ALABAMA - If you travel just south of Selma, you will find the "Ghost Capital" of Cahawba. From 1820 to 1826, this was the bustling, first permanent capital of Alabama—a city designed with grand boulevards and a statehouse intended to rival any in the nation.
ALABAMA - If you travel just south of Selma, you will find the "Ghost Capital" of Cahawba. From 1820 to 1826, this was the bustling, first permanent capital of Alabama—a city designed with grand boulevards and a statehouse intended to rival any in the nation.The Fall of a City: Cahawba was a victim of its own geography. Built at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers, it was plagued by constant flooding and deadly yellow fever outbreaks. After a massive flood in 1825, the capital was moved to Tuscaloosa, and the city was eventually abandoned entirely.
What Remains Today: Today, the forest has reclaimed the streets. You can walk down the original street grid and see the remains of ornate columns and brick foundations peeking through the vines. It is a haunting, quiet reminder that even the most powerful centers of government can be taken back by the Alabama wilderness.
