Story By: Jake Stoup

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Shelby County is home to a lot of beautiful and historic places, but one thing that encapsulates all of those things is the American Village. The American Village has been around since 1999 and has been growing throughout the years.

Recently the immersive museum has ended phase two of their newest building, Independence Hall. With this new building, they are adding many new activities, including a talking portrait wall and a replica the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Independence Hall towers over the other buildings on the American Village campus. At 178 feet tall, it is the tallest building in Shelby County.

The American Village has helped many students learn about history in more interactive and fun ways with students being able to go into replicas of the Oval Office and other historic places.

Not only is it a great spot for students, but it’s a great spot for friends and family to spend a day and enjoy the beautiful scenery and watch the live historical reenactments.