Pioneer Museum of Alabama has thousands of artifacts that represent pioneer life

The Pioneer Museum of Alabama has thousands of artifacts available for visitors to view, which represent pioneer life and many exhibits on pioneer lifestyles are located around the 35 acre grounds. The Museum is located in Troy Alabama on highway 231 bypass, which is between Montgomery and Dothan. The museum is opened from Tuesday to Saturday.

Upon entry to the museum visitors will see the Wood-fired Logging Locomotive and an authentic Windmill. Other attractions at the museum are the Old Time Tractor, which is located near the chicken coop, a large Log Barn is open for visitors to explore along with the General Store, Tenant House, Covered Bridge and a Cabin. Visitors are also able to walk the trail, which spreads throughout the grounds.

A gift shop is located in the main buildings house, which has over 18,000 artifacts on display. These artifacts include tools, which would have been used on the farm, clothing worn by pioneers and kitchen utensils. These are the actual artifacts, which were used in Pike County and Southern Alabama during the 1800's up to the early 1900's.

In the Pioneer Pantry Gift Shop visitors can see corn meal being ground in a grist mill, purchase hot sauces, jellies, preserves and natural honey, which is produced locally. Other unique items include Amish bonnets, homemade goat milk soap and pottery, which has been created by David Plunkett from Dothan. Children are able to view and purchase toys from the Toy Section, which include coon skin caps, wooden toys, trains and whistles.

Some of the exhibits at the museum are the Village Center, which showcases Troy in early 1900 and includes a bank, dentist and railroad. The West Wing exhibit has Living styles, textiles, sewing and quilting artifacts. The South Wing is dedicated to the Pioneer kitchen, the Civil War, World War I, Native American life and farming. The Agricultural Wing shows how cotton farming, logging and construction worked in the pioneer era along with a blacksmith shop. Other buildings and displays include the Bradleyton Train Depot, Adams General Store, Turpentine Still and McNear Schoolhouse.

The museum is a living history classroom for school children who are able to visit and view the many demonstrations and participate in the Hands-on-History Program. The program provides students with experiences such as living life in a log cabin and undertaking tasks such as cooking at a wood stove, churning butter, fetching water, feeding chickens and gathering eggs or sweeping with a handmade straw broom. Students are also able to view spinning and weaving demonstrations, which includes seeing thread being made from raw cotton through to the looming process.

Southern literature books are available for all ages and interests at the museum. These books include Historical Interest such as One Hundred Fifty Years in Pike County and Back Durin' Hard Times. Southern Flavor books include; That Mule, Ol' Sam and Shut Yo' Mouth. Cookbooks include Light Country Cookin' and Florida Cookin' Wild Style. Little Red Riding Hood and Old-Time Toys are available in the Children's Corner.