THE SHOALS-Alan Phillips, of Sheffield, was named the winner of this year’s Muscle Shoals National Heritage
Area’s photo contest.
Phillips’s entry of a Tennessee River bluff house decorated for a Fourth of July captured the
contest theme of “Landmarks & Legacies,” judges said.
Alan Phillips, second from left, won the 2026 Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area photo contest. Judges were, from left, Dr. Brien Smith, University of North Alabama provost & executive vice president; Dr. John Gurley, UNA director of the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs; and Brian Murphy, director of Florence Arts and Museums, which helpedsponsor the contest. (Photo courtesy MSNHA)
“This is the day before I host a July 4 party viewing of the fireworks on the river and I invite the
local fire department and police department as a ‘thank you’,” Phillips said. “As far as landmarks
go, it doesn’t get much better than the Singing River and the O’Neal Bridge.”
MSNHA Director Terah Klein announced Phillips as the winner and honored all entrants at the
recent photo-contest opening reception. Entries are framed and displayed in the MSNHA office,
541 W. College St., Florence.
“We invite everybody to come see these wonderful entries,” Klein said. “The talent in northwest
Alabama is astounding. Our office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the exhibit will
be up through December. We’d love for people to visit and admire our entrants’ work.”
Media Release/Cathy Wood
MSNHA media coordinator
