There’s something about downtown streets in small Southern towns. They don’t just tell history — they live it. In southeast Alabama, Downtown Dothan and Downtown Slocomb stand just 30 minutes apart, yet offer two completely different flavors of charm: one lively and mural-covered, the other quiet and neighborly. Both are worth slowing down for.
Dothan: From Pine Forests to Peanut Capital
Once upon a time, Dothan was just a pine-ringed crossroads called Poplar Head. The arrival of the railroad in 1889 changed everything. Lumber and turpentine gave way to cotton, then peanuts — earning Dothan the title “Peanut Capital of the World.”
Today, downtown still wears its history proudly. You’ll find:
The Dothan Opera House (1915) – a restored beauty still hosting live performances.
Porter Hardware – Alabama’s oldest hardware store, with creaky wooden floors and stories in every aisle.
George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum – preserving local and national history.
Dozens of murals and whimsical peanut statues – perfect for photo stops.
Pair the history with modern touches — coffee from Southern Brew, boutique shopping, or a Saturday farmers’ market — and you’ve got a downtown that hums with both nostalgia and new energy.
Slocomb: A Tomato-Red Heartbeat
Drive south from Dothan and the pace shifts. Slocomb was built by farmers, for farmers, and it still feels that way. The railroad never came here in a big way, but the people built their own rhythm: small shops, churches, a post office, and front-porch conversations that last long past sunset.
Its biggest claim to fame? Tomatoes. Slocomb is the self-proclaimed “Tomato Capital of the World,” and every June the downtown transforms for the Tomato Festival — a celebration of farming pride, live music, local crafts, and more fresh tomato dishes than you thought possible (yes, including pie).
Two Stories, One Road Trip
Dothan feels like a bustling scrapbook — page after page of restored brickwork, public art, and community events. Slocomb is more like a well-worn family album — a little quieter, but full of heart.
Visit both, and you’ll walk away with:
Local flavors and festival fun
Conversations you’ll remember long after you’ve left
A deeper appreciation for Alabama’s small-town resilience
Pro Tip:
If you can, plan your visit around the National Peanut Festival in Dothan or the Tomato Festival in Slocomb. Both will give you the towns at their most alive.
📸 Click here to see my photo album of both downtowns — and maybe start planning your own trip down these Alabama streets.
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