Cradle of the Confederacy Trail

Click here to view a full map showing the different trail locations across the state.

1. Marion
2. Selma
3. Old Cahawba Archaelogical Park
4. Montgomery
5. Tuskegee Confederate Monument
6. Tallassee
7. Fort Tyler, Lanett
8. Shorter Cemetery, Eufaula
9. Union Springs Confederate Cemetery
10. Dale County Confederate Soldier, Ozark
11. Newton Civil War Monument

1. Marion Female Seminary
While teaching here in 1861, Prussian-born artist Nicola Marschall designed the first national flag of the Confederate States of America, "The Stars and Bars." It was officially adopted by the Confederate States of America on March 4, 1861, and served as the national flag of the Confederacy longer than any other banner.

1. Marion Military Institute
During the Civil War, Breckinridge Military Hospital was established on the campus of Marion Military Institute. Confederate soldiers who died at the hospital were buried behind the campus. After the war, theri remains were exhumed and re-interred at St. Wilfrid's Cemetery. Also buried at St. Wilfrid's is William Brooks who served as president of Alabama's Secession Convention in January 1861.

2. Old Depot Museum
Interpretive history museum in 1891 railway depot. Artifacts from pre-history Indians through Voting Rights era. Civil War room, Black Heritage wing, military room (pre WWI�Persian Gulf). Victorian firehouse, antique rail cars.

2. Old Live Oak Cemetery
Graves of Confederate soldiers and prominent Selma residents. Includes statue of Elodie B. Todd, half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln; mausoleum of Vice President William Rufus King; and Benjamin Sterling Turner, Alabama's first Black congressman.

2. Smitherman Historic Building
The building was used as a Confederate hospital and features the Lewis Collection of Civil War memorabilia.

3. Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
Alabama's 1st permanent capital and most famous ghost town. Archaeological Interpretive Park includes welcome center and education room, picnic area, hiking trails, interpretive signs, historic ruins. New, accessible nature trail.

4. Alabama Department of Archives & History
Alabama marble building. Oldest state-funded archives in U.S. Research government, private historical records and family genealogy. Alabama Indian, 19th-century, military and Civil Rights exhibits. For children: Grandma's Attic in hands-on gallery.

4. Alabama State Capitol
Jefferson Davis was sworn in as President of the Confederate States of America on Feb. 18, 1861. A star on the Capitol steps marks the inauguration.

4. First White House of the Confederacy
1835 Italianate-style house was home to President and Mrs. Jefferson Davis while capitol of Confederacy was in Montgomery. Home completely furnished with period pieces from 1850s and 1860.

4. Winter Building
On April 11, 1861, Confederate Secretary of War L.P. Walker sent the telegram from the second floor office of the Southern Telegraph Company in the Winter Building to Charleston, SC, authorizing Confederate Gen. Beauregard to fire on Fort Sumter. The bombardment of Fort Sumter the following day was the first military action of the Civil War.

5. Tuskegee Confederate Monument
The monument was erected in memory of the Confederate soldiers from Macon County by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1906.

6. Tallassee Confederate Armory
When Confederacy feared security of Richmond, VA, decision was made to relocate Richmond Carbine to old 1844 cotton mill in Tallassee. Only Confederate armory to survive Civil War.

6. Tallassee Officers Quarters
When the Confederate Armory was moved to Tallassee in 1864, three homes were constructed by the Confederate government to house the officers in command. [Two of the three houses remain and they are now used as offices].

7. Fort Tyler
Located on Alabama-Georgia border, was site of one of last Civil War battles (April 16, 1865) to take place east of Mississippi.

8. Historic Shorter Cemetery
Civil War-era cemetery. Burial site of Alabama Civil War Governor John Gill Shorter, his family and family slaves.

9. Union Springs Confederate Cemetery
The cemetery is the burial site of both Union and Confederate soldiers.

10. Dale County Confederate Soldier
Dedicated to the Dale County Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War.

11. Newton Civil War Monument
Stone marker is reminder of the only Civil War action in Wiregrass area. It occurred in Skipperville in 1864, and Newton one month before the war ended in 1865.