Now that you've become part of Tuscaloosa, you're going to want to explore the area, learning about what the city has to offer in terms of culture, dining, entertainment, and shopping. But don't forget that Tuscaloosa also has an illustrious history that extends back beyond the War Between the States.

We hope you'll take a breather now and then from fixing up the home you acquired from Tuscaloosa homes for sale, and get to know your new city's history intimately. Tuscaloosa offers a perfect opportunity to visit historic homes, and to learn how the University of Alabama enriches our small but vibrant city in terms of multiculturalism, sports, and cultural events.

Our real estate agents have made a few suggestions to get you started, so let's get going.

1. Battle-Friedman House. 1010 Greensboro Ave., Tuscaloosa
   The Battle-Friedman House, built in 1835 by a wealthy financier, Alfred Battle, is a fine example of the six-columned front portico style popular in Tuscaloosa. This two-stoned brick townhome is detailed in Federal and Greek Revival style. The grounds were developed by Alfred's wife Millicent, and were a popular place to visit in Tuscaloosa. Believed to have been built mostly by slaves of Alfred Battle, the home stayed in the Battle family for 40 years, then after the Civil War, it was sold to Hungarian immigrant and businessman Bernard Friedman. The house was deeded to the city by the Friedman family in 1965. The grounds were restored and today it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
   
   
2. Murphy Collins Museum. 2601 Paul W. Bryant Dr., Tuscaloosa
   The Murphy Collins House is a two-story bungalow built in the Craftsman style in the early 1920s by Will J. Murphy, Tuscaloosa's first licensed black mortician. It was built with some materials salvaged when the old state capitol building a few blocks away burned in 1923. Today the building also houses the Murphy African American Museum, which focuses on the lifestyle of affluent blacks during the early part of the 20th century. Tours can be arranged by calling 205-758-2861.
   
   
3. Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion. 1305 Greensboro Ave., Tuscaloosa
   The Jemison-Van de Graaf House was built by state Senator Robert Jemison Jr. in 1859-1862 to host legislators when the state capital was Tuscaloosa. Built in the Italianate style by a famous architect from Philadelphia, John Stewart, the house cost $89,000 to construct — significantly more than the state Capitol cost to build. This house had many firsts, including the first bathtub (made of copper) in the state; plus running water; flush toilets; indoor lighting fueled by coal gas; a boiler to produce hot water; a gas stove; and an early type of "refrigerator."
   
   
4. University of Alabama Campus. Tuscaloosa
   The University of Alabama is, of course, well known as an academic university with a huge sports and football focus, but is also has a fabled history. The Alabama Territory in 1818 set aside a township for a "seminary of learning." Inaugural ceremonies were held in 1831 and the university opened. In 1865 Union troops spared only seven buildings of the campus, but the university reopened in 1871. Through the years, the university has grown steadily in terms of students and physical complex, with numerous colleges.
   
   
5. Capitol Park. 2828 6th St. Tuscaloosa
   Snap some interesting pictures of the ruins of Tuscaloosa's former state Capitol. Capitol Park offers a nostalgic view of the past, in that the park was the site of the Alabama Capitol when Tuscaloosa was the state capital, from 1826-1846. The building became a women's college, but burned in 1923.

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