The American Village began as a dream of Tom Walker, its founder and now executive director. He began publicly promoting the idea of this American history and civics education center in 1993.

The Citizenship Trust at The American Village is the official name given to the civic education center. The Trust was created by legislative act in 1995 to enhance citizenship education. Preliminary legislation was sponsored in 1994 by then Senator Frank C. Ellis, Jr., and the 1995 act was sponsored in the House by then Rep. Al Knight, and in the Senate by Senator Tom Butler.

The American Village Phase I construction was made possible by a local lodging revenue measure sponsored by Rep. Johnny Curry in 1998. With Rep. Curry's active leadership of this bill, construction funding was made possible.

Governor Don Siegelman and a host of Alabama leaders joined in dedication of the Village on November 30, 1999, when the Governor declared, "Alabama is making history today." The next day's edition of the Wall Street Journal called the American Village "a winner." The American Village is the first civic education campus in the country built to provide experience-based learning for young people. In addition it is proving to be a popular stop for casual visitors and tourists, having been featured in the September, 2000 issue of Southern Living magazine.

The Village celebrated the first anniversary of its dedication on November 30, 2000, amidst pomp and ceremony. Governor Siegelman, in a videotaped message, acclaimed the first year a great success. Hundreds of Village supporters braved cold weather for dedication of the Ralph W. Sears Memorial Flagpole at the Visitors Center, joined in the groundbreaking and consecration ceremony at the privately-funded chapel site, and then participated in the Stamp Act Rally, followed by the Annual Meeting.

As further evidence of its appeal to general tourists, the Governor's Tourism Award was presented in 2000 to Tom Walker, executive director of the American Village Citizenship Trust. Walker has been cited by the Board of Trustees for his leadership, vision, and persistence in helping make the Village a reality.

Walker says of the Village: "We who are privileged to be associated with The American Village are grateful to the innumerable people who have contributed of their time, talents, and resources to make it possible. The dream of The American Village is larger than any one of us -- for it taps the deeply-rooted values of liberty and self-government which have been transmitted to us by generations before us. And from that wellspring of patriotism, pride, and sense of duty, thousands of people have come forward and answered the call to help pass on to new generations our great citizenship trust."

As the Village marked America's 225th birthday on July 4, 2001, Board Chair Sen. Tom Butler and U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions made dedicatory comments relating to the designation by Alabama legislative act of the Village as a Veterans Living Legacy. This dedication is designed to honor the service of America's veterans through a commitment of the Village to the civic education of young people.

The American Village dedicated a replica of the Liberty Bell on its second anniversary in November, 2001. The replica, made possible by grants arranged through the leadership of Rep. Johnny Curry and fundraising by Friends of the American Village, symbolizes the Village's central mission in educating citizens to be stewards of what Washington called the "sacred fire of liberty."

The American Village's Board of Trustees has taken steps to extend the reach of the Village. Since that time, the American Village has:

...opened a renovated Barn as a gift of The Alabama Farmers Federation

...opened the $1.6 million Colonial Chapel, the result of a totally private fundraising campaign which continues

...taken steps for an expansion program of almost $6 million. Among the new facilities will be the James B. and Sylvia S. Braswell President's House, a Southern Living Showcase House. In addition the Visitors Center will be expanded, and will include the Estes Famility Orientation Theatre.

On April 19, 2004, Alabama Governor Bob Riley laid the Cornerstone of Liberty, symbolizing the commitment of the state and of this center to provide a high quality, lasting civic education which inspires young people to know America's history, cherish the ideals of liberty, and serve our country as good citizens."

Board Chair Gordon Martin, other Members of the Board of Trustees, and the Director invite all interested citizens to join the American Village in this important work. For information on how you can support the educational mission of The American Village, call 1-877-811-1776.