If you were an artist looking for a new and different way to display your art, what would you do?
I am sure at some point Alabama artist Butch Anthony faced this conundrum, and his answer has become a famous Alabama roadside attraction.
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World’s First Drive-Thru Art Gallery
Known as the world’s first drive-thru art gallery, Anthony’s creation consisting of several large glass walled shipping containers arranged so that you can drive through and see the art inside is a must see Alabama destination.
Consisting of hundreds of pieces art, there is a little something for every taste from a 3 headed taxidermy chicken encased in glass to an unusual portrait of William Shatner.
While it is free to tour, if you happen upon the drive-thru art gallery and like what you see there is a donation box where you can leave a dollar. The gallery is located on Highway 431 near Poorhouse Road in Seale, Al.
If the drive-thru gallery has gotten your interest up, you can follow the signs to Anthony’s “world famous” Museum of Wonder where so much more exotic art awaits your visit. You can also drive thru the museum of wonder which is a small trail lined with thousands of pieces of art where you can find old signs, an eclectic bus, a log cabin, and my personal favorite, the world’s largest gallbladder.
Touring the Museum of Wonder can also come with a wonderful added bonus, meeting the artist himself.
Often, Anthony clad in his Liberty overalls (the only outfit he wears) is working at the museum and will step out to say hello to visitors and share unique stories about his art and the unexpected world-wide attention it has attracted.
Since his very humble beginnings in 1994, the amount of his artwork has grown along with his fame. He now finds himself with visitors from around the world who travel to the very small town of Seale for the sole purpose of experiencing his unique brand of homespun Southern Folk Art.
Wil Elrick hails from Guntersville, Alabama where at an early age he developed a love for both trivia and history. He has spent the last 20 odd years, fine tuning the art of communication while working in law enforcement, writing, television media, historical research, and public speaking. He lives in North Alabama with his two boys, and a neurotic German Shepherd Dog. He one day hopes that Bigfoot is proven real. Wil’s new book Alabama Scoundrels is available from History Press.
