A guide to downtown Huntsville: Big Spring Park, the courthouse square, the Museum of Art, the Von Braun Center, Twickenham, markets, trails and parking.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts come from Downtown Huntsville Inc., the City of Huntsville, the Huntsville Museum of Art and other venues’ own pages, linked below. History and the National Register listings are on our history and landmarks guide.

Downtown Huntsville is built around the Big Spring, the spring at the heart of the town John Hunt settled in 1805 and the source of Alabama’s first public water system. Today it sits in Big Spring Park, a lagoon and lawns lined by the Huntsville Museum of Art and the Von Braun Center, a short walk from the Madison County courthouse square and the antebellum houses of the Twickenham historic district.

At a glance

  • Big Spring Park: 200 Church St. NW; Tinsel Trail Nov. 27 to Dec. 31.
  • Museum of Art: 300 Church St. S.; 256-535-4350; closed Monday.
  • Von Braun Center: 700 Monroe St. SW; box office 256-533-1953.
  • Parking: meters free evenings and weekends; city parking office 256-427-6800.
  • Downtown Huntsville Inc.: downtownhuntsville.org.

Big Spring Park and the square

Big Spring Park is downtown’s front lawn: the spring itself, the lagoon, canals and lawns host Tinsel Trail each December and the city’s Fourth of July fireworks finale. See our tree lighting and Fourth of July pages.

The courthouse square around the Madison County Courthouse has the commercial buildings that make up many of Huntsville’s National Register listings, plus Harrison Brothers Hardware, 124 Southside Square, run by the Historic Huntsville Foundation and open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, its site says. From May through October the square hosts Downtown Huntsville Inc.’s Moonlight Market on the second Friday of each month, with more than 60 local artisan vendors and live music.

Museums

Museum Address Hours (own site)
Huntsville Museum of Art 300 Church St. S.; 256-535-4350 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.; closed Monday
Weeden House Museum 300 Gates Ave.; 256-536-7718 Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, subject to rentals
EarlyWorks Children’s Museum Downtown Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Museum of Art has more than 3,000 works in its permanent collection plus traveling exhibits, Downtown Huntsville Inc. says; members and children 12 and under get in free, and the museum lot is free with validation. The Weeden House, built in 1819, is now city-owned. EarlyWorks also runs Alabama Constitution Hall Park, which recreates life in 1819, and the Historic Huntsville Depot, according to Downtown Huntsville Inc.

Shows and nightlife

The Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St. SW, has Propst Arena, the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, the Playhouse, Mars Music Hall and a convention center, and its Rhythm on Monroe rooftop restaurant overlooks Big Spring Park. Downtown’s live music clubs and bars are on our live music and nightlife guide.

Craft trails

Downtown Huntsville Inc.’s craft trails are self-guided: a coffee trail with 11 stops, a beer trail with nine breweries and a cocktail trail with 10 stops. Pick up a trail card at any participating location or use the Discover Huntsville app.

Historic neighborhoods

Twickenham, the city’s first historic district (1972), covers about half of the original town and has more than 65 antebellum houses dating from 1814, the city says. Old Town (1974) has houses from 1828 onward. Walking-tour details and the National Register list are on our history and landmarks guide.

Parking and getting there

Downtown street meters are enforced 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and not on city holidays. City garages charge 50 cents an hour, up to $4, with the first 30 minutes free; event parking is $5. Pay at the meter or with the Passport Parking app. Garage locations are on the city’s public parking page and our getting around guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in downtown Huntsville?

Walk Big Spring Park and the courthouse square, visit the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Weeden House Museum and EarlyWorks, catch a show at the Von Braun Center, and follow Downtown Huntsville Inc.’s coffee, beer and cocktail trails.

What are the Huntsville Museum of Art’s hours?

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday. Members and children 12 and under get in free. It is at 300 Church St. S.

Is parking free in downtown Huntsville?

Street meters are enforced 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays only, so weekends and evenings are free at the meter. City garages charge 50 cents an hour, up to $4, with the first 30 minutes free.

When is the Moonlight Market in Huntsville?

The second Friday of each month from May through October on the downtown courthouse square, with more than 60 local artisan vendors and live music. The 2026 season ended Oct. 9.