. So, Huntsville, since January 1974 (its official dedication), we've had the 43 ft. high Eggbeater Jesus and the companion God Rocket, both designed in the land where everything is supersized, Texas, of course! EG and the GR welcome locals and visitors to downtown Huntsville with "cosmic" proportions. (The official name of the mosaic is "Cosmic Christ.") At Christmas (pre COVID) the church's living Christmas Tree musical production was held within the 7 exterior doors of this sanctuary. The massive First Baptist Church choir, sitting in a huge (elevated and stacked) Christmas tree shape belted out all the Christmas classics. If you haven't attended the living Christmas Tree here, you really should if you get the opportunity, it is always free; however, tickets are required. I believe the renovation of the (original cost was $115,000) mosaic is now complete and some of the previous mosaic tiles have been repurposed in new artwork on display at the Madison County library right around the corner.

Big fan of Egg Beater Jesus. I came. I saw. I bought the t-shirt. Whisk you were here.read more

The founder/owner of Sigmatech has purchased over 100 acres of land right by where I grew up in…read moreHuntsville and the site of my first (and "trial" as we call them in the South) wedding. The Noogin House. My high school was directly across the street from the beautiful Noogin House and the house I grew up in was less than a half mile west of it. We grew up hiking "the Hill* as we called it on the edge of the property and I walked to my best friend's house and rode horses for my paper route on the property. All of Huntsville is curious what he will do with this property! It's been in the works for over five years and looks like the beginnings of an apartment complex meaning maybe the clubhouse has been nearly constructed there. Smart purchase on behalf of the Sigmatech owner.