There is much to see and do along Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, from hiking and biking through nature to sitting on the white beaches to fishing our waters. But if you’re looking for a way to mix things up with some indoor pursuits, our museums are the way to go.
Whether you’re trying to make the most of a rainy day or you just can’t resist a museum when traveling, you’ll find plenty of rich history and culture to delve into – at no cost to you.
Foley’s first railroad depot was built in 1905, and then it was rebuilt in 1908 after a fire burned the original to the ground. The depot and the railroad became the epicenter of the agricultural community of Foley, and during shipping season, thousands of boxcars loaded with potatoes, corn, gladiolas and other produce would pull out of the station.
In 1971, after the L&N Railroad discontinued their services to Foley, the depot building exchanged hands and locations a few times before it was returned to Foley in 1995 and became the Foley Railroad Museum.
Visit the museum to see photos and artifacts depicting what life was like in South Baldwin County more than 100 years ago. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holmes Medical Museum is located in Baldwin County’s first hospital, which was in use from 1936 to 1958. The interior of the museum looks almost exactly as the hospital did when it was in use, and the items on display include medical artifacts such as surgical instruments, operating room machinery and a human skeleton. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Learn about how Gulf Shores grew from a small fishing village to a tourist destination. Permanent exhibits include “Portrait of a Fishing Village,” which tells the story of the families who settled along the north side of Little Lagoon during the 19th century; “Drawing a Line in the Sand,” a commemorative exhibit that celebrates the city’s 50th anniversary; and “Hurricanes: What you Need to Know,” which teaches guests about these coastal storms. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum
This museum, housed in a 100-year-old former schoolhouse, highlights Orange Beach’s Native American and fishing heritage. On display are local artifacts, collectibles and memorabilia donated by families of early fishermen. The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; group tours are available by reservation.
Baldwin County Heritage Museum
See everyday artifacts from the daily lives of those who built Baldwin County. Through the museum’s rotating special exhibits and buildings, you’re invited to learn about this agricultural melting pot and the folks who settled here at the turn of the century. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Inside a historic 1928 Spanish mission-style building that used to serve as City Hall lies the Fairhope Museum of History. The museum’s permanent exhibits tell the story of the city’s unique history and founders, the Single Tax theory, the town jail and the jubilee phenomenon. Changing exhibits focus on the Civil War in Baldwin County, Fairhope’s WWII veterans, Stewart the Picture Man and more. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
