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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August 27-28
30th Anniversary of Fort Mims Re-enactment & Living History Weekend in Tensaw, Ala, 9:00am-3:00pm daily. For more information call
251-937-5665 or click here.
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The
AHC staff had a wonderful three days hosting NCSHPOs from across the nation. It was particularly appropriate that this meeting was held in Mobile, which boasts a rich history dating back more than thr
ee centuries. Mobile is Alabama's first city, and it has long been a leader in the field of historic preservation.
During the FORUM AHC staff engaged with preservationists and learned about the good and necessary work happening in communities across the nation.
To see more images of FORUM 2016 click
here or visit us on Facebook.
Jim Day, Chairman of the Alabama Historical Commission, giving remarks at the Closing Plenary at the Saenger Theatre.
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The Alabama Preservation Awards
The Alabama Historical Commission and the Black Heritage Council were honored to present the following awards at the 2016 Preservation Awards:
Distinguished Service Award - Ellen Mertins for her outstanding professional career and tireless efforts for the preservation of historic places in Alabama.
Distinguished Service Award - Russell County
Commission/Crawford Park Committee for the historic Tuckabatchee Masonic Lodge
R
oy Swayze Award - Mike Rogers & Steven Willard
for the Turner Todd Motor Company
Idella Childs Award - Josephine McCall
for her tireless efforts to not only preserve her family history but also the history of one of the oldest Black historic school buildings in the state, the
Lowndesboro
School.
Idella Childs Award - Prichard Historic Preservation Board
the city's commitment to document, preserve, and promotes its local history and heritage for more than forty years.
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Celebrating Preservation50
Did you know former Alabama Congressman Albert Rains was one of the leaders in the movement to ensure that historic structures and sites were protected?
That movement culminated in the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act 50 years ago. Congressman Rains was the Chairman of the The United States Conference of Mayors' Special Committee on Historic Preservation that published the book
With Heritage So Rich in 1966. The book drew public attention to our nation's fail
ure to protect what makes our communities unique and are essential to telling America's rich and diverse story.
Congressman Rains died in 1991 at the age of 89. He represented Alabama's 5th Congressional District from 1945 to 1965. Rains, who was from the small northeast Alabama town of Grove Oak, taught school and practiced law in Gadsden, Alabama, before being elected to Congress.
Current U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne in a speech on the House floor on May 11th, spoke of Congressman Rains work and celebrated the 50th anniversary of both the National Historic Preservation Act and the Alabama Historical Commission.
In his speech, Congressman Byrne said, "In order to remain an optimistic and hopeful nation, it is critical we understand our history and how we got to this point.
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Public Archaeology Days at Old Cahawba a Success
Volunteers at the Public Archaeology event helped professional archaeologists discover the location and remains of Alabama's first State House. What a significant discovery!
None of this could have happened without major contributions from The Daniel Foundation and the Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation. So here is a big THANK YOU to them and also to donors who contributed water and other supplies needed to beat the heat, and of course, thanks to the University of Alabama archaeologists, and architects Tom Kaufmann & Anna and Ryan of BDS , and to everyone who braved the heat to attend Public Archaeology Days at Old Cahawba.
The image above shows the wall trench of Alabama's first State House, which has not been seen since the mid 19th century. Truly a team effort between professional archaeologists and the public.
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Where in the State are the AHC Staff?
AHC staff assisted in preparing the State House site for Public
Archaeology Days at Old Cahawba
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The Pokemon Go craze is real and happening at
Gaineswood
Thanks to one of Cahawba's faithful supporters, three long-lost signs have been returned to Old Cahawba
and the
Goat Hill Museum Store. The goat traveled around to various sites in Montgomery as part of an
advertising campaign created by
the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitor Bureau.
The band was Rene' Koopman and Dixieland Friends. Koopman was on keyboard.
Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation (CCHLF) Members-Friends of Belle Mont are shown serving sweet tea and fried pies on the courtyard at Belle Mont during the event.
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The Black Heritage Council Welcomes New Student Worker
Jalen Freeman, the newest student worker for the BHC, is a junior at Alabama State University studying criminal justice.
Upon graduating, Jalen plans to attend graduate school at Florida A&M University to study counseling.
Jalen will also assist as a tour guide at the Freedom Rides Museum. This, in addition to his time with the BHC, will enable him to learn more about black history and culture, specifically civil rights history in Montgomery.
Jalen is one of two students working with the Black Heritage Council from ASU.
One goal of the BHC's Student Worker program is to introduce students, specifically African-American students, to preservation as a career option.
Another goal is to provide students with information on the significance of preserving historic places to make them lifelong preservationists no matter the field of study or career they choose.
To date, the BHC has had more than a dozen student workers from several different colleges come through the program with at least two students choosing a career as a preservation professional.
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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Happenings Around the State
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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.
August-October 1 - Enter Preservation50's photography contest to share your skills and love for historic places! The top 5 photographs in each category will be featured on their website and seen by millions of social media followers of P50 partner organizations. Tag your photos with #P50Photo on Instagram. Official rules can be found here.
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September 11 - Join Landmarks Foundation for its dynamic new series, Discovery Sundays featuring a line up of speakers and field trips to engage history buffs and curious minds of all ages. Discovery Sundays takes place one Sunday a month at 2 pm. The program will alternate between presentations at Old Alabama Town and field trips around Montgomery. Free to the public. In September Dorothy Walker, site director of Freedom Rides Museum, will present Rosenwald Schools.
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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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