18. ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL. 19

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1 18. ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL. 19 A Time-Traveler s Companion to Our Counties

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4 5 4 WIREGRASS COUNTIES REGIONS ALABAMA TENNESSEE VALLEY PIEDMONT PLATEAU FALL LINE HILLS BLACK BELT WIREGRASS PINEY WOODS LAUDERDALE COLBERT FRANKLIN JACKSON LAWRENCE MARSHALL MORGAN LIME- STONE MADISON DEKALB HENRY PIKE GENEVA DALE BARBOUR COFFEE HOUS- TON COVINGTON CRENSHAW RAN- DOLPH CLAY LEE COOSA TALLA- POOSA CHAM- BERS ELMORE CLEBURNE WINSTON WALKER CULLMAN BLOUNT JEFFERSON ST. CLAIR ETOWAH CHERO- KEE CAL- HOUN TALLADEGA SHELBY SUMTER GREENE MARENGO HALE PERRY DALLAS WILCOX LOWN- DES MONT- GOMERY MACON BULLOCK RUSSELL MARION LAMAR FAYETTE PICKENS TUSCA LOOSA BIBB CHILTON AUTAU- GA CHOCTAW WASH- INGTON CLARKE MOBILE BALDWIN ESCAMBIA MONROE CONECUH BUTLER APPALACHIAN HIGH L ANDS -

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Region 1 - Tennessee Valley Region 3 - Piedmont Plateau Region 5 - Black Belt Region 7 - Piney Woods Colbert County 13 Chambers County 75 Bullock County 117 Baldwin County 165 DeKalb County 26 Clay County 63 Dallas County 107 Butler County 169 Franklin County 29 Cleburne County 69 Greene County 112 Choctaw County 156 Jackson County 25 Coosa County 73 Hale County 127 Clarke County 164 Lauderdale County 19 Elmore County 68 Lowndes County 124 Conecuh County 159 Lawrence County 31 Lee County 61 Macon County 111 Escambia County 155 Limestone County 18 Randolph County 62 Marengo County 113 Mobile County 161 Madison County 21 Tallapoosa County 67 Montgomery County 123 Monroe County 163 Marshall County 17 Region 3 Stamp Site Locations 76 Perry County 129 Washington County 157 Morgan County 27 Region 1 Stamp Site Locations 34 Region 4 - Appalachian Highlands Russell County 128 Sumter County 125 Region 7 Stamp Site Locations 170 Region 2 - Wiregrass Blount County 93 Calhoun County 89 Wilcox County 121 Region 5 Stamp Site Locations 130 Barbour County 49 Coffee County 44 Cherokee County 101 Cullman County 95 Region 6 - Fall Line Hills Covington County 39 Etowah County 87 Autauga County 137 Crenshaw County 47 Jefferson County 97 Bibb County 149 Dale County 55 St. Clair County 92 Chilton County 147 Geneva County 43 Shelby County 91 Fayette County 146 Henry County 50 Talladega County 88 Lamar County 138 Houston County 45 Walker County 83 Marion County 135 Pike County 51 Winston County 81 Pickens County 139 Region 2 Stamp Site Locations 56 Region 4 Stamp Site Locations 102 Tuscaloosa County 143 Region 6 Stamp Site Locations 150

6 MAKE SURE TO 8 9 Hop in your car. See a county site. Stamp your book. Keep exploring.

7 r e g i o n The diverse natural resources in the Appalachian Highlands have sustained human life for thousands of years. Our majestic landscapes range from the peaceful fields of the Alabama Valley and Ridge to the rugged canyons of the Cumberland Plateau. The land overflows with mineral wealth that revolutionized our state s economy. The state s booming iron and steel industry was built from the giant coal fields and deep mines of the area. Innovation and hard work birthed the Magic City of Birmingham, but our intriguing history was also marked by intense struggles. The Civil War divided families in The Free State of Winston, and civil rights demonstrations rippled through communities. Today, the world-class talents of entrepreneurs, craftsmen, artists, and culinary geniuses are revitalizing the future of our region. WINSTON WALKER CULLMAN JEFFERSON BLOUNT SHELBY ST. CLAIR ETOWAH TALLADEGA CAL- HOUN CHERO- KEE

8 WINSTON COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Free State. Sipsey. 80 The people of Winston County are known for their independent nature and openness to new ways of thinking. In 1968, after AT&T reserved the digits nationwide, Haleyville became the first municipality to answer an emergency call using the new number. Today, locals celebrate the event every June at the Festival. On the eve of the Civil War, the county caught national attention for a different kind of call. Most of the citizens made the decision to support the Union in the Civil War. While many petitioned to break away from Alabama completely, the county remained neutral, calling itself the Free State of Winston. Today, in Double Springs, visitors can see the Dual Destiny statue that honors both Union and Confederate soldiers from the area, or hike through the Land of a 1,000 Waterfalls in the Sipsey Wilderness, where Union supporters once sought refuge. 81 Musical waterfalls cascade through the William B. Bankhead National Forest, and not far up the road, the Natural Bridge stretches a full 150 feet over woodsy lowlands. Come see magnificent natural formations.

9 WALKER COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Bankheads. Deep Waters. Coal Fields. 82 Walker County s political roots run as deep as its clear waters and rich coal seams. Civil War hero John Hollis Bankhead was the patriarch of Alabama s unofficial first family. A prison warden turned U.S. congressman, and later U.S. senator, Bankhead passed his political dynasty on to his two eldest sons. John Hollis II was elected three times to the U.S. Senate and was a key supporter of President Roosevelt s New Deal. William was the 42 nd Speaker of the House and the father of legendary Hollywood actress Tallulah Bankhead. William B. Bankhead National Forest, a vast wooded preserve that borders the Lewis Smith Lake, is named for him. Many years ago, campers in this region lined a fire with black rocks that later glowed when touched by the flames. Their findings led to the discovery of the Warrior Coal Field, the second largest coal-producing area in North America. 83 Tallulah Bankhead s life was one big performance. On and off the stage, she captivated audiences with her carefree personality. She starred in Hitchcock s Lifeboat, Hellman s The Little Foxes, and other classics.

10 84 85 Miners forged a new economy for our state. They harvested all the raw Birmingham became one of the nation s top iron and coal producers. Retrace materials for iron and steel from our mineral-rich lands. our industrial heritage at Vulcan or Sloss Furnaces.

11 ETOWAH COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Waterfalls. Power. Great Vistas. Etowah County blends easily into the mountains and valleys of northeast Alabama. Waterfalls, rocky panoramas, and rushing river ways hold sacred tales of the brokenhearted and the brave. Noccalula Falls cascades 90 feet over a cliff and into a widely brimmed rock basin. Legends say a Cherokee princess leapt off the edge to escape an arranged marriage to the chief of a neighboring tribe. Her father was so grieved that he named the falls for her. A statue pays tribute to the princess in Noccalula Falls Park. On Big Will s Creek, near Attalla, William Patrick Lay built his first hydroelectric plant, just three years before establishing Alabama Power Company. Reliable access to electricity would ultimately change the lives of all Alabamians. Today, visitors can find hiking trails in Noccalula Falls Park that offer safe passage into the gorge and spectacular views along Lookout Mountain Parkway. 87 Camp Sibert was a World War II chemical weapons training facility. Fighter pilots and chemical warfare units trained there. Visit the Mort Glosser Amphitheater to see where troops once relaxed on weekends.

12 TALLADEGA COUNTY Appalachian Highlands CALHOUN COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Fast Lane. Marble City. Meteorite. War. Freedom Riders. Breaking News. 88 The Coosa River courses through Talladega County, setting the pace for a storied past. It s a long history that stretches back to the 1540s, when Spanish explorers passed through the area, and picks up speed in the 1960s when the Talladega Superspeedway first opened. Every fall, NASCAR crowds descend on Talladega for one of the nation s best races. Clouds of dust rise as racecars roar around breakneck curves and set record-breaking speeds. Sylacauga has earned its own claim to fame as the Marble City. Quarries hold tons of white marble, and the annual Marble Festival draws sculptors from around the world. But no earthly stone compares to the meteorite that hit Ann Hodges in She s the only recorded person to ever survive such an event. Discover DeSoto Caverns, explore the Talladega National Forest, or visit the Silk Stocking District in Talladega. World-changing events are close to home in Calhoun County. During World War II, more than 500,000 brave men trained for combat at Fort McClellan before fighting on the front lines against the Nazis. Years later, the Freedom Riders challenged injustice on the home front. The peaceful protesters, made up of both black and white riders, set out on a daring journey through the South. When they arrived in Anniston, they were met by an angry mob of Klansmen who slashed the bus s tires and set it on fire. Newspapers all over the nation covered the shocking violence, fueling the civil rights movement. The Anniston Star, a leading paper in the South, won awards for its bold opposition to segregation. Travel through history today at the Freedom Rider Murals, or explore faraway lands at the Anniston Museum of Natural History and the Berman Museum of World History. 89

13 SHELBY COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Bullseyes. Shiners. Muscadines. 90 Shelby County is widely admired for the mountains and rivers that punctuate its lush green landscape. From the cotton country of Wilsonville, Howard Hill emerged as the world s greatest archer. He made his mark performing daring stunts in Hollywood films, conquering big game on African safaris, and setting the world record for the farthest flight shot a soaring 391 yards. But he isn t the county s only claim to fame. The Cahaba Shiner, a light olive-colored fish, is only found one place on earth: in the waters of the Cahaba River. Shelby County offers something for everyone, from horseback riding in Oak Mountain State Park and tubing on the Cahaba to sipping on Alabama muscadine wine along the vineyard trail that stretches from Calera to Harpersville. Don t miss the American Village in Montevallo, a historical park where the Colonial Era comes to life for visitors of all ages. 91 Shelby County was the early site of both an east-west and a north-south railroad. The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera celebrates the golden age of railroads and the role they played in helping shape the state.

14 ST. CLAIR COUNTY Appalachian Highlands BLOUNT COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Lost Places. Old Homes. Boulders. Covered Bridges. Springs. Speakeasys. 92 As St. Clair County s past unfolds, forgotten places and rare relics are revealed. In the early 20 th century, well-to-do guests visited a luxury health resort in Cooks Springs. They sipped on fresh tonics, soaked in hot sulfur baths, and danced to a live band. The hotel and all its charm have disappeared, along with another historic landmark a few miles north. Fort Strother once stood on the Coosa River and served as General Andrew Jackson s headquarters during the Creek War of Only a stone marks the spot today, but one local architectural treasure endures. The John Looney Pioneer House is nearly 200 years old. Visitors can explore the two-story dogtrot home, experiencing history at every turn. Discover some of the nation s best bouldering at Horse Pens 40, climb the upping block in Ashville, or get away for a relaxing weekend at Logan Martin Lake near Pell City. Blount County sits quietly among the raging rivers and the rocky sandstone cliffs of the Appalachian foothills. This is Alabama s covered bridge capital. Three historic bridges still remain and hold stories of stolen kisses and shelter for storm-worn travelers. Some visitors were just passing through, while others came here seeking solace in the springs. The town of Blount Springs was once a grand resort destination for celebrities and socialites. Wealthy families traveled from all over the South to soak in the rich benefits of the mineral springs. Not too far away, crowds of a different sort gambled at roulette tables and gulped fresh moonshine at the speakeasy inside Bangor Cave. Today, the county s natural beauty invites visiting families to enjoy the miracle mile at Rickwood Caverns State Park, whitewater rafting on the Black Warrior River, and rock climbing at Palisades Park. 93

15 CULLMAN COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Strawberries. Shrines. Germans. 94 Cullman County is a sanctuary for sweet festivities, spiritual leaders, and big dreamers. Every spring, thousands of families come here to celebrate the county s fruitful farming heritage at the Strawberry Festival. It s a tasty tradition filled with music, a farmers market, and an abundance of strawberry treats. This area s agricultural origins date back to the 1870s, when German farming families arrived in search of a simpler life. On small plots of land, they built cabins, farmed, and planted the seeds for a crop-driven economy. Earthly bounties aren t the only blessings found here. A local nun set her sights high when she created the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville. Not far up the road, a German monk handcrafted tiny replicas of cities and shrines. See his collection at the Benedictine Abbey, or learn about the area s German heritage in Cullman. 95 When Mother Angelica envisioned a quiet place of spiritual refreshment in the countryside, a few anonymous donors helped bring her dream to life. The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a church and a monastery.

16 JEFFERSON COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Minerals. Movements. Reinvention. 96 Jefferson County has an action-packed history that is not to be missed and never to be forgotten. The Magic City of Birmingham s population exploded after prospectors discovered it to be the only place on earth where the three elements necessary to produce steel coal, iron ore, and limestone were naturally abundant. Decades later, this boomtown became a hotbed for the civil rights movement. The world watched in shock as violent acts were captured on film. The broadcast of these images prompted President John F. Kennedy to push for the creation of a broad civil rights bill. Out of a fiery past, this area rose from the ashes and created a lively arts and theater scene as well as a world-class medical research and healthcare hub. Today, locals and visitors enjoy a vibrant mix of musical events, outdoor recreation, and internationally noted cuisine. 97 Miss Fancy won many admirers in her years at the old Birmingham Zoo. Known to escape her pen, she roamed Avondale s streets freely. Locals hope to celebrate her mischievous ways with a life-size statue in Avondale Park.

17 98 99 Alabama forests attract up to 700,000 explorers every day. There are 667,000 acres of natural wonders set aside for all generations to enjoy.

18 CHEROKEE COUNTY Appalachian Highlands Rescues. Chiefs. Wilds. 100 Cherokee County is tucked away in a little-known corner of Alabama, but world-famous heroes and leaders have held strong ties to this land. Desmond Doss, a local man of faith, refused to carry a weapon during World War II. Japanese snipers targeted him with big guns, but Doss held his ground, never firing back. He rescued 75 men from behind enemy lines and received a Medal of Honor for his extraordinary courage. His legacy lives on in the city of Piedmont, where there is a highway named for him. Nearby, the Cherokee Nation founded one of its largest and most important settlements at Turkey Town on the banks of the Coosa River. Several powerful Cherokee chiefs lived in the settlement, including Little Turkey, Pathkiller, and John Ross. The land s prehistoric past runs deep at Little River Canyon National Preserve. It is one of the wildest untamed places in Alabama. 101 Cherokee Rock Village overlooks Weiss Lake. This gigantic maze of boulders attracts climbers and hikers from all over the nation. Come scale rocky cliffs, or explore Little River Canyon nearby.

19 Appalachian Highlands STAMP SITE LOCATIONS Blount County Blountsville Historical Park Blountsville Blount County Memorial Museum Oneonta Etowah County Etowah Heritage Museum Gadsden Mont Glosser Amphitheater Gadsden St. Clair County John W. Inzer Museum Ashville Ashville Museum and Archives Ashville Ritz Theatre Talladega Walker County Bankhead House Jasper 102 Calhoun County Janney Furnace Civil War and Native American Museum Ohatchee Anniston Museum of Natural History Anniston Berman Museum of World History Anniston Cherokee County Cherokee Rock Village Leesburg Cherokee County Historical Museum Centre Cullman County Ave Maria Grotto Cullman Cullman County Museum Cullman Weiss Cottage Cullman Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Hanceville Crooked Creek Civil War Museum Vinemont Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama Falkville Gadsden Museum of Art and History Gadsden Noccalula Falls Park Gadsden Jefferson County Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park McCalla West Jefferson County Pioneer Homes McCalla Arlington Antebellum House and Gardens Birmingham Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Birmingham Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum Birmingham Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Birmingham Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Birmingham Southern Museum of Flight Birmingham Vulcan Park and Museum Birmingham John Looney Pioneer House Museum Ashville Horse Pens 40 Steele Shelby County American Village Montevallo Aldrich Coal Mine Museum Montevallo Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum Calera Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington Columbiana Shelby County Museum and Archives Columbiana Talladega County Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall Talladega DeSoto Caverns Childersburg Kymulga Grist Mill and Covered Bridge Alpine Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and Warren Museum Talladega Alabama Mining Museum Dora Carl Elliott House Museum Jasper Nauvoo Depot Museum Nauvoo Winston County Natural Bridge Natural Bridge OTHER SITES TO SEE Blount County Horton Mill Bridge Oneonta Old Easley Covered Bridge Oneonta Swann Covered Bridge Cleveland Calhoun County Anniston Freedom Riders Murals Anniston Etowah County Emma Sansom Monument Gadsden 103 Discover more stamp sites on the PastPort app. Download it to your mobile device to find more information for your cross-county adventures in Alabama.

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21 THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION is pleased to bring you the Alabama Bicentennial PastPort. It is a once-in-a-lifetime gift to the students and citizens of our state. Many thanks to our corporate sponsors Mercedes- Benz, Verizon, Airbus, and Alabama NewsCenter for their tremendous generosity and support and to the institutions and individuals who have graciously granted access to historical images and artwork used throughout the piece. For a full list of contributors, please visit the Alabama PastPort app. Happy exploring! PASTPORT BOOK CREATED BY TATUM DESIGN

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