Landmark Park - Dothan, Alabama

Landmark Park, located on U.S. 431 North in Dothan, is the home of Alabama's official Museum of Agriculture and is a fascinating heritage destination.

The park preserves a wide array of historic structures gathered from around the Wiregrass region of Southeast Alabama, Northwest Florida and Southwest Georgia (so named because wiregrass, a tough natural plant, grows in the area). Among these are a century old drugstore with a working soda fountain, a general store, one-room school, church, pioneer log cabin and a living history farm centered around the historic Waddell house.

Beautifully maintained, the park offers visitors the chance to experience life in the region as it was more than 100 years ago. Park employees and volunteers operate the farm just as it would have been before the days of tractors and electricity, growing native crops such as peanuts, corn and collards.

Landmark Park also features a planetarium, nature preserve, walking trails, boardwalks and exhibits on the turpentine and timber industries, as well as a large scale playground and more. It is also located near the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens discussed in yesterday's post.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/landmarkpark.

Dothan Area Botanical Gardens - Dothan, Alabama

There is nothing so Southern as the sight of azaleas and dogwoods in bloom and right now is a wonderful time to see them at the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens in Dothan, Alabama.

Located on Headland Highway off U.S. 431 North in Dothan, these gardens may well be the finest botanical gardens in a small city in the United States. Covering more than fifty acres, they feature fifteen different gardens that range from the Azalea Garden to a Rose Garden featuring more than 200 rose bushes.

The Azalea Garden is now at full bloom and presents a spectacular variety of varieties and colors.

Fans of Southern history will also enjoy the Southern Heritage Garden, which is dedicated to preserving seeds and plants of traditional Southern varieties, many of which have nearly vanished. Samples were brought in from across the Southeast with varieties being collected from historic home sites, roadsides and traditional family gardens.

The gardens also feature winding paths, water features, a Demonstration Garden where visitors can see fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs grown by some of the finest gardeners in the South, a Wedding Garden and more. The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens are open 7-7 this time of year (7-5 during the winter) and are free to visit, although donations are encouraged.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/dothanbotanical.

Landmark Park - Dothan, Alabama

We've added our new section on Dothan, Alabama's fascinating Landmark Park to www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Just click the link and you will see the headline on the home page.

Located on U.S. 431 North, Landmark Park is rapidly becoming one of the premier outdoor museums in the South. In addition to a nicely restored collection of historic structures that include stores, a church, a one-room school, etc., the park also includes a living history farm centered around the historic Waddell House, long a Dothan area landmark. Other highlights include an Activity Barn, a planetarium, boardwalks, nature trails and more. Landmark Park is home to Alabama's official Museum of Agriculture.