18 Fun Facts About Alabama – Woman Survives Meteorite Strike

by Petr Novák, ? This article’s information was last verified on this date. If you notice any errors, let us know in the comments. Thank you! :-) Updated 02/19/2025 Alabama, Trivia About the US states

In 1902, one of the first surgeries of its kind in the Western Hemisphere was performed in Alabama, saving the life of a young boy. Alabama was also the birthplace of the first rocket that carried humans to the Moon, and it is home to the first recorded person struck by a meteorite. What else makes this southeastern U.S. state so fascinating?

1. Table of Contents

   1. Woman in Sylacauga Struck by a Meteorite
   2. Store in Scottsboro Sells Items from Lost Luggage
   3. Montgomery Launched the First Electric Streetcar System in the U.S.
   4. Near Auburn Stood a Unique Soda Bottle-Shaped Tower
   5. The First 911 Emergency Call Was Made in Alabama
   6. Alabama’s First Capital Became a Ghost Town
   7. Federal Land Surveys Still Reference a Marker from 1799
   8. Alabama Surgeon Performed One of the First Open-Heart Surgeries
   9. Alabama Was the First State to Recognize Christmas as a Public Holiday
   10. Record Temperatures in Alabama
   11. Alabama’s Dog Cemetery Is Reserved for One Breed
   12. Apollo Mission Rocket Was Built in Huntsville
   13. Alabama’s Highest Peak Is Cheaha Mountain
   14. Alabama Has All the Resources Needed for Iron Production
   15. The Origin of Alabama’s Flag
   16. Alabama Has a Unique Barbecue Sauce
   17. Blount County Was Established Before Alabama Became a State
   18. Alabama Museum Displays Hitler’s Typewriter

   Woman in Sylacauga Struck by a Meteorite

   On November 30, 1954, Ann Hodges from Sylacauga, Alabama, became the first confirmed person to be struck by a meteorite. The space rock, weighing 8.5 lb, crashed through the roof of her home, bounced off a radio, and hit her hip.

   Ann Hodges sustained only a large bruise from the incident, which was reported in newspapers worldwide. Today, the Ann Hodges meteorite is on display at the Alabama Museum of Natural History.

2. Store in Scottsboro Sells Items from Lost Luggage

   Scottsboro, located in northern Alabama, is home to the only store in the U.S. that has been selling items from unclaimed airline baggage since 1970. The Unclaimed Baggage store receives thousands of lost suitcases each year, which remain unclaimed and whose owners cannot be located.

   Some of the most common items sold in the store include designer clothing, accessories, and jewelry. Among the most bizarre discoveries in lost luggage have been a live rattlesnake, a 40-carat emerald, and an ancient Egyptian burial mask.

3. Montgomery Launched the First Electric Streetcar System in the U.S.

   In 1886, Montgomery became the first city in the United States to introduce a fully electric streetcar system into regular operation. Known as The Lightning Route, this system replaced horse-drawn streetcars and inspired other American cities to implement similar systems. The electric streetcars in Montgomery helped shape the future of public transportation across the country.

4. Near Auburn Stood a Unique Soda Bottle-Shaped Tower

   Near Auburn, a 64.0 ft-foot-tall wooden replica of a Nehi soda bottle was built in 1924. Known simply as “The Bottle”, it served as a grocery store, gas station, and observation tower, with living quarters in the upper levels.

   The wooden bottle was a popular gathering spot for both locals and tourists until the fall of 1936, when it burned down. Today, a wooden plaque marks the location, which is still known as “The Bottle” on maps.

5. The First 911 Emergency Call Was Made in Alabama

   On February 16, 1968, the first-ever test call to the 911 emergency hotline was made in Haleyville, Alabama. The call was placed by Alabama House Speaker Rankin Fite to fellow House member Tom Bevill. The 911 emergency system was fully launched for public use a few months later.

   Haleyville commemorates this historic call with an annual festival. The phone used for the first 911 call is displayed at the city hall.

6. Alabama’s First Capital Became a Ghost Town

   From 1820 to 1825, Cahaba (also known as Cahawba) served as Alabama’s first capital. However, frequent flooding led to its gradual abandonment.

   During the American Civil War, Union soldiers were imprisoned in Cahaba. After the war, the town continued to decline and eventually became a ghost town. Today, Cahaba is considered one of the most haunted places in Alabama, with its ruins preserved as part of the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park.

7. Federal Land Surveys Still Reference a Marker from 1799

   In 1799, surveyor Andrew Ellicott placed a stone marker near Mobile to define the boundary between the United States and Spanish West Florida. This boundary, set by the Pinckney Treaty of 1795, followed the 31st parallel north.

   Today, the marker, known as Ellicott’s Stone, remains a historical reference point for U.S. land surveys in southern Alabama and Mississippi.

8. Alabama Surgeon Performed One of the First Open-Heart Surgeries

   In 1902, surgeon Luther Leonidas Hill of Montgomery performed one of the first open-heart surgeries in the Western Hemisphere. He successfully sutured a stab wound to the heart of 13-year-old Henry Myrick.

   Miraculously, Henry Myrick survived, making history in the medical field. This groundbreaking surgery paved the way for future developments in cardiac surgery.

9. Alabama Was the First State to Recognize Christmas as a Public Holiday

   In 1836, Alabama became the first U.S. state to officially recognize Christmas as a public holiday, decades before it was acknowledged at the federal level.

   Local traditions included festive gatherings, feasts, and church services. Alabama’s early recognition of Christmas reflected its formal approach to celebrating the holiday.

10. Record Temperatures in Alabama

    The highest recorded temperature in Alabama, 111.9°F, was measured on September 6, 1925, in the city of Centreville, southwest of Birmingham.

    The lowest temperature was recorded on January 30, 1966, in the city of New Market in the northern part of the state, where meteorologists measured -27.0°F.

11. Alabama’s Dog Cemetery Is Reserved for One Breed

    In 1937, the Coon Dog Cemetery was established in Cherokee, Alabama. It is exclusively designated for coonhounds, a breed known for its raccoon-hunting skills. The cemetery was founded by hunter Key Underwood, who wanted to bury his beloved dog, Troop.

    Today, more than 300 dogs of this breed are buried there. Each grave has a unique headstone that commemorates the bond between the dog and its owner.

12. Apollo Mission Rocket Was Built in Huntsville

    Huntsville, located in northern Alabama, is nicknamed the “Rocket City” because of its historic role in the U.S. space program. It is home to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, where the Saturn V launch vehicle, used in Apollo missions, was developed between 1960 and 1967. The goal of the Apollo program was to land humans on the Moon.

    The Marshall Space Flight Center houses one of the world’s largest collections of space exhibits, with a replica of the Saturn V rocket as its centerpiece.

13. Alabama’s Highest Peak Is Cheaha Mountain

    The highest point in Alabama is Cheaha Mountain, which stands at 2,413 ft. It is part of Cheaha State Park.

    The state park offers scenic views, hiking trails, and camping opportunities. The mountain’s name comes from the Creek people, whose word “Chaha” means “high place.”

14. Alabama Has All the Resources Needed for Iron Production

    Alabama is rich in coal, iron ore, and limestone, making it the only U.S. state with all the essential raw materials for iron and steel production in large quantities.

    These abundant natural resources fueled Alabama’s steel industry in the past and contributed to the rapid growth of cities like Birmingham. The steel industry remains an important part of Alabama’s economy.

15. The Origin of Alabama’s Flag

    Alabama’s state flag was adopted on February 16, 1895. It features a bold crimson St. Andrew’s cross on a white background. Its design was inspired by elements of the Confederate battle flag, though its meaning has evolved over time. Due to its distinctive appearance, Alabama’s flag is one of the state’s most recognizable symbols.

    On March 4, 1861, the very first Confederate flag was also raised in Alabama’s capital, Montgomery. It featured three stripes—two red and one white—along with a circle of seven stars on a white field. This flag became known as the “Stars and Bars.”

16. Alabama Has a Unique Barbecue Sauce

    While most barbecue sauces are tomato-based, northern Alabama is known for its distinctive white barbecue sauce, which is made from mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and a blend of spices.

    The spices used vary in different versions of the sauce, with common ingredients including horseradish and cayenne pepper. Alabama white barbecue sauce is traditionally served with smoked chicken.

17. Blount County Was Established Before Alabama Became a State

    Alabama became the 22nd U.S. state on December 14, 1819. Interestingly, one of its counties is even older than the state itself.

    Blount County was officially established on February 7, 1818. It was named after Willie G. Blount, then-governor of Tennessee, who supported the region during the Creek War of 1813–1814. The county seat is Oneonta, an area known for its picturesque covered bridges.

18. Alabama Museum Displays Hitler’s Typewriter

    The Bessemer Hall of History Museum in Bessemer, southwest of Birmingham, displays a Groma typewriter manufactured in Germany in the 1930s. The typewriter was reportedly taken by an American soldier from Adolf Hitler’s retreat at the Eagle’s Nest near Salzburg, Austria.

    Although there is no direct evidence that it belonged to Hitler, its connection to the Eagle’s Nest suggests a link. The Groma typewriter is part of the museum’s exhibit collection.