Year-Round
Guided tours are offered by appointment only, Monday - Friday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00. Self-guided tours anytime Monday-Friday, no appointment needed. Guided Saturday Tours are offered at 9:00, 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00 (group reservation requested but not required).
Call Lisa Franklin,
Site Director, at
334-242-3188 for more information.
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June 24
Art of the Dish. For more information call
256-383-4401.
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June 29
Garden Mosaic Stepping Stone Workshop from 6:00-8:00pm. For more information call
334-624-8618.
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July 4
Salute to American Independence. Special-guided tours will be conducted throughout the day by historical interpreters dressed in U.S. Army uniforms from different eras of the Fort's occupation. For more information please call
251-540-7127.
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July 5,12,19,26
Watch Fort Morgan's Civil War history come to life every Tuesday during the summer. Historical interpreters portraying members of the garrison tell about the lives of the soldiers during the fort's most turbulent years. For more information please call
251-540-7127.
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July 21-23
Public Archaeology Days. For more information call
334-872-8058.
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Public Archaeology Days at Old Cahawba
Join us for three days of investigation, presentations, and discovery of the mysterious town of
Old Cahawba
. Lunch will be provided on Thursday and Saturday for all
pre-registered participants
. Water will be available but you are advised to also bring your own.
To pre-register, click
here
or call 334-230-2690.
Please dress appropriately for excavation
.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER #OCdig2016.
WHEN:
July 21st- July 23rd, 2016, 10:00am - 4:00pm
WHERE:
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, Orrville (near Selma). Directions: From downtown Selma, take Highway 22 (Dallas Avenue) west 8.6 miles. Cross over the Cahaba River and turn left onto County Road 9 and follow this 3.3 miles until it dead ends. Turn left onto County Road 2 and follow this 1.5 miles until you see the Welcome Center on the right. Welcome Center Address: 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville, AL 36767.
SERIES OF EVENTS:
Daily Excavations at Old Cahawba's State House lot from 10:00am-4:00pm o Excavations will have a brief pause from 12:00-1:30pm for lunch and a lecture.
Daily Tours of Downtown Old Cahawba starting at 10:00am
: $8 per person
Daily Lectures at 1 p.m. occurring near the Statehouse Lot
"Lunch in Learn" in conjunction with the Selma and Dallas County Chamber
Lecturer: Mr. Thomas Kaufmann
Historical Architect, Tuskegee University
In the Federal Style: The Architecture of the State House at Old Cahawba
Mr. Kaufmann's presentation will explore the origins of the Architecture of the State House at Old Cahawba during early America's most formative building epoch during the late to early 19th century, and why it was executed in the Federal Style.
Dr. Virgil Beasley
Cultural Resources Investigator, Office of Archaeological Research
The Usage of Ground Penetrating Radar at Old Cahawba
Dr. Beasley will be discussing the remote sensing program being conducted at Old Cahawba, and how Ground Penetrating Radar is used in archaeology to conduct non-intrusive investigations. The presentation will use examples from the ongoing project, including the discoveries at the State House, the moat, and the cemeteries.
Ms. Linda Derry
Site Director, Old Cahawba, Alabama Historical Commission
What was Govenor Bibb thinking when he created Alabama's first State House at Cahawba?
Ms. Derry will reveal how archaeology has opened a window to the inner workings of Governor Bibb's mind. New finds reveal that the setting Bibb created for Alabama's First State House was imaginative, highly symbolic, amazingly clever, and that some of Alabama's bicentennial history needs to be corrected in light of this new evidence.
- Artifact Display and Children's Craft Tables Saturday, July 23rd, 2016, 10:00am-4:00pm
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National Alliance of Preservation Commissions 10th Biennial FORUM
July 27 to 31 - The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions is proud to present the 10th Biennial FORUM in Mobile, Alabama.
As the only national conference focused on the issues facing local historic preservation boards and commissions, FORUM 2016 includes dozens of educational sessions and discussion panels, mobile workshops and tours, and five days of non-stop networking for commission staff and volunteers representing local, state and national organizations and government agencies.
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Archaeology at Pond Spring: The General Joe Wheeler Home
During the first week of June 2016, AHC archaeologists Eric Sipes and William Lowe conducted an archaeological investigation of a disturbed area and an associated push pile near the main entrance to AHC's historic site,
Pond Spring: The General Joe Wheeler's House, in Lawrence County, Alabama.
Disturbed area and associated push pile
The purpose of this investigation was to document the extent of previous
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Screened dirt pile and resulting artifacts |
disturbance in this portion of the property, and to remove artifacts from the dirt pile. To accomplish this, soil from the pile was screened and the resulting artifacts were returned to AHC's main office in Montgomery for processing.
During the course of the investigation, archaeologists recovered prehistoric lithic (stone
tools and other chipped stone artifacts) and ceramic artifacts associated with the Native American occupations at Pond Spring, as well as historical artifacts dating from the early nineteenth through twentieth centuries. Once these artifacts are processed and cataloged, they will be returned to Pond Spring for curation.
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Push pile is now gone |
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| Recovered lithic |
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Where in the State are the AHC Staff?
AHC staff attended the
University of Alabama Expedition Media Day at Gulf Shores State Park. Pictured here is
Brandon Thompson (Office of Archaeological Research) discussing excavation results to Expedition guests.
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Happenings at #AHCsites
Cemetery Walking Tour at Old Cahawba
A crew of archaeologists from the Office of Archaeological Reserach (University of Alabama) are on site at Old Cahawba. The Alabama Historical Commission has contracted with them to discover all the ruins on newly acquired land and to create a base map of the ghost town.
Visitors gather at
Fort Morgan for the Tuesday Evening Civil War Tours
Students from the University of Alabama in Huntsville recently completed a project at Pond Spring: The General Joe Wheeler Home. While completing a Public Memory & Interpretation class, the students researched and designed an educational program for Pond Spring.
Belle Mont Mansion is currently hosting "
Art of the Dish: Antique & Vintage China Accessories Exhibit" Thursday - Saturday, June 23-25. For more information or to order tickets, please contact Ninon Parker at 256-383-4401, [email protected], or Belle Mont Mansion at 256-381-5052.
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AHC Employee to Discuss Current Research
Mark your calendars for
Landmark Park's Annual Heritage Forum Series beginning in July.
On July 17 at 3:00pm, Ned Jenkins, research archaeologist at Alabama Historical Commission's historic Fort Toulouse/Fort Jackson Park, will discuss his current research into the earliest Spanish contacts in Alabama.
Jenkins is a living history reenactor and author of articles on origins of the Creek nation and Woodland and Mississippian cultures. He has excavated in the Yucatan and several sites in Alabama.
The forums will be presented in the Interpretive Center Auditorium at Landmark Park in Dothan, Alabama. Registration is required, and admission to the program is free with paid gate admission. To register call 334-794-3452.
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Black Heritage Council Member Assists with New Civil Rights Trail in Anniston
Longtime Black Heritage Council member Georgia Calhoun has been working as a member of the Anniston Civil Rights and Heritage Trail Committee to develop information on Anniston's role during the Civil Rights Movement.
The Committee, a coalition of partners including the City of Anniston, the Alabama Department of Tourism, the Alabama Historical Commission Black Heritage Council and Jacksonville State University, has been working to develop the Trail since 2010.
On Friday, June 24, the group dedicated nine historical markers that denote significant historical places in Anniston. According to a recently produced brochure, "The Anniston Civil Rights Trail recognizes and remembers key events, significant sites and people in the city of Anniston during the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968)." Visitors to sites along the trail will discover places that reflect "acts of bravery and violence" as well as sites of "cooperation and resistance."
Formed in 1984 by the Alabama Historical Commission, the Black Heritage Council (BHC) is the only statewide organization that promotes the preservation and awareness of African American historic places, associated artifacts and culture.
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AHC Welcomes New AHC Employee
Christopher Dylan Tucker, a native of Florence, recently joined the Alabama Historical Commission as the new Cultural Resources Specialist at Fort Morgan
State Historic Site.
Dylan received his Masters of Arts in Public History from the University of North Alabama in May 2016.
In his new position, Dylan will oversee the Living History Program at Fort Morgan. He will also develop educational tours as well as exhibits.
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Congratulations to Our Friends at Alabama Public Television
The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF)  announced the winners of the 2016 Celebration of Service to America Awards on April 4, 2016, recognizing outstanding community service by local broadcasters. In the category of "Service to Children," Alabama Public Television was recognized as best in the nation. APT Executive Director Roy Clem accepted the award in a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 21 in Washington, D.C. Read more at www.aptv.org
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Announcement of Availability of an Historic Bridge
The Department of Transportation is planning to replace a bridge that has been determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. For various reasons preservation of this structure in place is not feasible.
This bridge, on Pratt Highway over Black Creek, is a concrete slab bridge built in 1926. It is located neat Sandusky in Jefferson County, Alabama. Presently it is functionally obsolete.
Pursuant to the
National Bridge and Tunnel Inventory and Inspection Standards,
and the
Memorandum of Agreement with the Alabama Historical Commission, the Alabama Department of Transportation is officially announcing the availability of this bridge to qualified organizations. The structure will be donated to appropriate recipients and the Alabama Department of Transportation will pay the expense of moving the bridge or selected bridge sections thereof and associated re-establishment costs up to the expense of the bridge or bridge section demolition. For this service the receiver will agree to preserve the historical integrity of the bridge and to properly maintain the structure.
Any agencies or groups interested in further information concerning acquisition of this bridge, or wishing to be considered for donation of additional bridges to be offered in the future, please contact:
William B. Turner, Archaeologist
Alabama Department of Transportation
1409 Coliseum Boulevard, T-205
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
334-242-6144
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Happenings Around the State
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JUNE
June 30-
The National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture at Alabama State University and Eyewitnesses to the 1965 Voting Rights Movement will host a forum on Thursday, June 30, 2016 in the Levi Watkins Learning Center, Lecture Hall at 11:00 a.m. The theme is Chronicling the Movement: "1965 Voting Rights Campaign in Film and Discussion." Representatives of the National Park Service and Chambless King Architects will provide an update regarding the Montgomery Interpretive Center. This event will serve as a forum for the public to view extraordinary historical footage of the 1965 Voting Rights movement that was captured by everyday citizens. Click here to download the flyer.
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JULY
July 15 - Deadline for Fiscal Year 2016 Underrepresented Community Grant applications. The State, Tribal, Local Plans & Grants Division is pleased to announce FY16 Underrepresented Community Grant applications are now available on Grants.gov. (Funding Opportunity Announcement #P16AS00184)
Eligible applicants: THPOs, Tribes, SHPOs, & CLGs [may partner with others incl. nonprofits, National Heritage Areas]
Eligible Projects: survey, inventory, and designation of historic properties that are associated with communities currently underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places and among National Historic Landmarks
Project budgets: $15,000 minimum, $50,000 maximum, no match is required.
July 23 - Genealogy Workshop at Alabama State University. Click here to download the flyer.
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August 22-24 - Mark your calendars for the 3rd annual aLABama Downtown Laboratory Conference held in historic Five Points in Birmingham, AL. The conference is highly anticipated and attended by downtown revitalization experts, historic preservationists and economic development professionals from across the state. Main Street Alabama is planning a packed conference with the focus on Design - one of the four points of the Main Street Approach.
August 31-September 2 -
The recruitment process for the annual
2016 Your Town Alabama Workshop
has launched! Please share this information with co-workers and clients who would benefit from the workshop. The workshop will be held at Camp McDowell near Nauvoo, AL, in their NEW facilities at Bethany Village. Participants are required to stay the entire 2½ days.
Participants can click the link: http://yourtown2016.eventbrite.com and follow the instructions to register and pay on-line.
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Want to Share Preservation News and Events Statewide?
Send news and event information to the Alabama Historical Commission
Please mark as "Attention: E-News."
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