Things You Probably Didn't Know About Alabama Quiz

Answer: First 911 Call Center in the U.S.

The city of Haleyville established the first 911 call center in the United States on February 16, 1968. The call center was created when the ATC (Alabama Telephone Company) sought to beat AT&T to the first call center after Congress had designated that 911 be the national emergency number.

Answer: Wavepool

Decatur's J. Gilmer Blackburn Aquatic Center, located inside Point Mallard Park, was developed in the early 1970s after Mayor Gilmer Blackburn saw enclosed "wave-making" swimming pools in Germany and thought one could be a tourist attraction in the United States. J. Austin Smith, an Ohio Wave Maker manufacturer, worked with the City of Decatur to design and install the nation's first wave pool in 1970.

Answer: Railroad east of the Mississippi River

The first railroad built east of the Mississippi River, The Tuscumbia - Courtland - Decatur Railroad, was built between 1829 and 1836 to link the cities of Decatur and Tuscumbia. This was because the waters between Decatur and Florence were not navigable due to widespread rapids along the Tennessee River, in The Shoals area.

Answer: Mobile

Founded in the year 1703, the city of Mobile is one of the oldest cities along the gulf coast, including New Orleans, LA. It is named after the local tribe of Native Americans, the Mauvile. In fact, the first Mardi Gras celebration in the Americas was held in Mobile. To this day it is one of the largest celebrations on earth.

In 2007, it was the second largest for nearly 3 centuries in a row.

Answer: Montgomery

The first electric trolley system was set up in the city of Montgomery in 1886. It was known as the "Lightning Rod".

Answer: Natural bridge

The natural bridge was formed millions of years ago by an underground river. The bridge spans as much as 148 feet in length and stands 60 feet high. The bridge itself is composed of a mixture of sandstone and iron ore. Natural Bridge Park opened in 1954 to the public. It has long been known that the Creek Indians lived in this area and probably used the bridge itself for shelter.

Answer: longest mountaintop river

The Little River, in Northeastern Alabama, over millions of years has been the nation's longest mountaintop river, and has carved out one of the deepest canyons in the United States. Located just outside of Fort Payne, AL, Little River Canyon is one of Alabama's few national parks, and is measured at nearly 400-450 ft.

Answer: NASA

The ULA (United Launch Alliance) plant in Decatur produces all of NASA ELV's. They are loaded onto a barge on the Tennessee River, and floated to Cape Canaveral.

Answer: Cahaba

The Cahaba River has formed one of the most ecologically diverse areas on earth. More than 15 species of plants and animals are found no where else on earth but along this river.

Answer: The Rocket City

Huntsville is known as the Rocket City because of the important role it played, and still plays, in the Space Race. It contributed a large amount of work to the Apollo and Space Shuttle missions. One of the three remaining Saturn V rockets is located in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. The only remaining blue prints of the Saturn V rocket sit in the archives at the museum.