Capitol Park preserves the foundation ruins of the original Alabama State Capitol, a Greek Revival building that stood here when Tuscaloosa was the state's political centre. After the capital moved to Montgomery in 1846, the building fell into disuse and was eventually destroyed during the Civil War. The ruins are modest — some stone foundations, columns, and interpretive signage — but they place the city in a historical context that the football culture tends to overshadow.
The park is in the historic downtown district, within walking distance of several other 19th-century buildings. It is a pleasant, shaded space and makes a natural starting point for exploring the downtown historic area on foot.