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 Tennessee Valley overflows with remarkable world-changing moments that define our story. Alabama s earliest settlers poured in through the Cumberland Gap, lured by fertile soils, vast stretches of land, and the Tennessee River. They built great plantations along the shoreline and farmed cotton and corn crops. Indian nations, pioneers, and future presidents traveled the Old Natchez Trace. Some historians believe that Spanish explorers charted their journey over Sand Mountain. Rock n roll legends recorded worldfamous hits. Tireless activists changed the course of history. And rocket scientists put man on the moon. The state s first constitution, railroads, and protected wilderness all started here. Our intriguing story winds through the area s beautiful landscapes and unfolds with every new and exciting discovery. LAUDERDALE COLBERT FRANKLIN LAWRENCE LIME- STONE MORGAN MADISON MARSHALL JACKSON DEKALB

8 COLBERT COUNTY Tennessee Valley Hits. Howlers. Helen. 12 The voices of Colbert County have inspired the world. Muscle Shoals was once a sleepy spot on the banks of the Singing Tennessee River. But when local music producer Rick Hall opened Fame Studios, he tapped into a new kind of sound, the Muscle Shoals Sound. It was gritty, raw, and magical. And it transformed the town into a creative hub for some of the greatest musicians on earth. Artists recorded such legendary tracks as Mustang Sally and Wild Horses here. But this area is also well known for its tribute to a more primal sound. In a sacred area of Freedom Hills, there s a coon dog cemetery where howling hunting dogs from all over the nation are laid to rest. Not too far down the road, visitors can also explore Ivy Green in Tuscumbia. This quaint cottage is the childhood home of Helen Keller, one of the most courageous and outspoken activists of the 20 th century. 13 Helen Keller, a blind and deaf heroine, opened the world s eyes to social injustice. Her brave journey and legacy of advocating for workers rights and women s suffrage come to life in her book The Story of My Life.

9 MAJESTIC WORLDS FULL OF RARE CREATURES, ANCIENT BEAUTY & SCIENTIFIC WONDERS AWAIT.

10 MARSHALL COUNTY Tennessee Valley Big Fish. Big Digs. Big Caves. 16 Marshall County is an outdoor paradise for avid fishermen and families. Locals reel in record-breaking catches on the lake, and their fish tales can grow to even greater lengths. Seasoned anglers and first-timers dazzle friends with larger-than-life accounts. But one fantastic story is true without a doubt. Lake Guntersville is full of hidden treasures. When Guntersville Dam was built, the Tennessee River flooded thousands of acres, including croplands, trees, and Native American sites. Before these waters flowed, archaeologists excavated many of the sites, recovering artifacts and uncovering new details about the area s ancient societies. Even older mysteries are sealed away in Cathedral Caverns. This prehistoric palace claims to have the world s largest cave entrance and features rock forests and frozen waterfall formations. Visit Guntersville Museum to see Cherokee relics. 17 Lake Guntersville is one of the best bass lakes in the country. Fishermen set world records here. A few highlights include a 14 lb. 8 oz. largemouth bass, a 57 lb. buffalo, and a 92 lb. grass carp.

11 LIMESTONE COUNTY Tennessee Valley Fiddle-offs. Fights. Picket Fences. LAUDERDALE COUNTY Tennessee Valley Relics. Tunes. Rosenbaum. 18 Limestone County is brimming with rich history and tradition. Every fall, thousands of bluegrass fans flock to the Fiddlers Convention. It s a weekend full of fiddles, food, and big fun. But gatherings here haven t always been so festive. Two centuries ago, fertile dirt, level land, and the big waters of the Tennessee River lured the first settlers into what was Chickasaw and Cherokee territory. Their arrival provoked violent clashes with the Chickasaw Indians. Decades later, during the Civil War, more hostile conflicts played out, including the infamous Sack of Athens. Today, visitors can retrace the steps of Civil War soldiers on Rails to Trails in downtown Elkmont or sample locally made cheeses at Belle Chevre. Step further back in time in the tiny, historic town of Mooresville. Its charming streets are lined with old homes, lush gardens, and white picket fences. Lauderdale County is a place of many marvels. Prehistoric Native Americans left behind ancient earthen mounds along the shores of the Tennessee River. Although most were destroyed during dam construction, the largest mound still stands a towering 42 feet tall. The Shoals area is also famous for taking music to mega heights. In the early 1900s, Florence-born W.C. Handy became known as the Father of the Blues when he turned a local style of music into a soulful sound heard around the world. Decades later, Sam Phillips left his hometown of Florence to open Sun Studio in Memphis. He earned the title Father of Rock n Roll after discovering Elvis and other musical legends. Today, visitors can explore the Indian Mound and Museum, or tour the historic Rosenbaum House designed in the 1930s by America s premier architect Frank Lloyd Wright. 19

12 MADISON COUNTY Tennessee Valley Space. Constitution. New South. 20 Madison County is home to the Rocket City of Huntsville, where brilliant minds built the rockets that put man on the moon. Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team of scientists launched the U.S. into the Space Age. But Huntsville isn t just famous for championing new frontiers. Long ago, it was a flourishing new settlement that became a center of early state politics. Lawmakers drafted the state s first constitution here. King Cotton reigned from the antebellum period, through alternating Confederate and Union occupation during the Civil War, and well into the 20 th century. Under its lush regime, one of the most elegant health resorts in the New South crowned the top of Monte Sano Mountain. Celebrities traveled from far and wide to soak in the cool air and big views. Today, the area continues to inspire new generations of rocket scientists, creative thinkers, and innovators. 21 Forty-four delegates argued, wrote, and rewrote drafts of Alabama s first constitution in a local cabinet shop. The document paved the way to statehood. Follow the founders journey at Alabama Constitution Village.

13 I V E R S I A L A B A M A R A N K S F I R S T I N T H E N A T I O N F O R F R E S H W A T E R F I S H, M U S S E L, T U R T L E & S N A I L B I O D 22 T Y. 23

14 S K Y L I N E F A R M S 1934 JACKSON COUNTY Tennessee Valley Farms. Trials. Underworlds. 24 Jackson County is full of natural wonders, and its story is deeply tied to the land. During the Great Depression, the federal government created a community-farming project to help farmers get back on their feet. Skyline Farms offered a fresh start and encouraged arts, crafts, and music. People spent days working in the fields and nights making music that rang throughout the hills. Not far down the road, a famous court case shook the foundations of racism in the South. The Scottsboro Boys Trial riveted the world with its surprising twists and turns, and ultimately transformed the nation s justice system. Retrace the landmark case at the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center. Hike through the Grand Canyon of the South at the Walls of Jericho, or journey inside one of the 1,500 local charted caves. The area has more caves than any other county in the nation. 25 The Skyline Farms String Band was invited to play music for President Franklin Roosevelt and the First Lady at a White House garden party. Pennsylvania Avenue hummed with festive sounds as the Alabamians fiddled and danced.

15 DEKALB COUNTY Tennessee Valley MORGAN COUNTY Tennessee Valley Sequoyah. Socks. Scenery. Banks. Birds. Balloons. 26 In mountainous DeKalb County, the views are vast, and the history follows a rocky path. This beautiful land once belonged to the Cherokee Nation. Oral stories kept their rich culture alive for hundreds of years. Sequoyah, a famous tribesman, created the Cherokee alphabet so that they could forever preserve their traditions. In 1838, the federal government uprooted Cherokee families and forced them to move west along the Trail of Tears. Many Cherokees did not survive the long, harsh journey. Fertile valleys and scenic mountains drew new settlers to the area. In the early 20 th century, the sock mill industry began to thrive, and Fort Payne became the Sock Capital of the World the largest single location of sock manufacturing in America. Today, explorers come here to take in the history and the wonders of Little River Canyon, DeSoto Falls, and the snowy slopes of Mentone. Morgan County is home to the River City of Decatur. The town took shape on the banks of the Tennessee River and emerged as a strategic shipping center. During the Civil War, the Union and Confederacy battled to control its railroads and rivers, and left only a few buildings standing. The Old State Bank survived, but its glory days as one of original branches of Alabama s State Bank came to an end. The bank building is preserved along with other architectural gems in and around neighborhood historic districts. Native flora and fauna are also protected here. The Tennessee River is home to the rarest cavefish in the nation. Visit Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge to see diverse plant and animal species, including the state s largest wintering duck population. Come Memorial Day, watch as dozens of colorful balloons fill the skies at the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic. 27 Sequoyah

16 FRANKLIN COUNTY Tennessee Valley Melons. Engines. Glowworms. 28 Franklin County is sweet-tooth heaven when the Watermelon Festival is in full swing. Fresh slices are piled onto picnic tables, and crowds gather to cheer on the winner of the seed-spitting contest. But nearly two centuries ago, locals rooted for a different champion. Alabama s first working rail line got its start here. Railroad cars heaped with cotton chugged along with a conductor at the helm. Early times were exciting and sometimes dangerous in these wild parts. Dismals Canyon became a hideout for outlaws such as Jesse James and former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. Today, the area is a registered National Natural Landmark. Waterfalls fill the canyon, and rare glowing insects light up the night sky. Explore every nook of the canyon, or go canoeing on Bear Creek. Be sure to visit the Old Cedar Creek Furnace, but beware: Some say it s haunted. 29 Dismalites, tiny bioluminescent creatures, are only found a few places on earth. Their bodies emit a blue-green glow to attract food. Hike in Dismals Canyon to see its shining stars or camp nearby for a peaceful getaway.

17 LAWRENCE COUNTY Tennessee Valley Medals. Artifacts. Fightin Joe. 30 Lawrence County has a long history of perseverance and preservation. Oakville native Jesse Owens spent his track and field career racing against the odds. He set records, broke racial boundaries, and captured hearts around the world. Owens blazed past oppression in Nazi Germany, winning four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. As the world s fastest man, he returned home a hero and a forerunner for equality in sports. Centuries earlier, Native Americans performed phenomenal feats of their own. Experts believe the Oakville Indian Mounds are about 2,000 years old. Visitors can explore the Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center, which holds a 12-foot statue of Sequoyah and thousands of Native American artifacts. Or visitors can tour Pond Spring, the home of Fightin Joe Wheeler, a Confederate general, U.S. congressman, and Spanish-American War general. 31 The Sipsey Wilderness is an enduring natural treasure thanks to the determined efforts of conservationists in the 1960s. Discover rare birds, trees, and aquatic life deep in this unspoiled oasis.

18 O U R A L A B A M A State Reptile: Alabama Red-Bellied Turtle 2. State Insect: Monarch Butterfly 3. State Tree Fruit: Peach State Tree: Southern Longleaf Pine 5. State Nut: Pecan State Butterfly & Mascot: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 7. State Gemstone: Star Blue Quartz 8. State Flower: Camellia 9. State Agricultural Insect: Queen Honeybee 10. State Flag: Flag of Alabama 11. State Bird: Northern 33 Flicker 12. State Wildflower: Oak-Leaf Hydrangea State Shell: Johnstone s Junonia 14. State Capital: Montgomery 15. State Mammal: Black Bear 16. State 18. Fruit: Blackberry 17. State Freshwater Fish: Largemouth Bass 18. State Rock: Marble 19. State Amphibian: Red Hills Salamander 20. State Saltwater Fish: Fighting Tarpon 21. State Crustacean: Brown Shrimp 21.

19 Tennessee Valley Highlands STAMP SITE LOCATIONS 34 Colbert County Alabama Music Hall of Fame Tuscumbia Belle Mont Mansion Tuscumbia Ivy Green, Helen Keller s Birthplace Tuscumbia LaGrange College Site Park Leighton FAME Recording Studio Muscle Shoals Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery Cherokee Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Sheffield DeKalb County ALABAMA Fan Club and Museum Fort Payne Fort Payne Opera House Fort Payne Fort Payne Depot Museum Fort Payne Franklin County Red Bay Museum Red Bay Dismals Wonder Garden and Canyon Campbell Jackson County Russell Cave National Monument Bridgeport Bridgeport Train Depot Museum Bridgeport Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center Scottsboro Scottsboro-Jackson Heritage Center Scottsboro Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum Stevenson Lauderdale County Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence Pope's Tavern Museum Florence W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum, and Library Florence Sacred Way Sanctuary Florence Lawrence County Courtland Heritage Museum Courtland Pond Spring, The General Joe Wheeler Home Hillsboro Jesse Owens Memorial Park and Museum Danville Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center Danville Limestone County The Donnell House Athens Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives Athens Mooresville Alabama Post Office Mooresville Madison County Harrison Brothers Hardware Huntsville Alabama Constitution Village Huntsville Howard Weeden House Museum Huntsville Veterans Memorial Museum Huntsville North Alabama Railroad Museum Huntsville U.S. Space and Rocket Center Huntsville Burritt on the Mountain Huntsville Alabama War Museum Madison Marshall County Albertville Museum Albertville Arab Historic Village Arab The Colonel Montgomery Gilbreath House Guntersville Guntersville Museum Guntersville Cathedral Caverns State Park Woodville Morgan County Blue and Gray Museum of North Alabama Decatur Historic Decatur Union Train Depot Decatur Morgan County Archives Decatur Old State Bank Decatur Rhodes Ferry Park and Cherokee Trailhead Decatur 35 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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