National Heritage Areas (Non-Units) - Alabama

Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area

10/15/2017 continuing northwest to the Muscle Shoals area for five sites in the eponymous NHA including NHLs and an NPS site: Wilson Dam NHL The dam, eventually part of the TVA, submerged the Muscle Shoals, opening the upper Tennessee River for navigation with the highest single lift lock east of the Rockies. [Here we were also on the Muscle Shoals NRT.] W. C. Handy Birthplace The Father of the Blues, William Christopher Handy, was born in Florence in 1873 in a simple cabin. Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House (Florence) A single-family house designed by the architect and built for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum in Florence, it is a noted example of his Usonian house concept, it is the only Wright building in Alabama. Ivy Green NHL (Florence) The childhood home of Helen Keller, the simple white clapboard house was built in 1820 and includes the well pump where Keller first communicated with Anne Sullivan. This site was a little lame for us in that the fenced grounds were closed and we had to take photos across the parking lot - oh well, they can't all be gems. Trail of Tears NHT (AL) In Spring Park in Tuscumbia we enjoyed the overall setting with a little lake and fountains, and beautiful waterfall/cascades, but our destination was the Trail of Tears statue. Creek Indians began to pass through Tuscumbia on their way west as early as 1827 - Tuscumbia's citizens' positive acceptance and care of the Indians as they were moving through the area saved many lives, and is a proud part of the city's heritage. The statue depicts an Indian woman holding her baby in one arm, while the other hand is resting on the cross of a loved one who has just died while marching along the Trail of Tears.

Wilson Dam info ...

... and the Dam

Handy Birthplace

Historical sign

Me and Ken by a sculpture ...

... and Ken chillin'

Wright House sign

One view ...

... and another

A closer look

Ivy Green signs ...

... and the front of the home

A look around back

A closer look ...

... and the famous pump

Spring Park

The falls and NHT area

Me taking photos of ...

... the informational signage

Trail of Tears statue

Details of ...

... the statue

The falls ...

... with me and Ken