Russell: River, Culture and History

Russell offers many different reasons to visit: activities on and along the Chattahoochee River take center stage, while museums and historic sites offer insights into art and regional history. When planning your trip, it therefore matters which experiences interest you most. The places and themes can serve as a guide when choosing a vacation rental.

Get active on the Chattahoochee River

The Chattahoochee River whitewater section offers rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and canoeing. The section in Phenix City also combines activities such as fishing, hiking, paddling, and cycling with the river. Chattahoochee Paddle Company rents kayaks and canoes on the Chattahoochee River. If you mainly want to spend time on the water during your trip, you can make these options a priority when choosing where to stay.

The Phenix City Riverwalk is a 1.21-mile facility on the west bank of the Chattahoochee River. A shaded section near the Phenix City Amphitheater offers the opportunity to observe wildlife. The Riverwalk thus combines a direct connection to the river with quieter nature watching. You can decide whether to focus your trip more on the water activities available or on time spent along the riverbank.

Art and museums with distinctive character

An unusual art stop is the Museum of Wonder Drive Thru: the art experience is free and open 24 hours a day. The Museum of Wonder Drive Thru also features a rotating exhibition of handmade designs and curiosities by Butch Anthony. The original museum is different: tours of this museum are available by appointment only. If you want to include this tour, you should account for the appointment as a separate part of your trip planning.

Crockettsville Store Museum, which serves as a local community museum, is located in Crawford Park. Crawford Masonic Lodge is also in Crawford Park. It was established in 1848 as Tuckabatchee Masonic Lodge No. 96 and now serves as a community center and museum. The Crawford Park at Historic Tuckabatchee Masonic Lodge opened in May 2015. These places offer different points of interest for travelers interested in local community history and historic buildings.

Historic Jones Store Museum houses artifacts documenting the history of Smiths Station. The Idle Hour Mural, in turn, depicts the midway at Idle Hour Park in the 1940s. The mural measures 28 × 40 feet. Travelers who prefer to discover regional history through tangible objects and depictions will find different perspectives here than at a museum devoted to a single building.

Historic sites and different travel interests

The Fort Mitchell historic site includes a reconstruction of the fort from 1813. During the Creek War, it was an important U.S. military post; in 1990, the historic site was designated a National Historic Landmark. The Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center in Fort Mitchell features information panels about the Creek War and the forced relocation of the Creeks to Indian Territory. Both topics offer an opportunity to explore different aspects of history.

In Seale, after extensive renovations, the Old Seale Courthouse now serves as a community center and event venue. The red bricks of the current courthouse were added in 1908. For other interests, there is also East Alabama Motor Speedway, with its 3/8-mile banked clay oval. The short Crawford Walking Trail is a 0.25-mile paved path in the Crawford Community in Russell County. These examples offer different focuses—from a short trail and historic buildings to a motorsports facility.

If you’d also like to discover other destinations, you’ll find more ideas here: Chambers, Marengo County, Greene County, Jefferson, Houston, Etowah and Barbour County.

For the broader travel overview: Alabama.