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The Crocheron Columns point back to the short life of Anna Maria Geib Crocheron, a young woman whose story lives on through the historic remnants of Old Cahawba. Maria married Richard C. Crocheron in 1843 and left Philadelphia to begin a new life in Cahawba. Richard built a home especially for her, hoping to persuade her to move to the “wilds of Alabama.” Although the house burned in the 1920s, its porch columns, known as the Crocheron Columns, still stand today. Maria’s fami

You may have noticed white, silken webs covering the ends of tree branches around Old Cahawba. You’re looking at fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea)! These native caterpillars are easy to spot in late summer and early fall. They feed on many types of deciduous trees, including pecan, hickory, walnut, sweetgum, and fruit trees. Dozens of caterpillars can live together inside their silk webs, which they gradually expand as they consume fresh leaves. Although their webs can make a

Sometimes, an artifact doesn’t tell the whole story alone. At Old Cahawba, archaeologists have to turn to old photographs, documents, and other historical evidence to help piece together the past. During this summer’s CRM Professional Training program, students uncovered part of a singletree, also known as a swingletree or whiffletree, near the former site of Saltmarsh Hall. This wooden bar was part of horse-drawn equipment, helping distribute the pull between a horse and a w

Meet the Arrow-shaped Micrathena (Micrathena sagittata), a small orb-weaving spider with one of the most unusual appearances. Despite the intimidating spikes, this fascinating little spider is not harmful to humans. Female Arrow-shaped Micrathenas are easy to recognize thanks to six sharp, thorn-like projections called tubercles on their abdomen. The largest pair extends outward from the rear, giving the spider its distinctive arrow-like shape. These projections have earned

Also known as hedge apple, horse apple, bodock, and bois d’arc, the Osage Orange (Maclura Pomifera) has a long history as a natural fence. Native to parts of Texas and surrounding areas, the tree was brought east by settlers and planted extensively because its dense, thorny branches created an effective barrier for livestock—especially before barbed wire became common. At Old Cahawba, Osage Orange hedgerows were used to mark property boundaries and protect areas from wanderi

If you dare, mark your calendars! Haunted History returns to Old Cahawba on October 17th and 24th. Join us and Webb Paranormal Group for two unforgettable evenings filled with eerie tales, local legends, and the haunting history that has made Old Cahawba one of Alabama’s most talked-about historic sites. Tickets go on sale in September. Until then, save the date… the spirits are waiting.

When people think of Old Cahawba, archaeology often comes to mind. But just beyond history grows a treasure—the Old Cahawba Rosinweed (Silphium perplexum), one of Alabama’s rarest wildflowers and a species found nowhere else on Earth. This unique prairie plant was formally recognized as a new species in 2001 by botanist Jim Allison. The name, perplexum, reflects the mystery it posed to botanists for years as they worked to distinguish it from other rosinweeds. The Old Cahawba

The first Public Archaeology Day at Old Cahawba was a success! Participants enjoyed a day of discovery and hands-on learning as we explored how archaeologists uncover, document, and preserve artifacts. Visitors climbed onto the wagon and journeyed to various spots within the park, witnessing each phase of the archaeological process. The day began with a Phase I archaeological survey, where participants watched archaeologists excavate a Shovel Test Pit (STP) and learned how th

This summer marks an exciting milestone for Old Cahawba Archaeological Park. After months of planning, preparation, and collaboration, Cahawba officially welcomed students to our first Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Archaeological Training Program. Participants have traveled from across Alabama and around the country to spend their summer learning, exploring, and helping uncover the stories that make Old Cahawba such a special place. Before fieldwork began, students spent

We’re excited to share that our Site Director, Dr. William Henry, has launched a bi-weekly guest column in the Selma Times-Journal . In this new series, Dr. Henry will explore the history of Cahawba—from its rise as Alabama’s first capital to the stories of the people, places, and landscapes that continue to shape its legacy today. As he writes, Cahawba is not simply a ghost town, but an ongoing research project, teaching laboratory, and place of memory. We invite you to read