Alabama Constitution Village Foundation Dba Earlyworks Family of Museums

Named in honor of long-time board member and community leader, the Jack Conway Legacy Fund supports the history education initiatives of the EarlyWorks Family of Museums.

Located in historic, downtown Huntsville, Alabama, the EarlyWorks Family of Museums educates tens of thousands of schoolchildren annually.  The three unique museums--Alabama Constitution Village, the Historic Huntsville Depot, and Earlyworks Children’s Museum--each provide hands-on, immersive field trip programming developed by teachers from across the state and aligned with state and national social studies standards.  Students are involved in history as they become a 19th-century villager or tradesperson, a Civil War soldier, an immigrant arriving in a new, free, country; or, as they visit with George Washington, Frederick Douglas, Rosa Parks, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross or other great Americans. 

 

It is EarlyWorks’ objective to provide these unique educational field trip opportunities to every student wishing to partake. Unfortunately, due to the economy,  many students and schools find themselves in a situation of not being able to afford these educational experiences.   While field trips can be costly to produce, every effort is made to keep expenses low and the price of a visit affordable for all students.  Even with our most diligent efforts, many students are still unable to attend.  This is where you can help; EarlyWorks has established a Tuition Assistance Program with the purpose of funding students and schools in need.  The “Tuition Assistance Program” can help off-set the cost of a field trip by helping to pay for bus transportation, a single child’s admission, or a field trip for an entire class!  If funds are available, all a teacher needs to do is ask for assistance and the EarlyWorks staff will grant the financial assistance.  This program has already allowed hundreds of students, who would otherwise been unable to attend, experience the unique learning experiences provided by the EarlyWorks Family of Museums.  You can help!  Your donation will help insure that the Tuition Assistance Program is funded and working.

 

 

EarlyWorks Children’s Museum 

The South’s largest hands-on history museum!  Hear stories from the talking tree, play a tune on the giant-sized instruments at the Alabama bandstand, or try your hand at building in the Kidstruction Zone.  Explore a 46-foot keelboat, trade wares in the General Store and try on 1800’s clothing in the Federal House.  Pre-schoolers will enjoy exploring Biscuit’s Backyard, a touch-and-learn area designed especially for them. 

 

The Huntsville Depot & Museum

Circa 1860 – One of the nation’s oldest remaining railroad structures.  Climb aboard locomotives, see model trains, visit the Civil War exhibit and discover graffiti written by soldiers.  Listen as Andy Barker, the robotic ticket agent, tells of Alabama’s railroad history and visit Alabama’s transportation museum, The Autohouse.  This hands-on exhibit houses restored antique vehicles including Huntsville’s first ladder fire truck.  Designed for the young at heart, Little Toot’s Imagination Station allows visiots to explore the wonder of trains and transportation through hands-on play.  

 

Alabama Constitution Village

The birthplace of Alabama in 1819, Constitution Village is comprised of four main buildings and seven outbuildings filled with a collection of early 19th-century southern furnishings.  Costumed guides recreate life as it was in the early 1800’s by spinning wool, dipping candles, crafting furniture, printing on the old press and tending to the garden.