101 alabama firsts: largests, originals & oldests

7/30/2019 101 Alabama FIRSTS: Largests, Originals & Oldests

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WHY THIS BOOK?

This book has a dual purpose: as a prelude for & to create interest in Positively

Alabama (PA), a new-media publication birthed to share ALL the Positives about

the People, Places & Things that make Alabama the Beautiful. PA's sole purpose is

to Highlight & Celebrate all the marvelous & positive things that Alabamians have

done and are doing; to help facilitate excitement & pride in ourselves, sharing

with each other & our surrounding neighbors, both near & far.

I hope you will enjoy learning about all of these amazing people, places, things &

events, as much as I enjoyed researching & compiling them.

Please Enjoy your Complimentary copy with our Highest Compliments! - But

Please do NOT keep this info to yourself Help us spread the Word by Sharingwith Others who would enjoy reading this book as well.

To learn more aboutPositively Alabama and how you can become apart of the PA

Community, visit: http://www.positivelyalabama.com (Enthusiasts)

......................

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you Father for creating me in Your Image, therefore supplying me

with the desire to highlight & celebrate others, encouraging them towards

& in their GREATNESS;

Thank you Aspen, my sweetest girl (daughter), for being such a bright,

excitable & FUN light in my life;

Thank you EVERYONE who supports this work and others to follow

Copyright 2010, 1st edition. a Positively Media Group production.

_Cutressa M. Williamsupdated Winter 2013
http://www.positivelyalabama.com/http://www.positivelyalabama.com/


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Table of Contents

101

FIRSTS: 57

World (12)United States (18)

Alabama (27)

LARGESTS: 16World (8)United States (3)

Alabama (5)

ORIGINALS: 12World (7)United States (2)

Alabama (3)

OLDESTS: 16World (1)United States (4)

Alabama (11)


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FIRSTS

(57)


5/37

WORLDAlabama 1st 's

(12)

1. The World's 1st civilian pilot training school created by the Wright

Brothers was located in Montgomery in 1910 -

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1364

2. The Capital City Street Railway Companyintroduced the world's 1st

electric street trolley system in Montgomery in 1886 -

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-3472

3. In addition to being the 1stAmerican to win 4 Gold Olympic medals,

Alabama's own Jesse Owens, as set world records for the long jump,

220 yard dash & the 220 yard low hurdles on 10 May 1935 -

www.jesseowens.com

4. Alabama is the 1 place in the world where all three components of

steel making: iron ore, coal, and limestone, can be found within a 30-

mile radius -

http://www.alabama.gov/portal/style_text/secondary.jsp? id=didYouKnow
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1364http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-3472http://www.jesseowens.com/http://www.alabama.gov/portal/style_text/secondary.jsp?id=didYouKnowhttp://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-3472http://www.jesseowens.com/http://www.alabama.gov/portal/style_text/secondary.jsp?id=didYouKnowhttp://www.alabama.gov/portal/style_text/secondary.jsp?id=didYouKnowhttp://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1364


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5. The U.S. Space & Rocket Centerin Huntsville is the world's Largest

space attraction & museum; and, home of the 1strockets built that

sent humans to the moon, in addition to the place of NASA's 1st

space camp in 1992 -

www.spacecamp.com/museum

6. America's First Lady of Courage, Helen Kellerwas the 1st blind

person to earn a college degree was born at Ivy Green in Tuscumbia

on 27 June 1880 -http://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org

7. Dr. James Hardyperformed the world's 1sthuman lung (11 June

1963) & heart (23 January 1964) transplants. Dr. Hardy was born in

Birmingham (along w/his twin brother Julian) on 14 May 1918. TheHardy's moved to The town of Newala, which was named by Dr.

Hardy's father (Fred) combining "New" for New York, Dr. Hardy's

father's place of birth, with "Ala" for Alabama, Dr. Hardy's mother's

place of birth [Newala is now remembered for its historical post office,

which was located on Highway 25 mid-way between Montevallo &

Calera in Shelby County] -http://www.umc.edu/medical_center/james_hardy.html
http://www.spacecamp.com/museumhttp://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org/http://www.umc.edu/medical_center/james_hardy.htmlhttp://www.spacecamp.com/museumhttp://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org/http://www.umc.edu/medical_center/james_hardy.html


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8. The 1st ever 9-1-1 call was placed by Alabama Speaker of the House

Rankin Fite from Haleyville City Hall & answered by U.S.

Representative Tom Bevill at the Haleyville Police Station 16

February 1968 - www.al911.org/first-911-call

9. Alabama native, Mary Anderson, of Boligee in Greene County, is

credited as the inventor of the 1st windshield wiper. Ms. Anderson had

a model of her design manufactured patented her design (number

743,801) on 10 November 1903 -http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2553

10. Alabama resident, Sequoyah, is credited as the 1st& only

person to have created a written alphabet and language. He did so

for the Cherokee Nation - http://www.sequoyahmuseum.org (in TN) AND


11. Dr. Mae Jemison, of Decatur, was the 1st black woman to travel

into space abroad the shuttle Endeavour on 09/12/1992-

www.drmae.com

12. Abby Fisher, of Mobile, was the 1st black woman to publish a

cookbook, What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking, in

1881 - http://www.congocookbook.com/rare_recipes/mrs_abby_fisher.html
http://www.al911.org/first-911-callhttp://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2553http://www.sequoyahmuseum.org/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2159http://www.drmae.com/http://www.congocookbook.com/rare_recipes/mrs_abby_fisher.htmlhttp://www.al911.org/first-911-callhttp://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2553http://www.drmae.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2159http://www.congocookbook.com/rare_recipes/mrs_abby_fisher.htmlhttp://www.sequoyahmuseum.org/


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United States of AmericaAlabama 1st 's

(18)

1. The Alabama state quarter, featuring Helen Keller, is the 1st U.S. coin

in circulation to feature Braille -


2. The 1stMardi Gras was introduced to the United States (and the

Western World) in 1703 in Mobile -

http://www.mobilebay.org/vis_mardigras_history.php

3. A perpetual National Veterans Award was created for America's 1st

official National Veterans Day observance in Birmingham on

November 11, 1954 -

www.nationalveteransda.org

4. Montgomery is home ofHyundai's 1st assembly and manufacturing

plant in the United States - www.hmmausa.com
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-2383http://www.mobilebay.org/vis_mardigras_history.phphttp://www.nationalveteransda.org/http://www.hmmausa.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-2383http://www.mobilebay.org/vis_mardigras_history.phphttp://www.hmmausa.com/http://www.nationalveteransda.org/


9/37

5. TheAlabama Shakespeare Festivalin Montgomery is the 1st America

theater invited to fly the exact flag used by England's Royal

Shakespeare Company - http://www.asf.net

6. Born in 1919, Montgomery native and jazz pianist and singerNat

King Cole became the 1st black person to host a network TV show,

The Nat King Cole Show, in 1956 -


7. Heather Whitestone McCallum, born in Dothan in 1973, was the 1st &

only hearing-impaired woman to be crowned Miss America (1995) -

http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/speaker_bio.cfmSpeakerID=1582

8. The U.S. Space & Rocket Centerin Huntsville is the world's Largest



space camp in 1992 -

www.spacecamp.com/museum

9. Point Mallard Park in Decatur is home to America's 1stwave pool -

http://www.pointmallardpark.com
http://www.asf.net/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1552http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/speaker_bio.cfmSpeakerID=1582http://www.spacecamp.com/museumhttp://www.pointmallardpark.com/http://www.asf.net/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1552http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/speaker_bio.cfmSpeakerID=1582http://www.spacecamp.com/museumhttp://www.pointmallardpark.com/


10/37

10. Dr. Luther Leonidas Hill, born 22 January 1862 in Montgomery,

was the 1st American physician to successfully repair a wounded

heart in a surgery that the patient survived he helped young Henry

Myrick on 15 September 1902-


11. The Alabama Department of Archives & History, established

in 1901, is the nation's 1ststate-supported archives department-

http://www.archives.alabama.gov/intro/adah.html

12. In 1996 Alabama was the 1st state to annually issue report

cards to schools, school systems, and the state at large, on their

performance, which gives letter grades from A to F on five national

education indicators - www.alsde.edu/general/Ed_Facts.pdf

13.Alabama was the 1st state in the nation to declare Christmas an

official holiday in 1836 - www.google.com (for verification)

14. The Tuskegee Airmen were America's 1st black military airmen-

http://tuskegeeairmen.org
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2949http://www.archives.alabama.gov/intro/adah.htmlhttp://www.alsde.edu/general/Ed_Facts.pdfhttp://www.google.com/http://tuskegeeairmen.org/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2949http://www.google.com/http://www.alsde.edu/general/Ed_Facts.pdfhttp://tuskegeeairmen.org/http://www.archives.alabama.gov/intro/adah.html


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15. DeSoto Caverns, near Childersburg, is the 1st cave to be officially

recorded by the United States government -

http://desotocavernspark.com

16. Birmingham's own, Condoleeza Rice, is the 1st woman ever to serve

as National Security Advisor (2001); and, the 1stblack woman chosen

to serve as our nation's Secretary of State (2005)-


17.Alabama's city ofAttalla was the seat of the 1st hydroelectric

generation plant capable of powering an entire town, when

hydroelectric generator creatorW. P. Layproved his invention and

caused Attalla to be the 1st city to have Electric Street Lights in 1887-

www.attallacity.com

18.Alabama is the 1ststate in the nation to have an educational

television network Alabama Public Television (APT) was

launched in April 1955 - www.aptv.org
http://desotocavernspark.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2541http://www.attallacity.com/http://www.aptv.org/http://desotocavernspark.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2541http://www.attallacity.com/http://www.aptv.org/


12/37

ALABAMA 1st 's

(27)

1. Alabama's 1st birthday was 12/14/1819 and the Alabama Day

celebration serves as its annual party -

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Features.jsp?id=s-125

2. Cahawba was Alabama's 1st state capital from 1820-1826 and a

thriving antebellum river town - Now a historical park it is located in

Dallas County, where the Cahaba River flows into the Alabama River

- www.cahawba.com

3. Gorham's Bluffis the 1st property in Alabama to be accepted into the

Cond Nast Travelerguide - www.gorhamsbluff.com

4. The Chief Ladiga Trail is Alabama's 1strails-to-trails project*. The

33-mile trail stretches from the Alabama-Georgia state line to

Anniston - www.chiefladiga.com

[The Chief Ladiga is on the same rail corridor as the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia. The two are

expected to be joined after the Cleburne County section is completed. When the Chief Ladiga and

the Silver Comet trails are connected there will be a 90-mile corridor available for non-motorized

travel from just west of Atlanta, Georgia to Anniston, Alabama] (*Rails-to-Trails' mission it is to

create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build

healthier places for healthier people)
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Features.jsp?id=s-125http://www.cahawba.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cond%C3%A9_Nast_Travelerhttp://www.gorhamsbluff.com/http://www.chiefladiga.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Features.jsp?id=s-125http://www.cahawba.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cond%C3%A9_Nast_Travelerhttp://www.gorhamsbluff.com/http://www.chiefladiga.com/


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5. The Riverchase Galleria, constructed in 1986 & located in Hoover,

is Alabama's number1 tourist attraction and 1 of America's most

unique shopping experiences; and, features the world's Largest

skylight beneath its nine-story glass atrium- www.riverchasegalleria.com

6. The Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts known as the

Showplace of the South, is the state's official historic theater

(Original); and, the 1st public building to have air conditioning. It

opened it doors in 1927 & is still going strong todaywww.alabamatheatre.com

7. Fame Recording Studios, established in 1959 in Muscle Shoals,

was the 1st professional recording studio in Alabama -

http://www.fame2.com

8. The 1st known work of art created from Alabama's official rock,

Marble, is the Head of Christ, by Giuseppe Moretti (he also created

Vulcan, his much larger & best known work) -

http://www.riverchasegalleria.com/http://www.alabamatheatre.com/http://www.fame2.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1600http://www.riverchasegalleria.com/http://www.alabamatheatre.com/http://www.fame2.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1600


14/37

9. Working Cows Dairy is Alabama's 1st Certified Organic Dairy,

located in Slocomb AL, as of November 2009 -

www.workingcowsdairy.com

10.Alabama's 1st Farm Winery is Perdido Vineyards in Perdido -

www.perdidovineyards.com[a farm wineryallows farms to produce and sell

their wines on site]

11. U. W. Clemon served as Alabama's 1st black Federal judge he

was appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 & served until his

retirement in 2006 -


12. On the 02nd of November 2010, Terri Sewellmade Alabama

history by becoming the 1stblack woman elected to the U.S.

Congress - www.sewellforcongress.com

13. Kenyen Brown is Alabama's 1st black U.S. Attorney, appointed

by President Barack Obama in 2009 (Mr. Brown took his oath of

office on 01/15/10 - the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) -

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/kenyen_brown_takes_oath_of_off.html
http://www.workingcowsdairy.com/http://www.perdidovineyards.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1633http://www.sewellforcongress.com/http://www.sewellforcongress.com/http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/kenyen_brown_takes_oath_of_off.htmlhttp://www.workingcowsdairy.com/http://www.perdidovineyards.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1633http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/kenyen_brown_takes_oath_of_off.htmlhttp://www.sewellforcongress.com/


15/37

14. Lucius D. Amerson was Alabama's 1st black Sheriff. Sheriff

Amerson was elected & served in Macon County from 1967 1987;

and, along with his son, Anthony, he also authored a book, Great

Courage: The First Black Sheriff Elected in the South Since

Reconstruction -

http://www.thetuskegeenews.com/articles/2009/11/12/news/doc4afb09135fa14673502079.txt

15. Vivian Malone Jones was the 1st black graduate of the University of

Alabama (Tuscaloosa), completing her a B.A., in Business in May1965 - www.ua.edu/interact/jones.htm

16. Nexity Bank was Alabamas 1st true online bank:

www.nexitybank.com

17. Alabamas 1stLegislative Black Caucus was a group of 100

black men who served in the Alabama Legislature during the

Reconstruction Era (1868-1878)-

http://www.lwfaah.net/alabama/reconstruction.htm
http://www.thetuskegeenews.com/articles/2009/11/12/news/doc4afb09135fa14673502079.txthttp://topics.chron.com/topics/Vivian_Malone_Joneshttp://www.ua.edu/interact/jones.htmlhttp://www.nexitybank.com/http://www.lwfaah.net/alabama/reconstruction.htmhttp://www.thetuskegeenews.com/articles/2009/11/12/news/doc4afb09135fa14673502079.txthttp://topics.chron.com/topics/Vivian_Malone_Joneshttp://www.ua.edu/interact/jones.htmlhttp://www.nexitybank.com/http://www.lwfaah.net/alabama/reconstruction.htm


16/37

18. Guss Huntington served as Alabama's 1st black police officer.

Officer Huntington served the citizens & city of Dothan from 1947 until

he passed away in 1962 -

http://genforum.genealogy.com/huntington/messages/530.html

19. LaGrange College (now the University of North Alabama) in

Florence was Alabama's 1st state-chartered school, founded in 1830,

& it was known as the West Point of the South - www.una.edu

20. Region's Financial Corporation became Alabama's 1st multi-

bank holding company with the completed merger with former

AmSouth Bankin November 2006 - www.regions.com

[http://www.Investopedia.com defines a multi-bank holding company as a company

that owns and/or controls two or more banks]

21.As of 2007, Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb made history by being

elected as Alabama's 1st female Chief Justice of the AL Supreme

Court - http://judicial.alabama.gov/Bios/cobb.cfm

22. In 1907, Maud McLure Kellywas admitted to the University of

Alabama School of Law at Tuscaloosa. She went on to become

Alabama's 1st woman to practice law and plead a case before the

U.S. Supreme Court - http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1106
http://genforum.genealogy.com/huntington/messages/530.htmlhttp://www.una.edu/http://www.regions.com/http://www.investopedia.com/http://judicial.alabama.gov/Bios/cobb.cfmhttp://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1106http://genforum.genealogy.com/huntington/messages/530.htmlhttp://www.regions.com/http://www.investopedia.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1106http://www.una.edu/http://judicial.alabama.gov/Bios/cobb.cfm


17/37

23. Prattville is named after the Alabama's 1stmillionaire, Daniel Pratt,

who manufactured cotton gins - http://www.pratthistory.com/daniel_pratt.htm

24. The City ofMountain Brook's 1st mayor, Charles F. Zukowski, Jr.,

led the newly incorporated city in 1942 to become AL's 1st to operate

under the Council-Manager form of government - www.mtnbrook.org

25.

John McKinley, a founder of the city of Florence became the 1

st

U.S.Supreme Court justice from Alabama, serving from 1838 1852 -


26.Mobile is the birthplace of public education in the state. Building

began in 1836 on Barton Academy, the state's 1st public school. The

landmark building still stands and houses administrative offices for

the Mobile County Public School System -

http://www.historicmobile.org

27. In 2009, Mark Ingram, sophomore & running back, made history for

the University of Alabama by becoming the school's 1stHeisman

Trophywinner - www.rolltide.com
http://www.pratthistory.com/daniel_pratt.htmhttp://www.mtnbrook.org/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2052http://www.historicmobile.org/http://www.heisman.com/http://www.heisman.com/http://www.rolltide.com/http://www.pratthistory.com/daniel_pratt.htmhttp://www.mtnbrook.org/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2052http://www.historicmobile.org/http://www.heisman.com/http://www.heisman.com/http://www.rolltide.com/


18/37

LARGEST

(16)


19/37

WORLDAlabama Largest

(8)

1. The World's Largest Chair was created as an advertisement for

Miller's Office Furniture in Anniston the 33-foot chair was built in the

1980s and is said to trump numerous big chairs scattered across the

planet - http://www.howstuffworks.com/worlds-biggest-roadside-attractions1.htm

2. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville is the world's Largest



space camp in 1992 - www.spacecamp.com/museum

3. Founded in 1888, the Womans Missionary Union headquarted in

Birmingham, is the worlds Largest Protestant organization for women

and has a membership of about 1 million - www.wmu.com

4. Birmingham's Sloss Furnances was the Largest producer of pig iron

in the world during its reign from 1882 1971

http://www.slossfurnaces.com
http://www.howstuffworks.com/worlds-biggest-roadside-attractions1.htmhttp://www.spacecamp.com/museumhttp://www.wmu.com/http://www.slossfurnaces.com/http://www.wmu.com/http://www.spacecamp.com/museumhttp://www.slossfurnaces.com/http://www.howstuffworks.com/worlds-biggest-roadside-attractions1.htm


20/37

5. The Riverchase Galleria, constructed in 1986 & located in Hoover, is

Alabama's number1 tourist attraction and 1 of America's most unique

shopping experiences; and, features the world's Largest skylight

beneath its nine-story glass atrium - www.riverchasegalleria.com

6. For a time beginning in 1989, Fort Payne held the world record for

"Largest Cake Ever Baked", for a cake of 128,238 pounds (58,168

kg) baked to commemorate the city's centennial - www.fortpayne.org

7. With 378 holes over 11 statewide courses, Alabama's Robert Trent

Jones Golf Trail is the Largest golf course construction project ever

attempted anywhere in the world - www.rtjgolf.com

8. The world's Largest caving organization is the National Speleological

Society in Huntsville, with about 12,000 members. The group's focus

is on conservation, preservation, exploration and education -www.caves.org
http://www.riverchasegalleria.com/http://www.fortpayne.org/http://www.rtjgolf.com/http://www.caves.org/http://www.caves.org/http://www.riverchasegalleria.com/http://www.fortpayne.org/http://www.rtjgolf.com/


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United States of AmericaAlabama Largest

(3)

1. Barber Motorsports Park is home to the Largest motorcycle museum

in the U.S. - www.barbermotorsports.com

2. The Birmingham Museum of Art is the Largest municipal art museum

in the Southeast; and, has a world-renowned collection of

Wedgwood, the Largest outside of England - www.artsbhma.org

3. The Birmingham Children's Theatre is one of the nation's Largest

professional children's theaters, offering plays to young people from

preschool through high school - www.bct123.org
http://www.barbermotorsports.com/http://www.artsbhma.org/http://www.bct123.org/http://www.barbermotorsports.com/http://www.bct123.org/http://www.artsbhma.org/


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ALABAMA Largest

(5)

1. Selma boastsAlabama'sLargest contiguous historic district with over

1,250 structures, including the Old Town Historic District, Old Live

Oak Cemetery, Paul M. Grist State Park, and Old Cahawba

Archaeological Park, it is the Largest area of contiguous historical

sites listed in the National Register - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma,_Alabama

2. Guntersville Lake is the Largest lake in Alabama, covering more than

65,000 acres. The reservoir was created by the damming of the

Tennessee River, and stretches 75 miles from Nickajack Dam near

Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Guntersville Dam in Marshall County -


3. Alabama Adventure Water & Theme Parkis Alabama's Largest Water

and Theme Park; and home to 1 of the largest, fastest, scariest

wooden roller coaster in the nation, Rampage - www.alabamaadventure.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahaba,_Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahaba,_Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma,_Alabamahttp://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-2962http://www.alabamaadventure.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahaba,_Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahaba,_Alabamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma,_Alabamahttp://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-2962http://www.alabamaadventure.com/


23/37

4. The William B. Bankhead National Forest is Alabama's Largest,

National Forest with 181,230 acres and is home to the Sipsey River-

Alabama's only Wild and Scenic River, as designated by the National

Forest Service, known as the land of a thousand waterfalls-

http://www.800alabama.com/yooa/scenic/waterfalls.cfm

5. The Largest 1-day sailing event, The Dauphin Island Sailing Regatta,

is hosted on Dauphin Island in the Gulf region of Alabama -

www.dauphinislandcoc.com
http://www.800alabama.com/yooa/scenic/waterfalls.cfmhttp://www.dauphinislandcoc.com/http://www.800alabama.com/yooa/scenic/waterfalls.cfmhttp://www.dauphinislandcoc.com/


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ORIGINALS

(12)


25/37

WORLDAlabama Originals

(7)

1. The Father of Gynecology, Dr. James Marion Sims developed a lot

of his early work in the field during his years of medical practicing in

Alabama - http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/j_sims.html

2. The Father of the Blues, (William Christopher) W.C. Handywas

born in Florence on 16 November 1873 -

http://www.wchandymusicfestival.org/history.html

3. Huntsville's own, Jimmy Wales, is the co-founder of the internet

phenomenon, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Wales

4. Ave Maria Grotto (AMG), located on the grounds of Alabama's only

Benedictine monastery in Cullman, known as Jerusalem in

Miniature, is a collection of 125 unique miniatures of famous shrines,

churches & buildings from around the world, created by (1878-1961),

Brother Joseph Zoettiwho began his hobby in 1911. AMG was

dedicated on 17 May 1934 - www.avemariagrotto.com
http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/j_sims.htmlhttp://www.wchandymusicfestival.org/history.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Waleshttp://www.avemariagrotto.com/content/brother-joseph-zoettihttp://www.avemariagrotto.com/http://www.wchandymusicfestival.org/history.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Waleshttp://www.avemariagrotto.com/content/brother-joseph-zoettihttp://www.avemariagrotto.com/http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/j_sims.html


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5. The Boll Weevil Monumentin Enterprise, is the world's only

monument to a pest - Its a monument to the insect that destroyed

cotton crops and eventually brought prosperity to the region while

forcing farmers to grow peanuts -


6. Michael Kearneyis the youngest college graduate in history,

completing his studies for a B.S., in Anthropology at the University of

South Alabama in 1994 at age 10 -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kearney

7. John Hendrix, the Founder & Chairman ofDiscovery

Communications, grew up and was educated in Huntsville -

http://corporate.discovery.com/leadership/john-hendricks
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2384http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kearneyhttp://f/Positively%20Alabama/AL%20101%201sts,%20etc%20BOOK/http:%2F%2Fwww.discovery.com%20http://f/Positively%20Alabama/AL%20101%201sts,%20etc%20BOOK/http:%2F%2Fwww.discovery.com%20http://corporate.discovery.com/leadership/john-hendricks/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2384http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kearneyhttp://corporate.discovery.com/leadership/john-hendricks/http://f/Positively%20Alabama/AL%20101%201sts,%20etc%20BOOK/http:%2F%2Fwww.discovery.com%20http://f/Positively%20Alabama/AL%20101%201sts,%20etc%20BOOK/http:%2F%2Fwww.discovery.com%20


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United States of AmericaAlabama Originals

(2)

1. America's First Lady of Courage, (Original)Helen Kellerwas the1st

blind person to earn a college degree was born at Ivy Green in

Tuscumbia on 27 June 1880 - http://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org

2. Alabama is only state to elect husband & wife as Governors: George

& Lurleen Wallace (1963-67, 1971-79, 1983-87) & (1967-68),

respectively - http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1662
http://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1662http://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1662


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ALABAMA Originals

(3)

1. TheAlabama Theatre for the Performing Arts known as the

Showplace of the South, is the state's official historic theater; and,

the 1st public building to have air conditioning. It opened it doors in

1927 & is still going strong today - www.alabamatheatre.com

2. The Rosenbaum House in Florence is only building in Alabama

designed by renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright construction

began in 1939 & completed in 1940 - http://www.wrightinalabama.com

3. The 360 Grille housed at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa in Florence

is Alabama's only revolving restaurant - www.marriott.com
http://www.alabamatheatre.com/http://www.wrightinalabama.com/http://www.marriott.co/http://www.marriott.com/http://www.alabamatheatre.com/http://www.wrightinalabama.com/http://www.marriott.co/http://www.marriott.com/


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OLDEST

(16)


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WORLDAlabama Oldest

(1)

1. Matilda (1990 - February 11, 2006), a fourteen-ounce hen, was the

1st chicken to receive the title of World's Oldest Living Chicken from

Guinness World Records. She was a beloved pet of Keith and Donna

Barton of Bessemer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_%28chicken%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(chicken)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(chicken)


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United States of AmericaAlabama Oldest(s)

(4)

1. Established in 1842, Marion Military Institute is the Oldest Military

Junior Colleges in the United States, which offer unique military

training programs - www.marionmilitary.edu

2. Established in 1894, The City of Fairhopeis the Oldest of the two

remaining U.S., Single Tax colonies (the other is in Arden Delaware

established in 1900) [One settler said the colony had a fair hope of

success, thus the name] -http://www.fairhopesingletax.com

3. The Chunnenuggee Garden, established in 1847, is one of the Oldest

public garden in the United States and is the oldest in Alabama

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2153 ;

and, it's Chunnenuggee Garden Club is the Oldest charter garden

club in the United States - The organization originally was called the

Chunnenuggee Ridge Horticultural Society, also established in 1947 -

http://www.unionspringsalabama.com
http://www.marionmilitary.edu/http://www.fairhopesingletax.com/http://www.fairhopesingletax.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2153http://www.unionspringsalabama.com/http://www.marionmilitary.edu/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2153http://www.unionspringsalabama.com/http://www.fairhopesingletax.com/


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4. Birmingham's own, Rickwood Field, is the nation's Oldest Baseball

Stadium, built in 1910 - http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/rickwood.html
http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/rickwood.htmlhttp://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/rickwood.html


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ALABAMA Oldest(s)

(11)

1. The first golfer teed off at Highland Park Golf Course, the states

Oldest golf course, in Birmingham in 1903. Architect Bob Cupp

renovated the par-70 course, originally the Country Club of

Birmingham, in 1998 - www.highlandparkgolf.com

2. Athens State Universityis Alabama's Oldestinstitution of higher

education. It was founded in 1822 and began Athens Female

Academy - www.athens.edu

3. The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is the Oldest fine arts museum

in Alabama and was the first museum in Alabama to be accredited by

theAmerican Association of Museums in June 1978 - www.mmfa.org

4. Birmingham's Bromberg's (Jewelers) is the Oldest business firm in

the state of Alabama - www.brombergs.com
http://www.highlandparkgolf.com/http://www.athens.edu/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Association_of_Museumshttp://www.mmfa.org/http://www.mmfa.org/http://www.brombergs.com/http://www.athens.edu/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Association_of_Museumshttp://www.mmfa.org/http://www.brombergs.com/http://www.highlandparkgolf.com/


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5. The Mobile Registeris Alabama's Oldest newspaper, established in

1813 - http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1422

6. Founded in 1831, The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) is

Alabama's Oldest public university - www.ua.edu

7. Founded in 1865, Talladega College, is Alabama's Oldest (private)

Historically Black Liberal Arts Colleges - www.talladega.edu

8. TheAlabama Museum of Natural History, located on the University of

Alabama's (Tuscaloosa) campus, is the state's Oldest museum

founded in 1831 - http://amnh.ua.edu

9. The Eufaula Pilgrimage, started in 1965, is Alabama's OldestTour

of Homes - http://www.eufaulapilgrimage.com
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1422http://www.ua.edu/http://www.talladega.edu/http://amnh.ua.edu/http://www.eufaulapilgrimage.com/http://www.eufaulapilgrimage.com/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1422http://www.ua.edu/http://www.talladega.edu/http://amnh.ua.edu/


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10. Snead State is Alabama's OldestCommunity College awarding

Associate degrees, originally established as Boaz Seminary in 1898 -

www.snead.edu

11. The Huntsville Madison County Public Library, founded in 1818, is

Alabama's Oldest continuing library in the state -

http://hmcpl.org/history
http://www.snead.edu/http://hmcpl.org/historyhttp://www.snead.edu/http://hmcpl.org/history


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Cutressa M. Williams

Positively Alabama's VISIONARY..

I have long had a heart for Service and Encouragement desiring to

have fulfillment in my Work by Celebrating the Successes and

Achievements of others and NOW my Dream is coming True!

I so enjoyed researching & sharing all of the fun & insightful factsbased in this digital book --- I hope you will enjoy reading it, as much

as I enjoyed putting it together.

Please visit my blog referenced below: I would be Honored to Serve

you and your Business in my Business Growth Strategist's capacity.

LIVE, LOVE & FORGIVE

Positively yours,

:)

http://blog.cutressamwilliams.com
http://blog.cutressamwilliams.com/http://blog.cutressamwilliams.com/


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with us!
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101 alabama firsts: largests, originals & oldests

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