While Alabama does not have an official nickname, it is known as the “Heart of Dixie”, the “Camellia State”, the “Cotton State”, and, of course, “Bama”.¹⁾

The word “Alabama” is derived from the Choctaw Native American alba amo, which translates as “clearers of the thicket.” The Choctaw were previously known as the Alba Amo.²⁾

Alabama is the tenth largest cotton producer in the United States.³⁾

In January 1861, Alabama became the fourth state to formally split from the Union.⁴⁾

Ten Civil War cannonballs were discovered buried beneath walkways at the University of Alabama in 2015.⁵⁾

Alabama is the only state with a monument dedicated to a bug, the boll weevil. The inconspicuous insect ate much of Alabama's early cotton harvests, prompting the state to diversify its crop rotation.⁶⁾

Alabama designated Conecuh Ridge Whisky as the state drink in 2004, making it the only state with an alcoholic beverage as the state drink. In most other states, you can get soda, juice, or milk.⁷⁾

Alabama is home to the nation's biggest unclaimed luggage center, appropriately titled the “Unclaimed Baggage Center”.⁸⁾

A vase containing someone's ashes, a six-foot-tall paper mache Tinker Bell, sets of armor, and a 5.8 carat diamond solitaire ring are among the more unusual artifacts on display.⁹⁾

Luther Hill, Jr. (1862-1946), a prominent Alabama physician, is widely considered as the first American physician to successfully heal an injured heart. He patched up a 13-year-old victim with a heart stab wound.¹⁰⁾

In 1836, Alabama became the first state to recognize Christmas as a legal holiday. It was not recognized as such by the United States until 1870.¹¹⁾

George Washington Carver (1864-1943), Zora Neale Hurston, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller, Harper Lee, Rosa Parks, Tuscaloosa, Hiram “Hank” Williams, Emmy Lou Harris, Evander Holyfield, Bo Jackson, and Booker T. Washington are all famous Alabamians.¹²⁾

Lonnie Johnson of Mobile, Alabama, a NASA engineer, designed the world-famous Super Soaker, which has been named in the Top 20 selling toys since its release in 1989.¹³⁾

Alabamians or Alabamans are residents of Alabama.¹⁴⁾

The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is known as “Rocket City”, since the Saturn V rocket, which first transported Americans to the Moon in 1969, was developed there.¹⁵⁾

Jimmy “Jimbo” Wales, co-founder of the now-ubiquitous Wikipedia, was born in Alabama and attended the University of Alabama. He was named one of the world's 100 most important persons in 2007.¹⁶⁾

Mary Anderson of Alabama created the world's first windshield wipers. She never made money from her innovation, however, since some people believed it would be a distraction.¹⁷⁾

Albertville, Alabama is the world's fire hydrant capital. A nickel-plated fire hydrant outside the Albertville Chamber of Commerce honors the one millionth item produced.¹⁸⁾

Mardi Gras was initially celebrated in Alabama, not New Orleans. Mystic organizations known as “krewes” began gatherings when Mobile, Alabama was founded in 1702.¹⁹⁾

Alabama is notable for Ava Maria, a four-acre small city created by a hunchback monk. In 1958, at the age of 80, Joseph Zoettl made his final model.²⁰⁾

Alabama businessman George Barber had many life-sized dinosaurs made and set across his 10,000-acre forests.²¹⁾

Pat Garrett, the man who assassinated Billy the Kid, was born in 1850 in Chambers County, Alabama. Garrett was assassinated on February 29, 1908.²²⁾

Every October, Alabama hosts its own Peanut Butter Festival.²³⁾

While the rest of the country waits for Punxsutawney Phil's weather forecast on February 2, Alabama has its own weather forecasting possum called Sand Mountain Sam.²⁴⁾

The Confederate States of America was created in Montgomery, Alabama, in anticipation of the Civil War, and the Confederacy went to war on a $500,000 loan from the state.²⁵⁾

Alabama produced and flew the first Confederate flag.²⁶⁾

Montgomery, Alabama, transmitted the telegraph that allowed the start of the Civil War.²⁷⁾

Abbeville, Alabama is the first city in the United States that begins with the letter A.²⁸⁾