Old Cahawba Archeological Park – Orrville, Alabama - Atlas Obscura
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Old Cahawba Archeological Park

Orrville, Alabama

This ghost town houses the remains of Alabama's old state capital.  

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"Behind the big house" - former slave quarters. Partridge (Atlas Obscura User)
"Behind the big house" - former slave quarters. Partridge (Atlas Obscura User)
Signs of a more recent inhabitant. Partridge (Atlas Obscura User)
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Podcast: Old Cahawba

We unravel the surprising tale of this onetime capital city in Alabama.
The Podcast Team April 30, 2024
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Cahawba (also known as Cahaba) was the state capital of Alabama from 1819 to 1826. It was also the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, until 1866, at which point its population was a little under 2,000. But by 1900, most of Cahawba’s inhabitants had left. Its buildings were dismantled, their materials used elsewhere.

Cahawba is no longer inhabited, but the ruins of the former town and a couple of remaining buildings can be viewed as part of today’s archeological park. It’s incredible to make out the foundations of what had been a major town, complete with a church, prison, two cemeteries, river access, and many houses. The streets are accessible as they were laid out at that time (on foot and by car).

Know Before You Go

Cahawba is around a 20-minute drive from Selma. Plan around an hour there to drive around and view the various remaining ruins and artifacts.

ghost towns parks archaeology abandoned ruins
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