Washington County: Waterways and History

The Tombigbee River and its tributaries wind through Washington County. The area also features a spring-fed lake, a birding trail that connects several counties, and sites of cultural and historical interest. You can plan your trip around water activities, nature watching or history.

Rivers, lakes and outdoor activities

Washington County State Lake is spring-fed, and visitors can fish and go boating there. Washington County State Public Fishing Lake, also known as J. Emmett Wood Lake, is located two miles west of Millry, Alabama. From Chatom, follow Alabama Highway 17, Healing Springs Avenue and State Lake Road.

There are several access points to the Tombigbee River in the county. Canoeing and kayaking are open to the public. Water skiing and jet skiing are also available to the public. If you’re weighing different options for water activities, there are opportunities on both the lake and the river; the access points to the Tombigbee are a distinct point of reference.

The public can use a community center at Chatom Lake for meetings and family gatherings. The Piney Woods Birding Trail connects 22 birding areas across five counties: Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh and Escambia. It is therefore a regional route that extends beyond Washington County. For birdwatching, this regional reach is an important distinction from the offerings specifically associated with State Lake or the Tombigbee.

Local history and culture

St. Stephens Historical Park preserves the history of Alabama’s territorial capital. The site includes the remains of the original town of St. Stephens, which flourished from 1799 to 1829. The focus here is on the town’s history and traces of its former extent. Another aspect of Alabama’s history is the restored “New” St. Stephens Courthouse, which now serves as a town museum.

The Washington County Museum is located in Chatom and is maintained by the Washington County Historical and Genealogical Society. Among its notable exhibits is a 750-year-old canoe of Indigenous origin, recovered from the Tombigbee River in 1973. Other exhibits cover the county’s timber and turpentine industries, as well as its transportation and communications history. Admission is free, and self-guided tours are available. Check opening hours before you go.

Sullivan Cabin brings together architectural history and local community history. Built in 1874, the log cabin is made of round logs and has a two-part floor plan with a dogtrot passage. Being one of the few houses in Washington County with a cooling board made the cabin a community gathering place. Its architectural features and this social role reveal two distinct aspects of its history.

The MOWA Choctaw Cultural Center devotes spaces to the culture, history and daily life of the MOWA Choctaw and the modern MOWA Choctaw community. Reservations are currently required for tours; check the reservation requirements before your visit. The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians holds several public powwows each year—another cultural event that can be considered separately from a tour of the center.

More interests for your trip

The Pines of Chatom is an 18-hole golf course in Chatom, owned by the city of Chatom. Course details may change, so check them before your visit. This lets you make sports a focus in its own right alongside nature and history, without limiting your stay to just one way of exploring.

Discover more destinations: Sunflower, Talladega, Montgomery, Cleburne, Escambia County, Blount County, Mobile, Barbour County.

For the main travel overview: Alabama.