COLBERT COUNTY-The Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau is inviting Shoals residents and visitors to celebrate Alabama’s Bicentennial with walks through historic downtown Tuscumbia and Sheffield.
Alabama’s Bicentennial began in 2017 and culminates this year with celebrations and events across the state. Alabama became a state on Dec. 14, 1819.
A series of free walking tours in the towns begin Saturday, April 6 and continue on April 13, 20 and 27. Each of the hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. The Tuscumbia tours begin outside Cold Water Bookstore, 101 W. Sixth St. The Sheffield tours begin at the Municipal Building, 600 N. Montgomery Ave. The tours will be led by local historians.
Susann Hamlin, president and CEO of Colbert County Tourism, said Sheffield
and Tuscumbia are among the most historic in Alabama. “Tuscumbia and Sheffield both have rich histories. The tours provide a great opportunity to learn about the history of our cities and to commemorate our state’s bicentennial.”
The Tuscumbia tours are organized by Colbert County Tourism. The Sheffield tours are organized by the Historic Sheffield Commission.
Jimmy Austin, who coordinates the Sheffield tours, said the walks provide an opportunity to learn about early residents of the city and the history of its homes and other buildings.
The April 6 Tuscumbia tour, led by Ron Hudson, will focus on two historic churches, St. John’s Episcopal, built in 1852 and First Presbyterian, built in 1828. The theme of the April 13 tour, led by John McWilliams, will be The Settlement Around Big Spring. The settlement developed around 1817. It grew into a town known as Ococoposa, that is now Tuscumbia.
The building of a historic town, will be the focus of the April 20 Tuscumbia tour. Tour leader McWilliams will share stories about the early settlers who came to Tuscumbia to start businesses and will include stops at Mechanics’ Row and Commercial Row stores.
Governing a town and county, will be the theme of the April 27 tour. McWilliams will lead the tour, that will include a stop at the Colbert County Courthouse.
The walking tours are a part of an Alabama Tourism Department initiative and will take place throughout the state.
Hamlin said walking tour participants should wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather that day. For more details on the Sheffield or Tuscumbia tours call 256-383-0783 or go to the website, www.colbertcountytourism.org and see the Calendar of Events.
