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One of two surviving South Dakota-class battleships, Alabama was commissioned in 1942 and spent forty months in active service in World War II's Pacific theater, earning nine battle stars over twenty-six engagements with the Japanese.

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park preserves the site of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, a decisive conflict fought on March 27, 1814, during the Creek War, part of the War of 1812. Located along a dramatic bend of the Tallapoosa River in east-central Alabama, the battlefield marks the defeat of the Red Stick faction of the Creek Nation by U.S. forces led by Major General Andrew Jackson, along with allied Native American warriors. The victory effectively ended organized Creek resistance in the region and led to the Treaty of Fort Jackson, which forced the Creek Nation to cede millions of acres of land to the United States. Today, the park features a walking trail with interpretive markers, scenic river views, and a visitor center that explores the battle’s military significance and its profound impact on Native American history and U.S. expansion.