Making Alabama: A Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit presented by Alabama Humanities Foundation, displays 200 years of Alabama history and beyond. The exhibit opened in March 2018 before going on a 19-month tour, ending its run in Decatur, Alabama at the beautiful Alabama Center for the Arts Performing Arts Building at 133 2^nd Avenue from November 6 – December 14.

The schedule for the exhibit in Decatur is Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-8:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am-12:00 pm.

This impressive display blends artistic collages, interactive computer tablets and an audio medley of song and spoken word to tell the story of Alabama – from becoming a territory to achieving statehood. It also conveys a message of “Hope” in its presentation about the future.

The exhibit has been on tour for 19 months, traveling to all 67 of Alabama’s counties. Four exhibits were built, and they have traveled the state concurrently so that all counties have been able to experience this historic event in that time period.

Organizers say AHF was a natural choice for coordinating the traveling exhibit with decades of experience through its partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit.

“Just like the Smithsonian, where not everyone has the opportunity to view a Smithsonian exhibit in Washington, not everyone can make it to Montgomery to see Alabama Department of Archives and History’s unparalleled ‘Voices’ exhibit,” said AHF Executive Director Armand DeKeyser. “What we are putting together gives them that opportunity.”

In addition, host communities have assembled their own historical exhibits and collateral programming and activities to showcase their own history and put their signatures on this event.

“It’s amazing what these communities are planning to celebrate their history and the 200 years of Alabama as a state,” DeKeyser said. “We are honored to be able to be a part of this epic undertaking, and we look forward to the next 19 months as it makes its way through towns and cities across our state.”

In Decatur, plans for the local exhibit and activities include a special exhibit of rarely-seen unique artifacts and documents on loan from the Morgan County Archives, accompanied by narrative panels that tell the history of Morgan County. The exhibit will officially open on Tuesday, November 5 at 10:00 am in the lobby of the Performing Arts building where Sen. Arthur Orr, Chairman of the Alabama Bicentennial Committee will welcome the public to this important exhibit. Refreshments will be served. A fascinating lecture by Bicentennial Scholar Frances Robb on photography in Alabama (date and time TBA) is planned for early December. Plans are also in the works for a special celebration through music and spoken word on the day of Alabama’s Bicentennial, December 14 at 5:00 pm.

To learn more about this statewide exhibit and scheduling, go to: MakingAlabama.org.

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About the Alabama Humanities Foundation

Alabama Humanities Foundation mission is to foster learning, understanding and appreciation of our people, communities and cultures. As the independent, state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the AHF supports and offers programs that will enhance the minds and enrich the lives of Alabamians.