Cahawba was once Alabama's state capital (1820-1826) and a thriving antebellum river town. It became a ghost town shortly after the Civil War. Today it is an important archaeological site and a place of picturesque ruins.Nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba, but historians and archaeologists from the Alabama Historical Commission are working hard to uncover Cahawba's historic past and to create a full time interpretive park.

Old Cahawba is an out-of-the-way ruin, but its historical significance makes the distance worth the trip. The ruins are an important archaeological site where visitors can roam the abandoned streets, view moss-covered ruins and visit with archaeologists.