Welcome to

historic tuscaloosa

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Welcome

Historic Tuscaloosa hopes you will find this site both useful and entertaining. It is designed to serve as a guide for visitors to Tuscaloosa County, as an introduction to discovering the county's history, and as an educational tool and resource center. We invite you to learn more about our colorful past and discover what makes Tuscaloosa County a special place.

Who We Are

Who we are

Historic Tuscaloosa is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Tuscaloosa area's heritage.

Founded in 1966, our mission is to foster awareness and appreciation of our community's historical and cultural legacy.

We operate and maintain five historic landmarks:

The Old Tavern

Battle-Friedman House

Jemison- Van de Graaff Mansion

McGuire-Strickland House

Murphy-Collins House (home of the Murphy African-American Museum)

Learn More

What we do

Preservation improvements: workers restoring parts of the Battle-Friedman home

Preserve Tuscaloosa

Saving Tuscaloosa's history for future generations, one building at a time. Protecting, preserving, and reviving our city's historic sites is one of our core missions.

People sitting inside the Battle-Friedman House, listening to speaker, Frank White

Educate Citizens

From school tours to local lecture series, we're focused on bringing the past back-to-life in fun and interesting ways for both today's and tomorrow's leaders.

Inside the Old Tavern there are tables and chairs

Keep History Alive

We’re more than record-keepers and archivists—we’re storytellers. We preserve more than just buildings. Visit our archive library in person or explore our collaborative virtual archive.

Historic Tuscaloosa member walking on a sidewalk up to a historic home

Local Involvement

From annual open houses and graveyard tours to regional sightseeing trips, we stay active and connected with our members and the broader community.

Wedding at Historic Tuscaloosa property, The Battle-Friedman House. Ceremony in front of home, when groom kissing bride

Private Events

Our historic buildings are perfect venues for your next event!

Support our mission and help keep these historic sites alive by booking one of our unique venues.

We offer three beautiful properties for rent:

The Old Tavern is a quaint venue, perfect for small groups or intimate gatherings.

The Battle–Friedman House and Gardens are ideal for weddings, luncheons, meetings, and networking events.

The Jemison–Van de Graaff Mansion is our largest and most versatile venue—perfect for all types of events.

We’d love to be part of your celebration!

Historic Tuscaloosa is a non-profit organization. All funds from event rentals go directly toward maintaining and preserving these historic landmarks.

Thank you for supporting not just your vision, but ours.

Learn More

Bridal portrait at the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion