We Invite You to Experience the Magic of the Singing River, with Towns As Diverse in Character As the Attractions and Amenities They Offer
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We invite you to experience the magic of the Singing River, with towns as diverse in character as the attractions and amenities they offer. Visit Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield, collectively called “The Shoals”. Those who seek inspiration in the life of Helen Keller should visit her quaint Southern home, music lovers must visit the recording studios that gave Muscle Shoals the title of “hit recording capital of the world”. Nature lovers will find scenic vistas with canyons and waterfalls. You’ll discover a vibrant cultural scene offering art and architecture, music, parks, festivals and fun! Enjoy fishing Pickwick and Wilson Lakes or play a round of golf at The Shoals Robert Trent Jones Golf Course. Whatever you seek in a vacation, we offer it in a special place called The Shoals. 300 North Commons, W. , Tuscumbia The dramatic life and times of Helen Keller are preserved at her birthplace and childhood home, Ivy Green. The plantation home and birthplace cottage, dating back to the 1820’s, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Original furnishings of the Keller family decorate the home and museum, highlighted by hundreds of Miss Keller’s personal mementos, books and gifts from her lifetime of travel and lectures for the betterment of the world’s blind and deaf-blind. Hours M – Sa 8:30 am – 4 pm. (256) 383-4066. Admission. www.helenkellerbirthplace.org “The Miracle Worker” Play Alabama’s official outdoor drama, continues to inspire and captivate audiences from around the world every June through mid-July since 1961. William Gibson’s play dramatizes the efforts 617 U.S. Highway 72 West, Tuscumbia 603 East Avalon Ave., Muscle Shoals of teacher Anne Sullivan to open the world of communication to The outstanding achievements and the music of Alabamians are FAME, established in 1959, was the first successful, professional 7-year-old blind and deaf Helen Keller. STS* Top 20 and ABA* Top presented in this state museum. “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy, recording studio in Alabama. Arthur Alexander’s 1961 hit, “You 100 Event. For tickets call 256-383-4066. “Father of Rock and Roll” Sam Phillips and Percy Sledge (“When a Better Move On,” cut here, launched the famous Muscle Shoals Man Loves a Woman”), all Shoals natives, are among the prestigious sound. The internationally acclaimed documentary, “Muscle Shoals” inductees. You’ll hear rocking rhythms and soul touching melodies released in 2013, told the story of FAME and its’ founder, Rick Hall. as you admire the vast memorabilia from the lives and careers of more Releases from FAME have sold over 300 million copies world-wide. than 1,000 stars, representing all styles of America’s music. (256) (256) 381-0801. www.fame2.com. Admission. 381-4417. www.alamhof.org. Hours: T-Sa 9 am-5 pm. Admission. 1000 Alabama Ave., Sheffield Founded in 1978, this was the second 3614 Jackson Highway, Sheffield location of the legendary Muscle Established in 1969 by a group of Shoals Sound Studio for over 25 years, former FAME session musicians, this where the “Swampers” continued was the location where the Rolling to record hits after moving from their Jackson Highway location. Stones, Cher, Bob Segar, Rod Stewart, Recording artists including Bob Segar, Bob Dylan, Dr. Hook, Etta Paul Simon, Art Garfunkle, and many James, The Oak Ridge Boys, Julian Lennon, Glenn Frey and countless others created some of the most popular hits of the 1970’s. The others. (256) 764-1434 or (256) 335-6961. Known for our rocking Muscle Shoals music and as the birthplace of America’s First Lady rhythm section was eventually immortalized as “The Swampers” by www.CypressMoonProduction.com. Admission. of Courage, Helen Keller, we invite you to visit the Muscle Shoals area for an authentically Lynyrd Skynyrd in the lyrics to “Sweet Home Alabama.” NEARBY: W.C. Handy Home, Museum, & Library southern experience. Whether it is dining in one of our local eateries, shopping in a lovingly (256) 394-3562. www.MSMusicFoundation.org. Admission. 620 W. College St., Florence (256) 760-6434. Admission. preserved downtown district in Tuscumbia or Sheffield filled with a variety of merchandise in antique stores, gift shops, and fashionable ladies clothing boutiques, or strolling through Tuscumbia’s scenic Spring Park to enjoy the musically choreographed Water Show, we know you can experience a taste of true southern culture in our area. During your visit, please stop in our Visitors Center, located conveniently next door to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia for friendly, local advice, free brochures, and area maps. Also, be sure to ask for discount coupons to some of our local attractions. No matter where your visit leads you, you will find friendly people, small town charm, and sites authentically Southern. Please visit our website for a complete list of current and upcoming events. Tennessee Valley Museum of Art 511 North Water St. , Tuscumbia Spring/Summer: This regional art center is a venue for April: Saturday Morning Walking Tours cultural activities. Galleries provide May: Recall LaGrange at Historic Lagrange College Site Park annual and rotating exhibits as well Chuck Wagon Races at Seven Springs as workshops for adults and children. June: The Miracle Worker Play The permanent exhibition of the Martin Petroglyph, a 3,000 Helen Keller Festival pound boulder with carvings completed by prehistoric people, is on display in a replicated bluff shelter setting. (See website for Muscle Shoals Street Rod Festival Rotating Exhibit and Workshop Schedule.) (256) 383-0533. African Heritage Festival www.tvaa.net. Admission. M-F, 9am – 5pm; Sun, 1-3 pm, Free on July: The Miracle Worker Play Sundays. Saddle Up for St. Jude W.C Handy Music Festival The Ritz Theatre 111 West 3rd St., Sheffield Built in 1927, this former silent movie house was renovated in 1985, Fall/Winter Historic Tuscumbia Belle Mont Mansion preserving the original 1930’s art deco interior. The theatre is September: Oka Kapassa Return to Cold Water One of Alabama’s Best 1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia now home to a vibrant community performing arts program. (See American Indian Festival Collections of 19th century architecture from One of early Alabama’s crowning architectural achievements, this is website for Production and Film Calendar.) (256) 383-0533. Labor Day in Spring Park one of the most outstanding Palladian-style houses in the Deep South. www.tvaa.net the antebellum period. The town of Tuscumbia is centered by its The Coon Dog Labor Day Celebration quaint downtown, which includes the majestic Colbert County The mansion has a raised, two-story central section with flanking, one- Courthouse, a restored train depot, early churches and many story wings and a U-shaped floor plan that embraces a courtyard. NEARBY: November: Christmas in the Country historic homes. More than 50 buildings remain from the Antebellum (256) 381-5052. www.preserveala.org. Open W-Sa, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission. Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, 217 Tuscaloosa St., December: Trees of Christmas period. A 6-block area along Main Street holds some of Alabama’s Florence. (256) 760-6379 A Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont Mansion earliest commercial buildings, including the Sutherland Building LaGrange College Site Park Florence. (256) 765-5122 1491 LaGrange College Rd., Leighton Shoals Symphony at UNA, Dickens Christmas Ya’ll Festival and Commercial Row. The south end of Main Street culminates at Established in 1830 as Alabama’s first college, LaGrange became The Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary St., Florence. (256) 764-1700 Spring Park, site of the town’s founding (c.1817). Chickasaw Chief known as “The West Point of the South.” In 1863, the college was Tuscumbia was honored by early white settlers in the naming of destroyed by Union forces. A pioneer village has been recreated at the town. National Register Historic District. Specialty shops and the site to include a welcome center and museum, chapel, and Log Stage production of Les Misérables restaurants now occupy many of these historic buildings. Cabin B&B. www.lagrangehistoricsite.com. Park open daily 9am – 5pm; at The Ritz Theatre. (Photo credit: Joe and Valerie Romans) Historic Sheffield Center staffed Sun, 1-4 pm. Donations. (256) 446-9324 North Montgomery Avenue with its wide, tree-lined streets is Tuscumbia Railway Depot the setting for many historic homes in Sheffield. The city was & Museum incorporated in 1885 and soon after, fine Victorian homes were built, 204 W. 5th St., Tuscumbia followed by large, craftsman style bungalows. National Register This 1888 restored passenger Historic District. Specialty shops, restaurants, and entertainment depot was utilized by both the venues now occupy many buildings in the historic commercial Memphis and Charleston and district. Southern Railway companies. Today, it is a museum dedicated Village One - Sheffield to its’ memorabilia. Tuscumbia This planned community of 85 bungalows, barracks, school, and boasts the first railroad west parks was built as government of the Appalachian Mountains. defense housing in 1918. The (256) 389-1357. Admission. streets were laid out in an unusual Liberty Bell design. The Nearby: Frank Lloyd Wright-Rosenbaum Home, 601 Riverview Dr., Florence. houses feature red tile roofs Admission. (256) 740-8899 and stucco exteriors. National Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Dr., Florence. Admission. Register Historic District. (256) 760-6349 Whippoorwill Park 1201 N. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield This 44-acre, wooded park is accessed within the historic downtown residential district and was laid out in the original town of Sheffield in 1884. Home to many species of wild flowers and plants, it is a bird sanctuary. Vietnam Memorial on site. UNIQUE & OUTDOORS Hawk Pride Mountain Off-Road Park 3834 Hawk Pride Mountain Rd, Tuscumbia This privately owned park offers a wide variety of offroading spread over 1,000 NATURE WALKS & CYCLING acres.