A home in Florence brings Lauderdale County’s architectural history to life: the Rosenbaum House is the only building in Alabama designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright also designed the original furnishings in the house. Tours last about 30 to 45 minutes; check tour details before your trip.
Architecture, Museums and Music History
Pope’s Tavern tells another chapter of local history. The two-room brick house was built in the 1830s and expanded into an inn in the 1850s. Pope’s Tavern Museum features exhibits about slavery, the Civil War, medicine, food preparation and everyday life in the 19th century. Workshops and programs explore how to learn from the past. If you want to take part in a specific program, check the dates in advance; exhibits may change.
Florence Mound takes you further back in time: Indigenous peoples built it nearly 1,700 years ago and used it as a ceremonial gathering place. The museum at the foot of the mound serves as an educational center that brings cultural practices together. Offerings include presentations, workshops and lessons for children; there is also a garden of native plants.
The area’s musical history is also on display at the W. C. Handy Birthplace Museum. William Christopher Handy was born in 1873 in a simple cabin in Florence, which now houses his museum. Visitors can see a piano associated with the first performance of “St. Louis Blues,” as well as handwritten sheet music. Exhibits may change. For more insight into local music and history, the Mavis Tour Bus offers a Florence City History Tour, a Shoals Studio Tour and a Shoals Music Tour each week; check the current schedule in advance.
Art and Events
The Kennedy-Douglass Art Center comprises three historic buildings with exhibition galleries, workshop studios and outdoor spaces for hands-on learning. Every May, the Kennedy-Douglass Arts Volunteers host Arts Alive, a two-day art festival. Since dates and programming matter when planning a trip, it’s worth checking the latest event information in advance.
Waterloo also connects history and the present: Waterloo Landing is considered the place where the Trail of Tears march ended and boats were loaded for the journey west. Each year, the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride ends in Waterloo with an outdoor festival featuring live music and a powwow. In St. Florian City Park, St. Florian Oktoberfest offers food and live music; dates and programming may change.
For a break in historic downtown Florence, visit The Carriage Wine & Market, a wine bar and retail shop. Offerings include wine, beer, artisan cheese, specialty grocery items, fresh-cut flowers and products from local farms. The selection may vary.
Waterfront Trails and Protected Landscapes
McFarland Park lies between the Tennessee River and downtown Florence. A paved, lighted jogging path loops around the harbor. The approximately 1.3-mile River Heritage Trail runs along the channel on the Tennessee River, connecting its starting point to Patton Island Overlook. Interpretive signs and several viewpoints line the trail.
On the shore of Wheeler Lake in Rogersville, 2,550-acre Joe Wheeler State Park offers hiking and mountain biking trails. Its campground has 116 sites, 110 of which have full water, electricity and sewer hookups. Site counts and amenities may change; check them before planning your trip.
The 298-acre Shoal Creek Preserve features fallow fields, mature deciduous forest stands on higher ground and scenic creek bottoms. Two hiking trails total 4.3 miles. At Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge, 2.5 miles of roads and trails are open for hiking. The refuge protects the only known population of the Alabama cavefish. The 1,060 acres are open to the public from sunrise to sunset; it’s a good idea to check visitor information before your visit, as refuge rules may change.
Discover more destinations: Florence, Killen, Covington County, Walker, Lee, Montgomery, Dallas County and Clarke County.
Go to the main travel overview: Alabama.
