The commission shall be authorized:

(1) To investigate and select available sites for housing historic exhibits, including the surrounding grounds, with such state, federal or local agencies and governments and private individuals, corporations, associations or other organizations as may be involved, taking into consideration all pertinent factors affecting the suitability of such sites; to acquire, transport, renovate, maintain and exhibit appropriate and suitable military or historic units, articles, exhibits and attractions; to have full, complete and exclusive jurisdiction over the sites and any related exhibits;

(2) To promote tourism throughout the Cahaba Valley by attending travel shows; issuing news releases, calendars of events and newsletters; publishing brochures and pamphlets; constructing mobile travel exhibits; producing films and other visual presentations as may be necessary; and advertising in magazines and/or newspapers;

(3) To acquire by rent or lease agreement or otherwise the necessary housing facilities; and to establish, improve and enlarge available facilities, including providing them with necessary equipment, furnishings, landscaping and related facilities, including parking areas and ramps, roadways, sewers, curbs and gutters;

(4) To enter into such contracts and cooperative agreements with the local, state and federal governments, with agencies of such governments, with private individuals, corporations, associations and other organizations as the commission may deem necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of the commission with such contracts and agreements to include leases to private industry;

(5) To borrow money from private sources, the state emergency fund or such other source as may be acceptable to the commission under such terms and conditions as may be provided by law, and, in order to provide security for the repayment of any such private loans, the commission shall have the authority to pledge such future revenues from admissions and any other sources as may from time to time be necessary or desirable;

(6) To issue and sell at any time and from time to time its revenue bonds for the purpose of providing funds to acquire, enlarge, improve, equip and maintain its property, and for the payment of obligations incurred for such purposes. The principal and interest on any such revenue bonds shall be payable solely out of the revenues derived from the project;

(7) To make such contracts in the issuance of its bonds as may seem necessary or desirable to assure their marketability and to provide for their retirement by a pledge of all or any revenue which may come to the commission from the investment of the proceeds of the sale of such bonds or from any other source whatsoever;

(8) To accept public or private gifts, grants, and donations;

(9) To acquire property by purchase, lease, gift or license; and to dispose of any property of the commission when, in the opinion of the commission, such disposition is deemed expedient;

(10) To allocate and expend funds from all donations, income and revenue from any source whatsoever coming into its treasury for the fulfillment and accomplishment of its duties and responsibilities in such manner as may be necessary and appropriate for the perfection of the purposes of this article;

(11) To sell, convey, transfer, lease or donate any property, franchise, grant, easement, license, or lease or interest therein which it may own, and to transfer, assign, sell, convey or donate any right, title or interest which it may have in any lease, contract, agreement, license or property;

(12) To hire such laborers, artisans, caretakers, technicians, stenographers and administrative employees and supervisory and professional personnel as may be necessary or advisable for the carrying out in the most efficient and beneficial manner of the purposes and provisions of the commission;

(13) To employ an executive director who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, who shall be responsible directly to the commission, whose compensation shall be fixed by the commission, whose duties and authority shall be designated by the commission and who shall be paid from funds of the commission;

(14) To make such rules and regulations as the commission may deem necessary and desirable to provide for the operation, management and control of its facilities; and

(15) To perform such other acts necessary or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of the commission, whether or not specifically authorized in this section, and not otherwise prohibited by law.

The commission shall constitute a public body corporate and shall have, in addition to those powers set forth specifically in this section, all powers necessary or convenient to effect the purposes for which it has been established, together with all powers incidental thereto or necessary to the discharge of its said powers and duties.