The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is one of the most popular attractions in the state. This complex is dedicated to Alabamians who fought in all armed conflicts of the United States. The main feature of the park is the battleship, a gigantic gray craft which bristles with big guns. On deck, piped-in big band music from the 1940s offers a feeling of nostalgia to the attraction. Self-guided walking tours are available.
Visitors simply follow color-coded arrows along three routes.
Red arrows trace a path below decks and into the aft region of the ship, green arrows create a trail through the forward sections, and yellow arrows provide a tour of the upper decks. My admission ticket also allowed me entry into the Aircraft Pavilion, a large hanger-like building adjacent to the dock where the Alabama is moored. This huge building houses a fascinating collection of famous aircraft from WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. The pavilion also contains a jet flight simulator where visitors may test their reflexes. A tour of the Submarine USS DRUM also is part of the price of admission.