The stretch of the Tennessee River in Colbert County is associated with the name “Muscle Shoals.” The name is attributed to the strength of the river in this area and to several species of mussels.
Water, Name, and Scale
Wilson Reservoir offers 166 miles of shoreline and a water surface area of 15,500 acres. Fishing, boating, and camping are possible at the reservoir. The Wilson Reservoir Visitor Center is located off Reservation Road in Muscle Shoals. Since staffing and access may change, check current conditions before visiting.
Music as History
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving and honoring Alabama’s musicians and the state’s musical heritage. It is located at 617 Highway 72 West in Tuscumbia. In 1980, the Alabama state legislature established the state’s Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board. Its purpose was to honor the state’s significant musicians and create a facility to showcase their achievements.
FAME is a working recording studio and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It offers tours of about an hour through historic Studios A and B. Tour times and prices may change; check them before planning your visit. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio opened in early 1969. Its original location on Jackson Highway is in Sheffield.
Architectural Styles, Railroads, and Early Education
Belle Mont was completed in 1828 and is a significant example of Jeffersonian-Palladian architecture. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Since tour times may change, check them before your visit.
The buildings of Nitrate Village One were constructed in the Craftsman bungalow style. The Historic District Nitrate Village No. 1 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. By contrast, the Colbert County Courthouse Square Historic District features a variety of architectural styles. The Village School Foundation offers tours of the Village School Building for tourists and local residents; confirm tour arrangements in advance.
The Tuscumbia Railway was Alabama’s first railroad and the first railroad west of the Allegheny Mountains. The Tuscumbia Railway Museum is located in the restored Tuscumbia Depot and the adjacent locomotive shed. LaGrange College opened on January 11, 1830, enrolled 70 students, and was the first college in Alabama to receive a state charter. It has been listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage since 1976.
At the LaGrange Country Store, you can browse and buy goods from times past. Blacksmithing is demonstrated at the LaGrange Blacksmith Shop during school events and annual events. The Plantation Log Kitchen was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976; cooking demonstrations are held there occasionally.
Recurring Cultural Events
Ivy Green is designated a National Historic Landmark. Each summer, a theater company at Ivy Green reenacts the story of Helen, Annie, and the miracle that happened there; schedules vary.
The Oka Kapassa Festival takes place annually on the second full weekend in September at Spring Park in Tuscumbia; the specific dates vary from year to year. The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Native Americans who once lived in northern Alabama. The program includes performances of various traditional dances; vendors also offer Native American-inspired foods to sample. Check the specific festival dates if you are planning your visit around the event.
Discover more destinations: Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Shelby County, Dekalb County, Lee, Tallapoosa County and Madison.
Return to the main travel overview: Alabama.
