Tuscaloosa was incorporated in 1819 and served as the state capital between 1826 and 1846. Although the old capitol building is no longer standing, Capitol Park marks the site where the building was located. Many beautiful antebellum homes remain in the area, and a local museum houses relics of the time when Tuscaloosa was Alabama's capital city. The University of Alabama has a student population of approximately 18,000. Recreational activities abound in the area, and Tuscaloosa's cooperation with the University has allowed for a rich cultural life as well.
Sports are high on the list of things to see and do in Tuscaloosa.
Located in a part of the state full of lakes and rivers, Tuscaloosa was built on the banks of the Black Warrior River, now a link in the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Lake Tuscaloosa and nearby Lake Lurleen State Park provide opportunities for water sports, camping, and other outdoor recreation. Tuscaloosa is 55 miles from Birmingham, the state's largest city, and a half-day's drive from Gulf Coast beaches, the Great Smoky Mountains, Atlanta, New Orleans, Memphis, and Nashville.