Under the direction of Thomas M. Owen its founder, the agency received state funding by an act of the Alabama Legislature on February 27, 1901.

[2][4] The Department of Archives and History was housed in the old Senate cloak room at the Alabama State Capitol after its establishment in 1901.

However, funding did not become available until the 1930s, when the next director, Marie Bankhead Owen (wife of Thomas), was able to secure the necessary capital from the Works Progress Administration.

Other features of the first floor are the Statuary Hall, the Research Room, several auditoriums, a gift shop, and the Ocllo Malone Lobby.

The Alabama Sampler Gallery contains Alabama-related artifacts ranging from 19th century clothing to a guitar owned by Hank Williams.

[5] Repatriation of Native American human remains and items from burial sites, as required by federal law, was approved by the board of trustees in 2022.