Alabama History Films

Salt lies miles under the earth’s surface in several states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. What makes Southwest Alabama unique is that the salt has risen close to the surface there. In Clarke and Washington Counties, water rising along a large fault brings salt up to the surface.
Native Americans and early settlers collected brine water there that they evaporated to collect salt crystals.SHOW ME NOW

Wooden covered bridges played an important role in the development of Alabama by providing safe passage over creeks and rivers at locations where crossing in a horse-drawn wagon or buggy would otherwise be extremely difficult or impossible. Hundreds of covered bridges were constructed in the state, but now only a few remain. Those engineering marvels that still stand have become popular tourist attractions.SHOW ME NOW

By all indications, Childersburg is, and always has been, a quiet little town. But that is not the case. During the 1940s Childersburg experienced explosive growth when the US Army decided to locate an ammunition plant there. Thousands of people from across the nation came to work on the massive construction project spreading over 13,500 acres.SHOW ME NOW

Early Map of Southeastern U.S.

This documentary traces the march of the Spanish explorer through Alabama and the Gulf states and highlights the work of Alabama archaeologists in documenting the history of his explorations. Using descriptions of Native American life written by the survivors of De Soto’s travels and tracing Spanish artifacts unearthed at several historical locations in the state, these researchers suggest a route De Soto may have followed.SHOW ME NOW