Alabama is home to many small towns. While some of these towns have very few residents, others are true ghost towns because they’ve been completely abandoned. It’s no secret that small abandoned towns give off an eerie vibe. As a matter of fact, some are so eerie that they could seriously be the setting of a horror movie. One Alabama ghost town in particular that fits the bill is Old Cahawba.
The small town of Old Cahawba, also Cahawba or Cahaba, is located in Dallas County, just outside of Selma, Alabama. From 1820 to 1826, this small town served as Alabama's first state capital. Over the years, floods and decay have affected this historical town. Today, Old Cahawba is Alabama's most famous ghost town. It's also been preserved as an archaeological site - Old Cahawba Archeological Park.
While exploring Old Cahawba Archeological Park, you'll stumble upon several abandoned buildings that have been preserved. One of these buildings is the Barker Slave Quarters at Kirkpatrick Mansion (pictured). This historic house was built in 1860. The mansion burned during the 1930s and the slave quarters is all that remains.
As you make your way through Old Cahawba, you'll come across this trail, which will lead you through the slave burial ground. This burial ground was supposedly created in 1819, and the last known burial was in 1957. Hundreds of bodies are buried in this cemetery despite the small number of headstones.
The Crocheron Mansion was built in the 1840s and burned in the early 1900s. All that remains are a few of the mansion's columns, which are best known as the Crocheron Columns (pictured).
Another home you'll stumble upon while exploring Old Cahawba Archaeological Park is the Fambro-Arthur Home (pictured). This historic home was built around 1841, and it's the last remaining original home in Old Cahawba.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church was built during the 1850s and is located near the park's entrance. This carpenter-Gothic chapel served Old Cahawba for 20 years. In 1876, it was moved to a nearby town. And in 2007, it was moved back to Old Cahawba. Sure, there's nothing eerie about this historic church. However, we can all agree that it's hauntingly beautiful.
To reach Old Cahawba from Selma, you’ll simply follow these directions: “Take Highway 22 West for 9 miles, turn left on County Road 9 (look for the Old Cahawba sign). Follow County Road 9 for 5 miles and then turn left on County Road 2, which leads into the park. The site is open daily from 9
a.m. until 5 p.m. and is free to visit.” (Source: ExploreSouthernHistory.com)
For more Alabama ghost towns that could be right out of a horror movie, take a look at our ‘ghost towns’ article here.
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