A bill that would transfer the responsibilities and property of the Alabama Historical Commission to other state departments died in the last few days of this year’s session.

Although the bill failed to even have a vote, all state agencies are bracing for possible cuts as the Legislature prepares for an upcoming special session to pass a General Fund budget.

For sites across the state like Old Cahawba Archeological Park, the bill and potential funding cuts pose major threats.

“The Alabama Historical Commission is the agency that actually operates the park,” said Linda Derry, site director at Old Cahawba.

According to the bill, if passed, Old Cahawba would be turned over to Department of Conversation and Natural Resources.

“It sounds like we would then be treated as a recreation park as opposed to interpreting a historic site,” Derry said. “It’s hard to believe.”

Lisa Jones, acting director of the Alabama Historical Commission, said she does not believe that the bill will be brought back up in the special session, but the topic of funding for historic sites is still a much needed conversation.

“Right now we are hoping that it will not come up in the Legislative Session,” Jones said. “If there is going to be a plan, then everyone needs to sit down at the table.”

Dallas County Representative Darrio Melton said it’s hard to determine in the commission will be cut and how much.

“We don’t have a budget right now, so all state agencies are being impacted by the fact that we don’t have a budget,” Melton said.

For Derry, losing Old Cahawba would not only be detrimental to Alabama’s history, it would also be heartbreaking.

“I’ve been here 30 years, and I’ve seen all of the people that have worked really hard to raise the money, acquire the lots,” Derry said. “Here in Dallas County at Old Cahawba, we have the first state capitol, and we are just a few years away from the bicentennial of our state. So for me, personally, I can’t hardly believe that they would be dismantling this thing right before when we want to start celebrating the history of our state.”

Alabama became the nation’s 22nd state Dec. 14, 1819, making the bicentennial only four years away. According to Old Cahawba’s website, the once antebellum river town was the states first capitol, reigning from 1820 through 1826. After the capitol was moved to Tuscaloosa in 1826, the once thriving town was nearly abandoned within weeks.

“There’s only one Old Cahawba,” Derry said. “There’s only one first state capitol, and there’s only one place you can tell that story.”