Selma Historic District

The war was almost over when Union troops under the leadership of Gen. James H. Wilson and 13,500 cavalry and mounted infantry (the Raiders) invaded Alabama. Anticipating invasion, Selma prepared as best it could. But Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's highly outnumbered 2,000 men, consisting of mostly old men and boys, could not hold Wilson's Raiders. The people of Selma were doomed even before the battle started on April 2, 1865. Selma has the largest historic district in Alabama, and it is the second-oldest surviving city in the state. The Windshield Tour, a self-guided driving tour of Selma, features Civil War-era homes and buildings and their history. The map is available from the Selma Chamber of Commerce or the Selma Visitor Information Center.