In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, there are four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Football. At the University of Alabama, each home football game is treated like a holiday. Laughter, chanting, and the smell of barbecue fill the “Quad” as fans prepare to cheer the Tide to victory. Today, we know Tuscaloosa as “Title Town” because of its many victories in various sports, but before all the crystal balls and national championships arrived, there was a driven, hard-working football team that started it all—and the history of championships at the University of Alabama is a long one. 

One of the things I find so wonderful about Alabama is just how many historic, Victorian homes can be found here, and how those same homes are so well-preserved by numerous organizations, including the Alabama Historical Commission. The Jemison –Van de Graaff Mansion for instance, built in 1859, is located right here in Tuscaloosa. People go on tours there to relish in its archaic beauty, as well as plan community events. The Victoria, built in 1887 and located in Anniston, is another example. It was transformed and restored in 1996, becoming a stunning bed and breakfast. Historic homes like these can be found all over Alabama. They are sometimes open to the public and shared with the community, but many are also endangered—like the Kildare-McCormick House.