Omeka Add to Collections Minimal Instructions
Transportation, Buses, Public Transportation, American history, Civil Rights, Rosa Parks, Henry Ford Museum, Montgomery, Alabama
This is the bus Rosa Parks was riding when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955. At the time, Jim Crow laws in Alabama demanded that seating on buses be racially segregated. Ms. Parks' action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became an important episode in the Civil Rights movement. The bus was identified through the bus company's records, and purchased and restored by the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Creative Commons license, non-derivative
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/maiac/4548476584/in/photolist-cRaCPw-dNa6Vq-qXSU6B-7VW8C5-jMf9sz-aQjdek-9tr6Yx-qNHZv6-ny42Ec-nzg1ee-9trcFx-9tr798-9o3ytd-9tu5K7-m7QWbg-m7QP9a-8dNgHi-dnzbxE-5RLEqt-8dNhdP-6dG6R-8QA47-4pLHMH-7dniN-cRawcA-cRavDC-aBUsrz-5j3Pmm-46yht6-46CpMs-46yhg2-4nrKKw-8TZuih-cRaDzf-4nrKJq-cRazkQ-5YLAT-aBr12u-dN3Yfc-46CrwY-46yk3i-46Cq5J-46yj7K-46yjDv-46yis2-46CqQY-46yiTe-46Cs15-46Cqmw-aBoq5v">https://www.flickr.com/photos/maiac/4548476584/in/photolist-cRaCPw-dNa6Vq-qXSU6B-7VW8C5-jMf9sz-aQjdek-9tr6Yx-qNHZv6-ny42Ec-nzg1ee-9trcFx-9tr798-9o3ytd-9tu5K7-m7QWbg-m7QP9a-8dNgHi-dnzbxE-5RLEqt-8dNhdP-6dG6R-8QA47-4pLHMH-7dniN-cRawcA-cRavDC-aBUsrz-5j3Pmm-46yht6-46CpMs-46yhg2-4nrKKw-8TZuih-cRaDzf-4nrKJq-cRazkQ-5YLAT-aBr12u-dN3Yfc-46CrwY-46yk3i-46Cq5J-46yj7K-46yjDv-46yis2-46CqQY-46yiTe-46Cs15-46Cqmw-aBoq5v
United States -- Alabama -- Montgomery County -- Montgomery
Recreation; Railroad Bridge; Colbert County; Muscle Shoals; TVA
The Railroad Bridge is a part of the TVA Nature Loop. The TVA Nature Loop is a 2.5 mile loop trail on TVA protected land. Overall, there are roughly 11 miles of footpaths in the area. The loop is around a section of the TVA reservation. The path is well paved and taken care of. People with disabilities should be able to navigate along the path. The park is pet friendly. One of the most interesting features of the trail is the Railroad Bridge. The bridge once crossed the expanse of the river from Muscle Shoals to Florence. It originally had an upper and lower deck. People, carriages, and animals could travel along the bottom deck while trains crossed across the top. The pier itself dates back to 1832, and the rest of the structure dates to 1903. The original bridge opened in 1839 as a toll bridge.In 1939, the bottom part of the Old Railroad Bridge, which allowed traffic and pedestrians to get across, closed because O’Neal Bridge opened for traffic. The Old Railroad Bridge was only used for train crossing until it was closed in 1988. Now only a portion of the bridge still exists and has been renovated for the walking trail. The bridge is a popular spot for pictures in the area.
Carrie Keener, University of North Alabama Esau Ramos, University of North Alabama
KIng, Gail. 2010. 'Wilson Village No. 2 1918-1950'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. 'Explore The Shoals'. 2014. Florence. Florence City. UNA Special Archives. AllTrails.com,. 2015. 'TVA Nature Loop'. http://alltrails.com/trail/us/alabama/tva-nature-loop?ref=search.
The Civilian Conservation Corps Company 4499
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Civilian Conservation Corps; New Deal; Company 4499
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public works relief program set up as a part of the New Deal Program. The last Company of men sent to the Muscle Shoals area in 1936 was the 4499 company. These men originally worked under the United States Forest Service. The men were used to maintain the park created on the TVA property and to help with improving the landscape of the area. Before the TVA was created, there was a problem of erosion of farmable lands in the Tennessee Valley. Many of the problems came from a lack of proper nutrients in the soil, from over farming. By employing men to work solely on improving the lands people could start to farm again. One noticeable impact to the land by this company of men was the introduction of the plant kudzu. This plant is now found all across the state of Alabama and has greatly lessened the impact of erosion on the land.
Carrie Keener, University of North Alabama
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Civilian Conservation Corps Camps at the TVA
Colbert, County; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; the New Deal; TVA; Wilson Dam; National Park Service
The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, was created by President Roosevelt as part of the New Deal. The main goals of the CCC was to reduce fire hazards, control disease, repair railroads, and prevent erosion. A CCC company located in the Muscle Shoals area cleared a 240-acre area of land for the Muscle Shoals City Airport. After this task they were used to maintain tree saplings to help with reforestation of many of the country's forests. In cooperation with the Naitonal Park Service, the CCC created footpaths, trails, bridges, parking areas, picnic areas, shelters, a field museum, boy scout meeting houses and an observation point overlooking a river; this all encompassed the new TVA park opened on July 4, 1935. The CCC in the Muscle Shoals area also produced a radio program broadcast over the area every week. The last company sent to the area was company 4499. This company originally worked for the United States Forest Services. Their main goal was to help prevent erosion.
Colbert, County; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Hiking; Camping; Pet Friendly
Cane Creek is a privately owned nature preserve cooperating with the Nature Conservancy of Alabama. This is a 9.1 mile out and back hiking trail near Tuscumbia. The main feature of the trail is the waterfall. The trail has a moderate hiking rating and can be used for camping, hiking, and trail running. The area is also pet friendly. The park is free to the public year round.
"Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve." AllTrails.com. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://alltrails.com/trail/us/alabama/cane-creek-canyon-nature-preserve. 'Colbert County Northwestern Alabama Gateway'. Florence. Florence City. UNA Special Archives.
Colbert, County; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Florence, Alabama; Fishing; Wilson Dam
Wilson Dam Lake was created from the damming of the Tennessee River by the construction of the Wilson Dam. The lake's normal elevation is 505 feet. The average depth is 97 feet. The distance of the backwater upstream is 17 miles and the area of the surface is 14,500 acres. Much of the flooded land was once farmland used in the Shoals. On the southern edge of the lake there is a leak of water and overflow water flows out into the Tennessee River. There are many myths surrounding the area around the dam and lake, most involving the native catfish. The lake is popular for fishing and the size of the fish are often exagerated in reports. Blue catfish often range from 50-80 pounds, but can be as large as 100 pounds. The lake was flooded by the TVA, the ones in control of Wilson Dam and the Tennessee River. By building a dam in the area the TVA was able to power the surrounding cities. Another benefit to building the dam and creating the lake was by powering the nitrate plants in Muscle Shoals. These plants provided much needed fertilizer for eroded farmland.
Sherer, Dennis. "Myths, Legends Surround Historic Wilson Dam." TimesDaily. June 19, 2010. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.timesdaily.com/archives/myths-legends-surround-historic-wilson-dam/article_90620d82-e607-5aef-a483-b42a0fe94a40.html. 'Destination Shoals'. 2011. Florence. Florence City. UNA Special Archives.
Colbert, County; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Wilson Dam; Wilson Lake; TVA
The powerhouse controls Wilson Dam. The building is connected parallel to the dam on the south side. It houses the generating machinery for producing electricity from the dammed water. It also controls the overflow water flowing out of Wilson lake. The powerhouse contains the penstocks to conduct water towards the turbines. The top level is the main generator room. The building is built of reinforced concrete columns and girders supporting a slab roof by steel trusses.
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Peyton, John Howe. 1916. 'America's Gibraltar Muscle Shoals'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
The first canal built in the Muscle Shoals was built by the state of Alabama, assisted by the United States government, between 1831-1836. To fund the canal the US Congress gave the state 400,000 acres of public land to sell. The proceeds were used to fund the building of the canal. At the time, there was a need for four canals along the Tenneessee River in North Alabama, at Big Muscle Shoals, Elk River Shoals, Nancy Reef, and Little Muscle Shoals. Only at Big Muscle Shoals was a dam built. The need for the canals was due to the turbulent waters and widely varying depth of the river along the Shoals. Even with the addition of the canal to the river it barely made an impact on naviagtion. The canal was 14.5 miles long. Large barrages could not fit through the narrow canal and it took nearly eleven hours to travel fully making it impossible for much traffic to travel along the canal. The canal contained 17 locks, each 120 feet long by 32 feet, with a lift of five feet each. The way the canal was made also limited traffic to only come from up the river, not both ways. Today, the lower locks, 3-9, are submerged underwater due to the construction of the Wilson Dam.
'Muscle Shoals: Souvenir Of Inspection Trip By Officials And Citizens Of The Tri Cities'. 1919. Florence. Willism Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Peyton, John Howe. 1916. 'America's Gibraltar Muscle Shoals'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. 'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Sheffield, Alabama; Nitrate
The Tennessee Valley is filled with minerals, including the materials needed to produce nitrates. Nitrates can be used for many things, most importantly for TVA to help add nutrients to fertilizer. This helped to increase crop production. Another use for a nitrate plant can be for producing nitric acid during times of war to create explosives. These two important factors helped lead the US government to initially start building the Wilson Dam in 1918 and susbequently in 1933 give the TVA control of one of the two nitrate plants in the area of the Shoals. During the early twentieth century, only a small amount of nitrate used in the US came from the country. Most was imported from South America. The top priority of the TVA was to improve soil and prevent erosion. By employing nitrogen from the plant, the TVA could improve farmland. Before the introduction of nitrogen back into the land by the TVA, farmers were exhausting the land and creating barren fallow fields of mud that eroded away into the river. With the plant came a village to house the many workers brought into the area by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was called Village No. 2 and existed for 32 years. The plant was built by the American Cyanmid Company, with the overall goal of producing 40,000 tons of nitrogen. The plant and Wilson Dam, then referred to as Dam No. 2, were commissioned and built by the federal government, with the help of the state of Alabama. The plant was to produce ammonium nitrate by the cynamid process of nitrogen fixation. It cost about $12 million dollars to build.
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Gunther, John. 1953. 'The Story Of The TVA'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. 'Sheffield History And Recollections: Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XVIII'. 2011. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Colleciton. UNA Special Archives. Carle, J.F. 'US Nitrate Plant No. 2, Muscle Shoals, Alabama'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Young, Ronald. 1976. 'History Of US Facilities At Muscle Shoals, Alabama, And Origins Of The TVA'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Colbert County, Alabama; Sheffield, Alabama; Nitrate; Village
The Tennessee Valley is filled with minerals, including the materials needed to produce nitrates. Nitrates can be used for many things, most importantly for TVA to help add nutrients to fertilizer. This helped to increase crop production. Another use for a nitrate plant can be for producing nitric acid during times of war to create explosives. These two important factors helped lead the US government to initially start building the Wilson Dam in 1918 and susbequently in 1933 give the TVA control of one of the two nitrate plants in the area of the Shoals. During the early twentieth century, only a small amount of nitrate used in the US came from the country. Most was imported from South America. The top priority of the TVA was to improve soil and prevent erosion. By employing nitrogen from the plant, the TVA could improve farmland. Before the introduction of nitrogen back into the land by the TVA, farmers were exhausting the land and creating barren fallow fields of mud that eroded away into the river. With the plant came a village to house the many workers brought into the area by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was called Village No. 2 and existed for 32 years. The plant was built by the American Cyanmid Company, with the overall goal of producing 40,000 tons of nitrogen. The plant and Wilson Dam, then referred to as Dam No. 2, were commissioned and built by the federal government, with the help of the state of Alabama. The plant was to produce ammonium nitrate by the cynamid process of nitrogen fixation. It cost about $12 million dollars to build. The village was constructed around the same time as the dam. The village itself housed many of the workers and their families. The village housed a local school for younger ages, a fire department, and even book mobiles to allow greater access to books. The houses came in prefabricated styles, ranging from three to seven rooms. Every house had complete sewer, water, and electrical connections, a rare thing at the time. There were 42 permanent houses, 1 mess hall, three office buildings, a post office, and even an ice plant that produced 6 tons of ice a day.
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. KIng, Gail. 2010. 'Wilson Village No. 2 1918-1950'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Colbert County, Alabama; Sheffield, Alabama; Fire Department
'Sheffield History And Recollections: Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XVIII'. 2011. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Colleciton. UNA Special Archives. Woodhouse, Henry. 1926. 'Muscle Shoals Industrial Possibilities And Actualities'. Newspaper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Rockpile; Hiking; Fishing
The Rockpile TVA trail is a 2.7 mile in and out hiking trail that follows the Tennessee River. It is possible for the hike to reach 6 miles by exploring the area. This is an easily followed trail and is well marked along the paths. There is a large diversity of fowl along the trail. such as, song birds, migatory species, pelicans, and even eagles. The main highlight of the trail is at the turn-around point at the top of the dam. This point has a small cave system to explore and a waterfall cascading into the river. The trail is pet friendly. It allows camping, fishing, and hiking.
"TVA Reservation Rock Pile." AllTrails.com. 2015. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://alltrails.com/trail/us/alabama/tva-reservation-rock-pile.
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Hiking; Pet Friendly
The TVA Nature Loop is a 2.5 mile loop trail on TVA protected land. Overall, there are roughly 11 miles of footpaths in the area. The loop is around a section of the TVA reservation. The path is well paved and taken care of. People with disabilities should be able to navigate along the path. The park is pet friendly. One of the most interesting features of the trail is the old railroad bridge. The bridge once crossed the expanse of the river from Muscle Shoals to Florence. The bridge originally had an upper and lower deck. People, carriages, and animals could travel along the bottom deck while trains crossed across the top. Now only a portion of the bridge still exists and has been renovated for the walking trail. The bridge is a popular spot for pictures in the area.
Americantrails.org,. 2015. 'Trail Details: National Recreation Trail Database'. http://www.americantrails.org/NRTDatabase/trailDetail.php?recordID=3. Gunther, John. 1953. 'The Story Of The TVA'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. AllTrails.com,. 2015. 'TVA Nature Loop'. http://alltrails.com/trail/us/alabama/tva-nature-loop?ref=search.
Colbert County, Muscle Shoals, Birding, Hiking
The North Alabama Birding Trail consists of fifty birding sites across the northern part of the state. There are currently 397 species known to have been seen along the trail. The fifty sites were carefully selected by a group of biologists, bird enthusiasts, and conservationists. The criteria used to determine the sites were: probability of birds, ecological significance, site resiliency, physical and legal access, economic significance, maintenance support, and parking availability. The trial has a wide array of habitats, such as, wetlands, grasslands, and forests. It is suggested to dress for the season. There is a possibility of seeing birds from inside a vehicle. Binoculars are a useful tool to carry along on the trail.
"North Alabama Birding Trail - Frequently Asked Questions." North Alabama Birding Trail - Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com/about_the_trail/faq.aspx. 'Explore The Shoals'. 2014. Florence. Florence City. UNA Special Archives.
Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Colbert County; Tennessee River
The Muscle Shoals is a section of the Tennessee River in North Alabama. This is the shoals that gives the surrounding area its name. The section on the river totals 37 miles in length. This was once an impassable barrier along the river. It made navigation extremely difficult for people. The Shoals was named after either the mussels found along the banks or the muscles needed to canoe across the river there. Both are disputed explanations for the naming of the shoals. Along this stretch the river had shoals, reefs, gravel, sand bars, swift currents, and uncertain depths. Until the canal was built in the early 1800s the area could only be navigated by small man-propelled crafts, such as canoes and rafts. The increasing problem of navigation through the area eventually gained the notice of Congress and they provided land for sale to generate funds to build a canal. This original canal was little help and was never intended to be used as a high traffic waterway. Coal barges could barely, if at all, fit down the canal. It was also a very slow option to naviagte along the river, as it could take up to 11 hours to fully travel down the river.
Young, Ronald. 1976. 'History Of US Facilities At Muscle Shoals, Alabama, And Origins Of The TVA'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Peyton, John Howe. 1916. 'America's Gibraltar Muscle Shoals'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. 'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Spring Park; Colbert County; Tuscumbia, Alabama; walking; spring
Spring Park is in downtown Tuscumbia. The main feature of the park is the spring and waterfall. The waterfall is made of natural limestone rocks. An fountain show is put on during certain times of the year. The area is often used for festivals and events in the area. The park is very family oriented with a playground, a mini roller coaster, and a unique little train that travels around the park. A statue is located in the park to pay tribute to the region's Native American heritage. The park includes pavilions and stages to host entertainment. There is year round trout fishing in the spring, however there is a fee to fish here. Restaurants are also located around the park.
Langley, John. 2015. 'Spring Park'. Springparkal.Com. http://www.springparkal.com/.
Natchez Trace; Colbert County; Muscle Shoals; Tuscumbia; Sheffield; Parkway
The Nathchez Trace was once a path used by Native Americans in the region, including the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians. It was a popular path for pioneers and settlers to take as well. Once there was better navigation on the river, with the invention of steamboats, use of the Trace decreased. The Trace runs from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. It is a 444 mile parkway managed by the National Park Service now that crosses Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. A compact was formed in 1999 to create and maintain the Trace parkway. The primary object of this pact is to bring visitors to the Natchez Trace Parkway and to encourage people to explore the Trace. In the Shoals area the Trace goes through Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, and Florence.
'Explore The Natchez Trace'. Florence. Florence City. UNA Special Archives.
Mess Hall; Colbert County; Muscle Shoals; Nitrate Plant; TVA; Mess hall
The Tennessee Valley is filled with minerals, including the materials needed to produce nitrates. Nitrates can be used for many things, most importantly for TVA to help add nutrients to fertilizer. This helped to increase crop production. Another use for a nitrate plant can be for producing nitric acid during times of war to create explosives. These two important factors helped lead the US government to initially start building the Wilson Dam in 1918 and susbequently in 1933 give the TVA control of one of the two nitrate plants in the area of the Shoals. During the early twentieth century, only a small amount of nitrate used in the US came from the country. Most was imported from South America. The top priority of the TVA was to improve soil and prevent erosion. By employing nitrogen from the plant, the TVA could improve farmland. Before the introduction of nitrogen back into the land by the TVA, farmers were exhausting the land and creating barren fallow fields of mud that eroded away into the river. With the plant came a village to house the many workers brought into the area by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was called Village No. 2 and existed for 32 years. The plant was built by the American Cyanmid Company, with the overall goal of producing 40,000 tons of nitrogen. The plant and Wilson Dam, then referred to as Dam No. 2, were commissioned and built by the federal government, with the help of the state of Alabama. The plant was to produce ammonium nitrate by the cynamid process of nitrogen fixation. It cost about $12 million dollars to build. With the influx of workers, mainly from the CCC, mess halls were built in the villages to help feed all of the men. Village No. 2 housed one mess hall.
FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Gunther, John. 1953. 'The Story Of The TVA'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. 'Sheffield History And Recollections: Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XVIII'. 2011. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Colleciton. UNA Special Archives. Carle, J.F. 'US Nitrate Plant No. 2, Muscle Shoals, Alabama'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Young, Ronald. 1976. 'History Of US Facilities At Muscle Shoals, Alabama, And Origins Of The TVA'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Freedom Hills; Shooting Range; Colbert County, Alabama; Cherokee, Alabama; Primitive Camping
Freedom Hills is a 34,500 acre wildlife area. It borders the Natchez Trace and Cherokee, Alabama. The main attraction to the area is the abundant hunting available in the area and the outside shooting range. The shooting range is open to the public and can also be used for archery. It has a distance of 100 yards. The shooting range is also wheelchair accessible. A valid hunting or fishing license must be had to use the shooting range. It is also only open during daylight. This wildlife area is also home to the famous Coon Dog Cemetery. The cemetery is a resting place for many hunting dogs. The area also has primitive camping.
Outdoor Alabama,. 2014. 'Freedom Hills WMA Shooting Range'. http://www.outdooralabama.com/freedom-hills-wma-shooting-range. Alabama's Official Travel Guide,. 2015. 'Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area - Cherokee - Alabama.Travel'. http://alabama.travel/places-to-go/freedom-hills-wildlife-management-area.
Park; Colbert County; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; recreation;
Gattman Park is maintained by the Muscle Shoals Parks and Recreation Department. The park has access to both indoor and outdoor activities. There are two gym facilities, one with a rubber floor walking track. The other gym also has meeting rooms available for renting out. Outside, the park has two large pavilions and one small one. This is the location of the areas' ball fields, as well. There is an outdoor walking track around the park, with playground equipment in various locations around the area. During the summer months the splash pad play area can also be rented out for parties. Gattman Park is a well maintained park and is popular with the area's families.
Alabama's Official Travel Guide,. 2015. 'Muscle Shoals Parks And Recreation Department - Muscle Shoals - Alabama.Travel'. http://alabama.travel/places-to-go/muscle-shoals-parks-and-recreation-department. Cityofmuscleshoals.com,. 2015. 'Muscle Shoals – Facilities'.
Muscle Shoals; TVA; Tennessee River; Colbert County
The Big Muscle Shoals is a section of the Tennessee River in North Alabama. This is the main shoals that gives the surrounding area its name, there is also the Little Muscle Shoals. The section on the river totals 37 miles in length. This was once an impassable barrier along the river. It made navigation extremely difficult for people. The Shoals was named after either the mussles found along the banks or the muscles needed to canoe across the river there. Both are disputed explanations for the naming of the shoals. The area had shoals, reefs, gravel, sand bars, swift currents, and uncertain depths along the expansive of river. Until the canal was built in the early 1800s the area could only be navigated by small man-propelled crafts, such as canoes and rafts. The increasing problem of navigation through th area eventually gained the notice of Congress and they provided land for sale to generate funds to build a canal. This original canal was little help and was never intended to be used as a high traffic waterway. Coal barges could barely, if at all, fit down the canal. It was also a very slow option to navigate along the river, as it could take up to 11 hours to fully travel down over the shoals.
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Peyton, John Howe. 1916. 'America's Gibraltar Muscle Shoals'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. Young, Ronald. 1976. 'History Of US Facilities At Muscle Shoals, Alabama, And Origins Of The TVA'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Colbert County; Lake; Fishing; Boating; Camping; Pickwick Reservation
Pickwick Reservoir is a lake created by the Pickwick Dam in Tennessee. Construction of the dam began in 1934. The dam, and resulting lake, were completed in 1938. The reservoir falls under the jurisdiction of the TVA. It extends for 53 miles from Tennessee to the Alabama-Mississippi border. The dam is 113 feet high. It still produces hydroelectricity with six large generators within the dam. The mean elevation of the lake water is 408 feet. The dam also has two locks. The resevoir is a popular spot for many different activities. Fishing is a popular sport in the lake, particular for bass and catfish. Boating and water skiing are allowed on the lake. There is a campgound located below the dam. The campground includes 92 sites with water and electricity and five primitive campsites.
"Pickwick Reservoir." Outdoor Alabama. July 16, 2014. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.outdooralabama.com/pickwick-reservoir. "Pickwick." TVA. Accessed December 1, 2015. https://www.tva.gov/Energy/Our-Power-System/Hydroelectric/Pickwick-Reservoir.
Colbert County, Colbert Ferry; National Park Service; Bicycle; Campground
This campground and park is located on the site of where George Colbert once operated a ferry for crossing the Tennessee River. He also operated a small inn for the travelers on the Natchez Trace. George Colbert supposedly took Andrew Jackson's Tennessee Army across the river for $75,000 during the War of 1812. George Colbert helped the US negotiate with the areas Indians, as he was half Choctaw. This is a bicycle only campground. It provides picnic tables, grills, and fire rings for campers. There is only a small white building in the space of the campground. Bluffs are nearby for viewing the river. The campground can be difficult to find and is located at milepost 327.3.
"Colbert Ferry - Natchez Trace | NatchezTraceTravel.com." Colbert Ferry - Natchez Trace | NatchezTraceTravel.com. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-alabama/florence-tennessee-river/124-colbert-ferry.html. Nps.gov,. 2015. 'Colbert Ferry Bicycle-Only Campground - Natchez Trace Parkway (U.S. National Park Service)'. http://www.nps.gov/natr/colbert-ferry-bicycle-only-campground.htm.
Rock Spring; Colbert County; Hiking; Nature; Natchez Trace
Rock Spring Nature Trail goes from Colbert Creek to Rock Springs. It is about a 20 minute walk. The trail is off of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The trail is a popular birding destination in the area. Birders mainly look for hummingbirds who are attracted to the plant life. Occasionally a hellbender, a large species of salamander can be found along the trail. Another popular inhabitant to the area are beavers, as they often dam up the creek. The park is maintained by the National Park Service under the Natchez Trace. There are parking locations for the park. Admission is free for the park.
Alabama Birding Trails,. 2015. 'Rock Springs Nature Trail Alabama Birding Trails'. http://alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/natchez-trace-parkway-rock-springs-nature-trail/. Natcheztracetravel.com,. 2015. 'Rock Spring - Natchez Trace | Natcheztracetravel.Com'. http://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-alabama/florence-tennessee-river/121-rock-spring.html.
Rose Trail is a RV and campground located on Pickwick lake and reservoir. Pickwick Reservoir is a lake created by the Pickwick Dam in Tennessee. Construction began in 1934. The lake is under the jurisdiction of the TVA. It extends for 53 miles from Tennessee to the Alabama- Mississippi border. The dam, and resulting lake were completed in 1938. The dam is 113 feet high. It still produces hydroelectricity with six large generators within the dam. The mean elevation of the lake water is 408 feet. The dam also has two locks. The area's lake is a popular spot for many different activities. Fishing is a popular sport in the lake, particularly for bass and catfish. Boating and water skiing are allowed on the lake. There are piers and boat ramps in the park for campers, as well as bathrooms and showers. The park is only open from March-September.
Langley, John. 2015. 'RV Parks And Campgrounds'. Colbertcountytourism.Org. http://www.colbertcountytourism.org/index.php/2012-11-08-15-09-04/rv-parks-campgrounds.
The Robert Trent Golf trail is a collection of golf courses across Northern Alabama.The head of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, Dr. David Bronner wanted to help the state of Alabama develop resources to support retired state workers. He decided to build 26 golf courses across 11 sites in Alabama. His goal was to attract retirees to bring in revenue for the state. He wanted golf courses that combined quality and value. Robert Trent Jones Jr., the namesake of the trail, was the main architect behind the courses. The trails each flow with their surrounding topography, instead of being fabricated. Each pose a challenge for any level of golfer. The trail is managed by Sunbelt Gold Corporation.
RTJ Golf,. 2015. 'RTJ Golf Trail - Explore The Trail'. https://www.rtjgolf.com/trail/.
Big Spring; Colbert County; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Park
Big Spring was once a popular baptizing place for people in the area. It often flooded and was home to many grazing animals. Many pictures exist of the spring before it was controlled. The site is now used for hosting festivals for the city of Tuscumbia. There are picnic tables and pavilions for use around the park. The spring travels the whole length of the park, as well. There are resturants and small rides for children. Fishing, with a small fee, is also allowed in the spring.
Alabama's Official Travel Guide,. 2015. 'Spring Park - Tuscumbia - Alabama.Travel'. http://alabama.travel/places-to-go/spring-park.
Once the TVA was formed during the New Deal, men were needed to work on building Wilson Dam and to work in the Nitrate Factory No. 2. Many of these men were a part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC. Many of the original workers were being relocated from the Northwestern United States. The first groups of men established camps to live in while they were working for the TVA. These campsites eventually became known as the Nitrate Villages. The men's jobs included preventing erosion, working on the dam, planting saplings, and working on building the nitrate factory.These men were soon introduced to educational training in April of 1936. This training focused on business, soil conservation, agriculture, mechanics, journalism, radio, first aid, and practical science. For those who needed it, basic education on reading and writing was also taught to the men in the camps.
Carle, J.F. 'US Nitrate Plant No. 2, Muscle Shoals, Alabama'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. 'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. KIng, Gail. 2010. 'Wilson Village No. 2 1918-1950'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. 'Sheffield History And Recollections: Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XVIII'. 2011. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Erosion; Colbert County; Alabama; farmers; TVA
The main goal of the TVA was to produce fertilizer to help the Tennessee Valley residents improve their soil. The fertilizer was made in Nitrate Plant No. 2 in Colbert County. By having a steady source of fertilizer the TVA was able to start experimenting on how to help improve the impoverished, eroded farms. With agriculture being the main source of income and livelihood for many people, the land became stripped of essential nutrients after planting of the same crop over and over. Top soil started to wash away with every rain making it harder and harder to produce crops, mainly cotton. The TVA was needed to improve these awful conditions. It is estimated up to 85% of the farm-able land was eroded by 1930. The scientists at the TVA came up with efficient ways to add fertilizer, full of nitrates, to impoverished farmland. Before the TVA, few farmers had the means to add fertilizer to their lands, as this required growing less produce and limiting their already meager income. Many of the restored farmlands became grazing fields for livestock, rather than to continue planting crops.
McCarthy, Dennis M. 1983. The First Fifty Years: Changed Land, Changed Lives: State Of The Environment Of The Tennessee Valley. Knoxville: Tennessee Valley Authority.
Architecture; Guntersville, Alabama; Marshall County; House
Albert G Henry, Jr., a prominent merchant and millionaire in Alabama, built the Queen Anne style house circa 1890. The home is a two story building with a shingle roof and an irregular floorplan. The house has wood siding, painted in varying shades of pink. The façade is dominated by the attached hipped porch with turned posts. The house sits on a foundation of brick. The house is located at 326 Blount Avenue, Guntersville, AL. It is a single-dwelling home.
Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1930, 1948; aerial photos 1957 and 1962; A History Tour of Guntersville, site 27
Government; Guntersville, Alabama; Marshall County
The Guntersville City Hall was built in 1965 in the Post War Modern style. The one-story building is constructed with brick and masonry. It has a gable on hipped shingle roof. The foundation of the building is not a visible feature. Overall, the building is in good condition. The city hall is located at 341 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville, Alabama.
Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1930, 1948; aerial photos 1957 and 1962
Department Store; Marshall County; Alabama; Guntersville
This is a department store built circa 1905. It was remodeled in 1965 with aluminum display windows and corrugated metal on the facade. It is built in the Folk Victorian style. It has a flat stepped roof. It has a brick foundation. The building was built for a man named Sam Henry. A.B, Hammer then purchased the building and started the Hammer Department Store. The store has now expanded into adjacent buildings. The store name was changed to Fant’s Department Store in 1996. It is located at 355 North Gunter Avenue Guntersville, Alabama.
Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1930, 1948; aerial photos 1957 and 1962; A Historic Tour of Guntersville, site 4
Commercial Building (Fant’s Department Store)
Department Store; Marshall County; Commerce; Guntersville, Alabama
This commercial building was built circa 1915. It is a one-story Folk Victorian style building with a flat roof. The building is constructed with brick and masonry. The building has a recessed entrance with the storefront covered in corrugated metal, added when updated in 1965. Has a metal awning across the entire front. Has a brick foundation. It is located at 355 center Gunter Avenue Guntersville, Alabama.
Commercial Building (Fant’s Department Store Extension)
The original building was constructed circa 1935. It was altered in 1970 by the addition of four aluminum windows to the second story. It has two stories and is in the Early 20th Century Commercial style. It sits on a brick foundation and has walls made of brick. It has a flat roof. It became an extension to Fant’s Department Store circa 1942, along with the building next to it. It is located at 355 Center Gunter Avenue, Guntersville, Alabama.
Two story masonry two-part commercial block form building with a ﬂat roof concealed by a ﬂat parapet at its facade; faces east, abuts adjacent buildings to either side; two modern aluminum-framed storefront systems (ca. 1965) with a continuous pent awning (ca. 1985); 3 pair of single windows at the 2nd ﬂoor, all windows are inﬁlled and have shed awnings (ca. 1985); exposed brick veneer at the facade with decorative patterned brick work; continuous brick foundation.
Casey Weatherbee Hester; University of North Alabama
Two story masonry two-part commercial block form building with a ﬂat roof concealed by a ﬂat parapet at its facade; faces east, abuts adjacent buildings to either side; modern aluminum-framed storefront system (ca. 1970) with a continuous pent awning (ca. 1985); single windows within segmental arched openings at the 2nd ﬂoor, all windows have been inﬁlled (ca. 1985), modern shed canopies extends across the outer 2 windows (ca. 1985); exposed brick veneer at the facade with a corbelled parapet cap; continuous brick foundation.
Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1930, 1948; aerial photos 1957 and 196
Two story masonry two-part commercial block form building with a ﬂat roof concealed by a ﬂat parapet at its facade; faces east, abuts an adjacent buildings to the north and an open lot to the south; 2 modern aluminum-framed storefront systems (ca. 1975) with a continuous ﬂat awning below a transom concealed behind a metal panel (ca. 1975)); 4 single synthetic replacement windows (c1. 2000) within segmental arched openings at the 2nd ﬂoor; painted brick veneer at the facade with a corbelled parapet cap and decorative brick window hoods; continuous brick foundation.
2218 Taylor Street (Commercial Building)
One story masonry one-part commercial block form building with a ﬂat roof concealed by a modern shed canopy (ca. 1990) at its facade; faces south, freestanding; 2 aluminum-framed storefront systems; exposed brick veneer at facade, exposed brick set in common bond at side elevations; continuous brick foundation
372 Gunter Avenue-Rear (Commercial Building)
Modern one story concrete block building with a side gable composition shingle roof
Architectural drawings; Watercolors; Houses; Dwellings; Doors & doorways; Windows; Shutters; Porches; Columns; Balconies; Hand railings; Woodwork; Roofs; Chimneys; Moldings; Wreaths; Women; Trees; Landscapes (Representations)
This image is a watercolor painting of the Dearing Place (also known as the Dearing House or the Dearing-Swaim House or Spence House) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama done by W.N. Chambers in 1934. The house was built in 1837. The painting shows the front exterior of the house with its doors, windows, shutters, two-story columned porch, steps, balcony, wooden railing, sloped roof and two chimneys surrounded by trees and landscaping. There is a woman in period dress on the porch. The house is placed within framing art showing its architectural features including the wooden balcony railing, the door, a shutter, a corner of the roof and the molding under it, columns, floor plans, scales, a side view of the interior and exterior of the house and two wreaths. In the lower right corner, there is an Alabama Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture stamp with a handwritten inscription "2nd Medal" and the artist's information block which reads: "A house in Tuscaloosa, Ala. measured and drawn by W.N. Chambers, A.P.I., April 14, 1934." There are two labels on the lower right edge. The first reads: "School of Architecture Architectural Renderings, RG 457, Original number 20, "The Dearing Place." The second reads: "20." The painting is in excellent condition and is encapsulated.
Chambers, W. N. (rendering) ; Dearing, Alexander (house)
Auburn University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives Dept. Architecture, School of -- Architectural Renderings Student Projects
This image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of the image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archive@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.
Library of Congress (Historic American Buildings Survey): http://www.loc.gov/item/al0776/ ; The University Club: http://www.universityclub.ua.edu/history.html
Tuscaloosa -- Tuscaloosa County -- Alabama ; 2111 Fourteenth Street, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, AL
Chicago (Ill.); maps; local transit; Illinois, chicago
Chicago Transit Authority local rail transit map showing stops and connections between lines including downtown inset.
Kilby Laboratory School was founded in 1922 as a part of Florence State Normal School. The school originally occupied what is now the University Of North Alabama Mathematics Building. Classes were conducted in this location until the fall of 1964 when they moved to a newly finished building on North Pine Street. The school currently includes students in kindergarten to sixth grade. Kilby is a public school, but UNA owns and operates it. Through this arrangement education majors are able to use the school for real world training during their UNA career. Children of UNA faculty and staff also have priority for admittance to Kilby over other students in the district.
Claire Eagle, University of North Alabama
Text: University of North Alabama, "About Our School," Kilby Laboratory School, https://www.una.edu/kilby/about.html (Accessed April 28, 2015). Wendy Reeves, "Kilby School only one of kind in state of Alabama," The Flor-Ala, September 14, 1989. Images: University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections, Collier Library
Statues/Monuments; Lauderdale County, AL
The Wilson Dam Replica is located on the corner of Mobile and Seminary Streets in front of Legends Steakhouse in downtown Florence, Alabama. The replica dam is engraved with each name of the quad cities: Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Florence, and the year each city became incorporated.
The City of Florence Walk of Honor is located next to the Marriott hotel in River Heritage Park. The city of Florence designed the Walk of Honor to recognize residents of Lauderdale County who had/have found success at the national or international level. Those fields include agriculture, art, athletics, business, education, government, literature, military, medicine, music, religion, science and technology, and public service. In 2007 16 people were inducted as the first honorees, but their monuments were not placed until 2008. Inductees include Gen. John Coffee, Caroline Lee Hentz, Thomas Stribbling, Dred Scott, and Billy Reid.
City of Florence, Alabama, "Walk of Honor,"http://www.florenceal.org/Administration/Walk_of_Honor/index.html (Accessed April 28, 2015)
This is the burial place of Lillian Cook Deibert. Lillian and her husband Kirk owned Rolling Acres Stock Farm. In 1991 their barn burned down, killing 27 of Lillian's beloved horses. She is buried at this spot located in Deibert Park right next to where her horses were buried after the fire.
Joy Favors, "Lillian Cook Deibert," http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65540771 (Accessed April 29, 2015)
Statues/Monuments; Florence, AL; Native American History
This wall is known by two names: Tom Hendrix's Wall and the Wichahpi Commemorative Wall. Tom Hendrix started this wall in the 1980's after learning of his great-great grandmother's journey during the Trail of Tears. Te-lah-nay was forced to walk to Oklahoma. She never felt safe at her new home and ran away spending 5 years making her way back to the Singing River. The more than a mile long wall is made up of stones from more than 120 countries. Most of the stones come from Lauderdale County. Each stone represents one of her steps on her journey, The shape, height, and width of the wall all change to represent the trials she faced. The Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall is the largest monument to a Native American woman.
Visit Florence, "Tom's Wall,"http://www.visitflorenceal.com/things_to_do/toms-wall/ (Accessed April 28, 2015)
After leaving her job as a music teacher at a private kindergarten in Tuscumbia, Maud McKnight Lindsay started the first free kindergarten in the state of Alabama in 1898. She taught children from the cotton mill district in East Florence. The original location was a Florence store front but the school was moved to a small cottage building across from Brandon School. The Maud Lindsay Free Kindergarten is still in operation today. Lindsay was active in the settlement house movement, traveling to Boston and New York to work. She was also a prolific children's book author and poet. The building it slated to be moved when the new hospital is built. The location is still undetermined.
Text: Elizabeth Womack McDonald. History of the Florence City schools, 1820-1967, 1900. UNA Library Catalog, EBSCOhost (accessed April 29, 2015). Anita Miller Garner, "Maud McKinght Lindsay," Encyclopedia of Alabama. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2376 Image: University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections
The WWI Memorial Amphitheater on the University of North Alabama's campus is a common gathering place of students. In 1919, Mrs. Susan J, Price, a professor in the department of geography, recognized the need for a formal stage and a memorial to the six students of State Normal School that did not return home from WWI. Her original design consisted of a half enclosed dome supported by six pillars to represent the six students. Although the finished amphitheater did not follow Mrs. Price's original plan, the structure still stood as a memorial to those six students lost in WWI. The amphitheater was completed in 1934.
Text: Doris Kelso, "A History of the UNA Memorial Amphitheater," Journal of Muscle Shoals History VI, (1978); 135-38. Images: University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections
Locust Dell Academy operated in Florence from 1834 to 1843. The all-girls school was owned and operated by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz and his wife Caroline Lee Hentz. Subjects taught included reading, math, composition, and painting. The name Locust Dell came from the grove of locust trees the school resided in. The school continued to operate after the Hentz's left Florence in 1843. The Florence Synodical Female College absorbed Locust Dell in 1855. Unfortunately, the original building burned down in 1929. The school was located where the University of North Alabama's Willingham Hall stands today.
Text: William Lindsey McDonald, A Walk Through The Past: People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama. (Bluewater Publications, 2003), 80. Elizabeth Walter. “Locust Dell Turned Girls” The Picture, Florence, Alabama, January 4, 1973. Images: University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections