Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Dothan (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan Opera House, and Dothan Civic Center. Also, be sure to include Dothan Area Botanical Gardens in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Dothan (Alabama).
Table of Contents
Wiregrass Museum of Art
Museum in Dothan, Alabama. The Wiregrass Museum of Art is an art museum in Dothan, Alabama. The museum was founded in 1988 and is located in the city's former power and water plant. The building was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1990 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[1]
Address: 126 Museum Ave, 36303-4802 Dothan
Dothan Opera House
Building in Dothan, Alabama. The Dothan Opera House is a historic performing arts venue in Dothan, Alabama. It was built in 1914–15 as a municipal auditorium by the growing town. Seating 800, it opened October 8, 1915, with a performance by a local orchestra. The building was designed by Atlanta architectural firm Morris & Morris in a blend of Classical Revival and Italianate styles. The first floor features three central arched entry doors, with a pair of arched windows on either side. The second story is dominated by Ionic pilasters, four in the center section, and three on each side. The pilasters support a limestone architrave beneath a denticulated cornice and parapet roof. On the parapet, in line with each column in the center section is a figurine of an opera singer. A mural painted on the backdrop of the stage depicts the building under construction and some of the more famous acts to have performed in the theater.
A new civic center was built across the street in 1971, and the opera house was refurbished at the same time. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.[2]
Address: 115 N St Andrews St, 36301 Dothan
Dothan Civic Center
Arena in Dothan, Alabama. Dothan Civic Center is a 3,100-seat multi-purpose arena located in Dothan, Alabama.
It hosts local sporting events and concerts. Ultimate Fighting Championship 12 was held at Dothan Civic Center.
Recently (November. 10, 2018), actor and comedian Rodney Carrington performed.[3]
Address: 126 North Andrews Street, 36303 Dothan
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
Park, Garden, Relax in park, Botanical garden
Address: 5130 Headland Ave, 36303-7691 Dothan
Adventureland Theme Park
Relax in park, Theme park, Amusement park
Address: 3738 W Main St, 36305 Dothan
Landmark Park
Park, Specialty museum, Museum, Relax in park, Garden, Farm
Address: 430 Landmark Dr, 36303-8916 Dothan
Dothan City courthouse
Building in Dothan, Alabama. The Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, also known as U.S. Post Office and Court House, is a historic government building in Dothan, Alabama.[4]
Main Street Commercial District
The Main Street Commercial District is a historic district in Dothan, Alabama. The district covers 18 acres and portions of 6 blocks in Dothan's historic commercial district. At the time of the nomination, it contained 68 contributing properties, however many have been demolished in the intervening years.
Dothan was founded on the site of Poplar Head Springs, which was an important crossroads in the Muscogee lands. Logging was the area's first major industry, but did not develop until after the Civil War. Settlers began building saw mills and blacksmith shops, and encouraged commercial development by donating land and bricks to new settlers. The town was incorporated in 1885, and began a period of great expansion with the coming of the Alabama Midland Railway in 1889. The oldest buildings in the district date from the 1900s, including the three-story Wadlington Hotel (built 1900, demolished 2012) and the Neoclassical First National Bank (1907). Several brick warehouses were also constructed along the railroad line. A symbol of the town's rapid growth, a five-story office building was completed in 1914.
Cotton had replaced lumber as the economic engine of the region, but the boll weevil outbreak of the 1910s sent Dothan into a recession. Fewer buildings date from beyond this period, including the Malone Motor Company Building (1923) and the Kress Building (1928). The importance of the downtown core declined after the 1960s, as retail establishments relocated to outlying areas.
The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[5]