Alabama is blowing out 200 candles on its birthday cake.
Officials and residents gathered Saturday to celebrate the state's bicentennial in Montgomery. Gov. Kay Ivey spoke and a series of monuments picturing the state's history were unveiled in a park across the street from the state capitol. The 16 bronze plaques, each on a base of Alabama granite, depict scenes from Alabama's history.
State Sen. Arthur Orr, a Decatur Republican says the bronze reliefs focus on ordinary people, showing history is made by “people like us.”
Alabama was admitted as the 22nd state on Dec. 14, 1819.