RED BAY-The traveling Smithsonian exhibit “The Way We worked” made its first stop at the quaint town of Red Bay at the Weatherford Centre. It will be on display until October 25, so you have limited time to see it. Along with the display is a display of Alabama Music and the Shoals is well represented. Part of the old Muscle Shoals City welcome sign that used to grace highway 43 coming into town is on display. It was found covering a whole over a barn, and from what I understand, cost the current owner an antique Corvette and quite a few other items.
Hours until October 25 are 9-5 Monday to Friday. www.redbaysmithsonian.org
I have to admit, I was a little disappointed, as I expected to see some of the Smithsonian’s collections as part of the 
exhibit. However the Red Bay Museum and the rest of the town didn’t disappoint. Buildings have been painted with murals depicting early times and businesses of Red Bay. Street corners and fronts of buildings have displays. The Museum has an extensive collection of memorabilia from the early businesses. For all of you Tammy Wynette fans, half of the top floor has a collection of her records, gowns, the gate from George and Tammy’s home, all collected by several of her fans in town. The railroad section of the museum has a poster from the town’s unsuccessful attempt to save their depot among the large collection. I’m just so proud that Tuscumbia’s Sepot is still standing.
The library next door to the Weatherford Centre has a fantastic collection of quilts on exhibit until October 25. One of Gee’s Bend quilts are on display along with a cathedral window tie quilt made by First Lady Dianne Bentley made from some of Governor Bentley’s ties. Oh interest to me was several quilts made out of T-shirts. I was thinking about making a quilt out of some of my old W C Handy T’s that have shrunk from all the washing they have been through over the years to the point they are too small, and this sold me on the idea.
Also as part of the Smithsonian exhibit, Cypress Cove Farm site of North Alabama Birding Trail site #51, has opened up 
part of the farm for show and tell of early farming practices until October 25th. A working grist mill, antique tractors, buggy, saw mill, blacksmith shop, old wagon wheels, a Vina wagon wheel hub can be seen. The saw mill was used in the documentary Muscle Shoals. On the way back from the saw mill, I spied some dragon flies and spent a while chasing them until I spied a yellow bellied water snake eating a frog and stopped to get a couple of pictures of it. The birding trail has a couple of easy walking trails, one around a mile going through the 200 acre farm.
Your itinerary for your day trip: Go south on highway 43 from the Shoals, stop at the Belle Mont mansion. Once you get to Russellville, take highway 24 west. Stop at the Cypress Cove Farm, then continue on 24 to Russellville, stop in the parking lot behind the Library. See the quilt exhibit and then go next door to the Weatherford Centre. From there take one of the golf cart shuttles to the Red Bay Museum and grab one back to the parking lot. Turn north on highway 247 after you leave Red Bay. Stop at the Coondog Cemetery and if open, the Rattlesnake Saloon. Take highway 72 back to 
the Shoals.
Oh course I had to stop and get some barn pictures.
