Affectionately known as the “River City”, Decatur overlooks the Tennessee River in the north of Alabama. It was initially established as “Rhodes Ferry Landing” in the early 19th century and grew rapidly as a railroad and river traffic hub. Decatur was renamed after the American naval officer Stephen Decatur, who was killed in action in 1820.
Things to do in Decatur
Don’t miss a visit to the Historic Decatur Union Depot, which was built by the Southern Railway in 1905. It’s a short stroll from the Old State Bank, a Jeffersonian-style building fronted by five soaring columns. Learn how the bank survived the Civil War, as well as the experience of banking in Alabama in times gone by.
At the Cook Museum of Natural Science, you’ll find state-of-the-art exhibits dedicated to the worlds of zoology, palaeontology and nature-based art. Marvel at the saltwater species that inhabit the 56,000-litre aquarium and climb to the treetop squirrel’s nest in the Forests Exhibit. Hands-on displays at the museum include a kinetic sand table and a digital seashell generator.
Decatur is home to one of the oldest theatres in Alabama, the Cotaco Opera House, which was constructed in 1889 in the downtown area. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s located near a historical marker detailing the “Decatur Daily”, a local newspaper that first began publishing from a basement here in 1912. Also nearby is St. John’s Episcopal Church, a late 19th-century landmark topped by a needle spire.
Getting around Decatur
Decatur is around 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Huntsville and 20 minutes from Huntsville International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Regular buses connect to Decatur and travel throughout the city, connecting most of its attractions.