official selma visitor guide 2012

2012 EDITION

HistoryLives Here

Art & Architecture Abound

Savor Southern Flavors

4 | selmaalabama.com | 2012 Visitor Guide

Start your stay with us with a visit to The Selma Welcome Center. The Center has all the information you need to explore the area’s wonderful collection of attrac-tions. Pick up brochures on each of our museums, our self-guided tours including Selma’s Windshield Tour, Selma’s Ghost Tour, Old Live Oak Cemetery Tour and a walking tour of historic downtown Selma. Be sure to sign our visitor’s book and ask the staff about some of their favorite spots. You’ll discover that there is something for

everyone in Selma, Alabama. 132 Broad Street, Open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 334-874-4764.

4 Welcome to Selma

6 Eat & Drink

12 See & Do

14 Civil Rights

16 Navigate

18 Civil War

22 Outdoor Adventures

24 Arts

28 Shopping Selma Style

29 Culture & Community

30 Plan a Reunion

31 Selma Hotels

PublisherPam Mashburn

Selma-Dallas CountyDirector of Tourism

Candace Johnson

EditorJennifer Kornegay

Art DirectorBryan Carter

DesignCarter Photography & Design

On-site Project ManagerElizabeth Holland

PhotographyBryan Carter

Janet GreshamCunningham Group

Catherine Pittman Smith PhotographyMary Jane Moore

The Selma Visitor Guide 2012 is published by exploreMedia for Selma-Dallas County Tourism.

All information is subject to change.

For advertising information, editorial questions or comments, please contact:

exploreMedia7956 Vaughn Rd #331, Montgomery AL 36116

(334) [email protected]

Copyright 2012 exploreMedia and Selma-Dallas County Tourism. All rights reserved.

The Selma Visitor Guide 2012 is distributed in hotels, attractions and welcome centers

across the state.

For additional visitor information, please contact:

Selma-Dallas County Tourism912 Selma Avenue, Selma, AL 36701

334-875-72411-800-45-SELMA (73562)[email protected]

Cover Photo byCarter Photography & Design

O F F I C I A L V I S I T O R G U I D EO F F I C I A L V I S I T O R G U I D E

Welcome to the Queen City!

2012 Visitor Guide | selmaalabama.com | 5

selma is the old south with a new attitude. History lives on almost every corner, and while the city is anchored by its past, it’s also focused on the future, celebrating its heritage, its architecture, its arts and culture, and its natural beauty and sharing it all with you.

Things

About SelmaLoveWe

Confederate ChroniClesSelma was one of the major munitions manu-factures for the Confederacy in the Civil War making it a prime Union target and the location of some serious battles.

street sCenesAll along Historic Water Avenue, you’ll find sites of signifigance to both the Civil War and The Civil Rights Movement, including the fa-mous Edmund Pettus Bridge and the beginning of the Selma to Montgomery Trail, the Songs of Selma Park and the Bridge Tender’s House.

Bigger & BetterTake the “Windshield Tour” (available at The Welcome Center) through Selma’s Old Town Historic District and view over 1,250 designated historic structures in the state’s largest contiguous Historic District.

holy groundSome of the loveliest examples of Selma’s ar-chitectural variety and skill can be observed in the many old churches scattered through-out the city, most still in use today. Take a

self-guided tour (booklet available at The Welcome Center). And find glory, humor and pathos in the stories told by gravestones at Old Live Oak Cemetery.

Civil rights storiesA century after the Civil War, Selma made history again as the site of some of the most infamous events in the Civil Rights Move-ment including “Bloody Sunday” and the successful Selma-to-Montgomery March, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

haunts & haintsWith more than a century of history predat-ing the Civil War, Selma has more than its fair share of historic sites that are also haunted. View 13 Dallas County sites on the Alabama Ghost Trail and take the self guided Ghost Tour available at Welcome Center. And if you visit in late October, participate in the Haunted History Tour weekend featuring Selma and Old Ca-hawba. But don’t get too frightened. While their tales may send a shiver up your spine, Selma’s “ghosts” are all friendly.

outdoor adventuresSitting on the banks of the Alabama River and surrounded by forests and fields teeming with wildlife, Selma offers an abundance of outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing opportunities to fulfill any sportsman’s dreams. Try your luck at the Dallas County State Public Fishing Lake, a 100-acre gem offering excellent fishing year round.

farm freshnessGet it while it’s good! Delicious, healthy, homegrown fruits and veggies are for sale every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from early May until the end of December at the Farmer’s Market at Bloch Park.

soaring artistrySelma was declared the Butterfly Capital of Alabama in 1982, and the many five-foot butterflies all around town honor this fact. The butterflies were decorated by over 40 local artists, and each different winged work of art reflects the artist’s and sponsors’ indi-vidual imaginations.


the Coffee shoppe

Anytime is coffee time, especially when you can get your hands around a rich, decadent treat like this place’s signature drink, the Queen City Latte. This caffeinated creation features espresso (brewed from fresh-ground beans), flavored syrup and steamed milk topped with whipped cream and finished with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. According to the folks at The Coffee Shop, which just opened downtown, it’s the “drink of choice” for Selma residents. Join the locals and enjoy a Queen City Latte or try another one of the shop’s coffees, teas or real fruit smoothies with a Panini sandwich or a homemade cookie.

the selma house tea room

Located in a quaint house in Selma’s Old Town historic district, the Selma House Tea Room provides the opportunity to sit back and relax with a warm cup of tea as well as other teatime accom-paniments. The Tea Room features a variety of scones, including blueberry, almond and cranberry-orange to name a few. All are homemade from scratch with the highest quality ingredients, but its signature dish is its Lace Scone. Enjoy one (or two!) with a cup of the Tea Room’s custom house blend tea, Southern Pecan, or choose from over 50 other teas in the Tea Room’s vast selection.

EAT DRINK&


southern girls restaurant

Leave it to the gals at Southern Girls restaurant to serve you heaping helpings of good ole home-cooking. Their signature dish is the Lunch Plate, a traditional “meat ‘n three” midday meal that let’s you mix and match to perfection. Choose from two special meats each day, with six others always available. Then pick your sides from 17 different veggies. Popular items are the meatloaf, the fried chicken and ranch potatoes. Southern Girls also has sandwiches and salads and is famous for its banana pudding.

tally-ho restaurant

Experience fine dining at its best at this longtime Selma establishment that’s been providing stellar service for over 65 years. Yet it’s the food that draws diners in by the droves. Items like Fried Green Tomatoes with Sautéed Crab and an array of beef, pork, chicken and seafood entrees are popular, but the restaurant’s signature dish, Chicken and Shrimp Sauté is a culinary creation not to be missed. Chicken and shrimp are sautéed with peppers, mushrooms and onions in butter and served over seasoned rice with a savory sauce and finished with toasted, slivered almonds.

the restaurant on grumBles alley

This casual eatery has been satisfying Selma diners since 1986. Housed in a 200-year-old building on the edge of The Alabama River downtown, The Restaurant on Grumbles Alley has a relaxed atmosphere where it wows locals and visitors alike with its signature dish, the Chicken Breast Melt Sandwich. Listed as one of the “100 Alabama Dishes to Eat Before You Die,” this sandwich is special. The star is an 8-ounce chicken breast marinated and grilled to tasty, tender perfection before smothered in cheese and bacon. The same grilled chicken can also be found atop garden salads and in the restaurant’s chicken salad.


|EAT & DRINK

new orleans Bar & grill

Enjoy all the ambiance and delicious food that New Orleans is known for in Selma at this restaurant that’s cooking up the best the Big Easy has to offer and more. Steaks, seafood (including fresh oysters) and a wide variety of pastas keep the dining room packed, but the signature dish, Crawfish Nachos, is the true standout. Crunchy garlic-herb tortilla chips are layered with fried crawfish and then topped with a to-mato, onion and banana pepper salsa with cheddar cheese melted over it all.

selma family restaurant

It’s always like home at this, relaxed spot. Serving comfort-food favorites with love, this restaurant offers a true taste of Selma. It’s well known for its crunchy, juicy fried chicken and its signature dish, the Chopped Steak, which is covered in bell peppers and served with white rice. You can choose other sides, and popular choices are candied yams, collard greens and other Southern-style veg-etables. Add a sweet finish with a big slice of carrot cake. Selma Family Restaurant has a great selection of homemade baked goods, including many cakes and pies.

China star

Experience a bit of the East in the deep South at China Star, a traditional Chinese restaurant featuring authentic standards like fried rice, egg drop soup, egg rolls and so much more as well as house speciali-ties and American favorites all served on a seemingly endless buffet sure to satisfy your craving. China Star’s signature dish, its Teriyaki Chicken, is seasoned just right and full of flavor with a sweet and salty sauce and served with plenty of hot, fluffy steamed or fried rice.


Bradmoore’s southern grill

If you’re after a succulent steak, visit BradMoore’s Southern Grill. This new steakhouse opened in the fall of 2011, and its signature dish is a 14-ounce ribeye full of flavor and accompanied by a vegetable medley and a loaded baked potato. The secret’s in the sauce at Brad-Moore’s; the ribeye is soaked for 24 hours in a house-made marinade that imparts a distinct deliciousness. While BradMoore’s offers a lot of steak, the menu has plenty of additional options. Other favorites include big, beefy burgers, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, Cajun chicken pasta and fried or blackened catfish.

Did You Know?

The St. James Hotel on Water Avenue, where infamous outlaw and gunslinger Jesse James once stayed, was built in 1837. It is the only existing example of early river hotels in the state and the oldest still standing in Selma. Jesse James had a special booth that was always reserved for him in the hotel’s restaurant.

SEAFOOD / STEAk / CHICkEN

Brad Moore’s H5518 Alabama Hwy 22334-872-3337

New Orleans Bar & Grill H8 Mulberry Rd334-874-6400

Oasis Steakhouse1629 West Highland Ave 334-526-2601

The Restaurant on Grumbles Alley 1300 Water Ave334-872-2006

St. James Hotel 1200 Water Ave334-872-3234

Steak Pit 208 Highland Ave334-875-7707

Tally-Ho H 509 Mangum Ave334-872-1390

BBQ

Golden Ranch BBQ 2003 W Highland Ave334-874-1777

Hancock’s BBQ H72 County Rd 46 334-872-5541

Hickory Pit 1700 Selma Ave 334-874-9950

Lannie’s BBQ Spot 2115 Minter Ave334-874-4478

Lannie’s BBQ205 Medical Ctr Pkwy 334-872-8573

CHINESE

China Star 1798 Hwy 14 E334-875-3603

China Wok1374 Highland Ave334-872-8848

Golden China 128 Broad St334-872-2778

FAST FOOD

All-In-One-Shop 3000 Earl Goodwin Pkwy334-874-7002

Burger king 312 Highland Ave334-874-8300

Captain D’s H1516 W Highland Ave334-872-7000

Central Park USA 1376 Highland Ave334-875-9551

Church’s Fried Chicken 1208 Broad St 334-877-1129

Domino’s Pizza 1809 W Highland Ave334-875-8060

Hardees1401 Highland Ave334-872-8351

Jacks 1806 W. Dallas Ave334-872-2488

kentucky Fried Chicken 1326 E Highland Ave334-872-7513

Little Caesars 1330 E Highland Ave 334-874-1298

McDonalds600 Highland Ave334-874-9122

Mr. Waffle 1518 W Highland Ave334-874-7600

Pancake House 1617 Broad St334-875-9900

Papa John’s Pizza 210 Highland Ave334-875-7771

Pete’s Famous Franks 1611 Broad St 334-872-5557

Pizza Hut 307 Highland Ave334-875-6700

Popeye’s Chicken 1221 Highland Ave334-877-0681

Buffalo Street1332 E Highland Ave 334-877-3434

SONIC Drive In H2407 N Broad St334-875-2594

Southern Deli 1391 E Highland Ave334-872-1242

Strong’s Sandwich Shop 118 Washington Street334-874-9366

Subway 1342 Highland Ave334-874-94711909 W Dallas Ave334-872-92223057 Hwy 80 E334-875-50952530 Hwy 80 W 334-874-8764

SELMA RESTAURANTS H Chamber Member|EAT & DRINK

Taco Bell H303 Highland Ave334-872-6034

Wendy’s 405 Highland Ave334-875-5194

Zaxby’s H618 Highland Ave334-872-6591

MEAT & THREE

Downtowner Restaurant 1114 Selma Ave334-875-5933

Essie’s Place 2322 Hwy 80 334-875-1850

Ramada Inn 1710 W Highland Ave334-872-0461

Southern Girls 2808 Citizens Pkwy 334-874-0090

Taylor’s Restaurant Cecil Jackson Bypass 334-872-5482

Vasser’s 1900 W Dallas Ave334-418-0560

MExICAN

El Ranchero 113 Broad St 334-872-6013

SPECIALTy

Dallas County Produce & Seafood2899 1⁄2 Citizen Pkwy334-874-6941

Mark’s Mart H 1022 County Rd 44 334-872-3003

Selma House Tea Room H700 Tremont Street334-418-1635

The Coffee Shoppe H308 Broad Street334-878-2739


Brown Chapel ame ChurCh and King monument410 Martin Luther King St334-874-7897 www.historicbrownchapelamec-selma.org

Visit the headquarters for the 1965 voting rights marches.

historiC water avenue

View the world-famous Edmund Pettus Bridge and Songs of Selma Park at the cor-ner of Water and Broad overlooking the Ala-bama River. Visit the bridge tender’s house, Mini Mall and Lafayette Park at the corner of Water and Washington. Pause at Bienville Park at the corner Water and Lauderdale. There are several antebellum structures and Civil War and Civil Rights markers.

national voting rights museum & institute6 Hwy. 80 E 334-418-0800 www.nvrm.org

View memorabilia honoring the attain-ment of Voting Rights. Mon-Fri, 10-4pm; Sat, 10-2pm; Sun by appointment.

old depot museum4 Martin Luther King St334-874-2197

See artifacts and exhibits from the Civil War through Civil Rights history. Open Mon-Fri, 10- 4pm. Group Tours Sat by ap-pointment. Admission charged.

old live oaK CemeteryHighway 22 W/West Dallas Ave

Discover the monuments to Vice President William Rufus King and Congressman Benjamin Sterling Turner.

old town historiC distriCt

View up to 1,250 structures dating from 1820s. Printed tour maps are available at the Centre for Commerce.

edmund pettus BridgeIntersection Broad St & Water Ave

This famous Civil Rights landmark represents a pivotal point in Voting Rights.

|SEE & DO

HISTORYHERITAGE

&Old Cahawba9518 Cahaba Road 334-872-8058

Generic ghost stories are everywhere. But a haunt that has roots in a rich history is much more thrilling. If you’re after a fright of this type, check out Old Cahawba right outside of Selma. Alabama’s

original state capital (1820-1826), Old Cahawba just looks plain spooky with its Spanish-

moss-covered trees and crumbling ruins of old homes and buildings and boasts multiple ghosts who’ve been encountered by the site director and numerous visitors through the years. It’s also a major archeological site and is open daily; tours can be scheduled. Visit www.cahawba.com for more information.


slavery & Civil war museum1410 Water Ave 334-418-0800nvrm.org

This sister museum to the National Voting Rights Museum houses exhibits that depict historical, topical and provocative impacts and occurrences during slavery in America.

sturdivant hall museum713 Mabry St334-872-5626www.sturdivanthall.com

Visit one of the South’s best and most beautiful examples of a Greek Revival antebellum home. Tour includes the house,

detached kitchen, gift shop and formal garden. Open Tues-Sat 10-4pm. Closed on Mon. Admission charged.

vaughan-smitherman museum109 Union St334-874-2174

View this antebellum structure restored to its original beauty. See the Art Lewis Collection Civil War memorabilia. Open Tues-Sat, 9-4pm. Closed on Mon. Admis-sion charged.

Kenan’s mill188 County Road 2361-800-45-Selmakenansmill.selmaalabama.com

Kenan’s Mill was built in the mid-1800s producing meal, grits and corn for over 100 years, and also includes a 19th century brick charcoal kiln. Continuously owned by the Kenan family until Elizabeth Kenan Bu-chanan donated it to the SDHPS in 1997, restoration is ongoing with the mill fully operational and open during special events.

Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday by appointment

The Old Depot Museum invites you to share the area'smemories and take a moment to look back and reflect onSelma and Dallas County’s cultural heritage. The many exhibits and collections from the world of yesterday willcharm, educate and inspire you. The Old Depot Museumis a historical experience for everyone and we are waitingto welcome you.

Selma-Dallas County Museum of History and Archives, Inc.

4 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street(at the foot of Historic Water Ave)

Selma, Alabama 36701334-874-2197

Old Depot MuseumOld Depot Museum

Did You Know?

The First African American U.S. Congressman, Benjamin Sterling Turner, was from Selma. Elected in 1871, he was raised as a slave, and served in several offices in Selma before being elected to Congress.


Marching ForwardThe Civil Rights Movement is sometimes called The Civil Rights Struggle for a very good reason. After decades of oppression, it took years of peaceful protest in the face of violent opposition to finally achieve voting rights for African Americans.

Much of the struggle took place in and around Selma, including one of its seminal moments, the Selma to Montgomery March.

In 1965, hundreds of voting rights advocates, both black and white, set off on foot to Montgomery to the Capitol Building to take their grievances right to Governor George Wallace’s door-step. Smaller protest marches had been held in the month’s prior, and on February 18 in nearby Marion, police shot 26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson who was protecting his mother and grand-father from assault. His senseless death motivated the Selma to Montgomery March.

On March 7, Reverend Hosea Williams and John Lewis stepped

from the pulpit of Brown Chapel Church and led a group of 600 toward Montgomery. After just six blocks, when they crossed the now infamous Edmund Pettus Bridge over the Alabama River, Sheriff Jimmy Clark’s deputies and state troopers dispatched by Gov. Wallace attacked the group with nightsticks and tear gas, injuring dozens. The scene was caught on film and broadcast on television networks across America. National leaders and the rest of the country saw first-hand how intense the struggle had become. The event came to be known as “Bloody Sunday.”

The violence stopped the marchers’ first attempt, but they would not be silenced or stopped for good. Two weeks later, under the protection of Alabama National Guardsmen and Army troops, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. set off again from Selma and marched along U.S. Hwy. 80 to the capital city. They walked during the day and slept in the fields at night, covering the 54 miles between

|CIVIL RIGHTS

Civil rights events in and around selma provide moving examples of what ordinary people can do.


Selma and Montgomery in four days and gathering without incident in front of the State Capitol. By that time the crowd was 25,000 strong.

The murder of Viola Liuzzo, a 39-year-old white mother of five from Detroit who was shot while shuttling marchers back to Selma, finally spurred President Lyndon Johnson to push the Vot-ing Rights Bill through Congress. After Johnson signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act on August 6, some 7,000 African-Americans registered to vote in Dallas County and defeated the segregationist sheriff who had led the “Bloody Sunday” attack.

The ultimate success of the Civil Rights Movement came on the backs of regular citizens fighting the powers that be and is resounding proof of what ordinary people can do when fighting a righteous cause.

Walk in the footsteps of the brave men and women who fought for equal rights and experience the emotion and courage of the Civil rights Movement by visiting these historic sites in selma.

SELMA-TO-MONTGOMERy NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL SELMA INTERPRETIVE CENTER

2 Broad Street334-872-0509

The National Historic Trail begins at Brown Chapel AME Church and ends some 54 miles to the east at the State Capitol in Montgomery. A bust of Dr. King is in front of the church.

VOTING RIGHTS TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER

The National Park Service center at the midpoint of the trail displays photographs and memorabilia. Located on U.S. 80, between mile markers 105 and 106 in White Hall in Lowndes County.

EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE

The southern approach of the Edmund Pettus Bridge is where “a sea of blue” law enforcement officers attacked marchers with tear gas and nightsticks on “Bloody Sunday,” March 7, 1965. Visitors can walk across one of the most recognized symbols of the Civil Rights Movement. USA Weekend includes the bridge, along with Ellis Island, Jamestown and the Lincoln Memorial, among the “ten historic landmarks that bear proud witness to our nation’s enduring freedoms.”

NATIONAL VOTING RIGHTS MUSEUM

This museum showcases items and participants’ stories related to the voting rights movement. Volunteer guides share their personal recollections of the Movement.

RE-LIVE THE MOMENT

The public is invited to experience the Bridge Crossing Jubilee in Selma the first full weekend in March each year.

MORE NEARBy

Safe House Black History Museum in Greensboro

This house provided a safe haven for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from Ku Klux Klansmen during the Civil Rights era. See newspapers, photos, an 1860 slave auction document and cement imprints of the hands of Lewis Black, founder of the Hale County Civil Improvement League, one of the first civil rights groups in the country. 2401 Davis St, 334-624-2030 or 334-624-4228.

Lowndes County Interpretive Center on The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail(334) 877-1984www.nps.gov/semo/index/htm

Selma Interpretive Center on The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail www.nps.gov/semo/index.htm

Old Depot MuseumOld Depot Museum

Selma House Tea Room

Butler - Truax Jewelers


Almost 100 years after it became an independent nation, America endured an event that threatened to tear our country apart. In fact, for four long years, the United States was no longer united, as 11 states below the Mason-Dixon line seceded from the Union and declared themselves the Confederate States of America. The Civil War had begun, and battles raged at multiple sites. As a major manufacturer of military resources and munitions for the Confeder-ate cause, Selma was at the center of some of the conflict’s most contested struggles, and evidence of the role the city played in the Civil War can still be seen and felt today at several historic sites.

the Battle of selma re-enaCtment

In 1865, the resources supporting Rebel forces were wearing thin, and the Naval Ordinance Works, Army Arsenal and the city’s Ironclad Shipyard were the South’s last chance for contin-ued resistance. Union General Wilson and his

men were tasked with the destruction of these facilities. Selma’s defenses were strong, and the Confederate troops here were being led by General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a man who had never lost a battle. But his winning streak came to a bloody end on April 2, when Wilson succeeded in his mission, destroying the arsenals and much of the city in his siege.

Today, over 145 years later, you can watch this historic event lit-erally come alive as hundreds of dedicated Civil War re-enactors re-create the sights and sounds of the 1860s and each tragic turn of the Battle of Selma. This weekend-long event includes opportunities to experience the rustic life of a soldier. Listen to the era’s music, shop at authentic camp stores, tour the reconstructed defenses, attend a camp dance and hear the cannons and artillery firing, just as they did so long ago.

the old depot museum

The Old Depot Museum offers visitors a tour through the colorful past of Selma, with a particular focus on Selma’s place in the Civil War. A cameo of Elodie Todd Dawson, Abraham Lincoln’s sister-in-law and a rabid confederate, offers a poignant reminder that the Civil War split many families asunder.

the vaughan-smitherman museum

First built in 1847 by the Selma Fraternal Lodge No. 27 of the Free and Accepted Masons as a school for orphans and children of indi-gent Masons, the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum is one of Selma’s most beautiful structures as well as one of its most historic. Its sig-nificance during the Civil War was established when it served as a Confederate Hospital. The need for this humanitarian service may have influenced Federal General J.H. Wilson to spare the building when his troops ravished Selma in early April, 1865.

Did You Know?some of the largest cannons used in the Civil War, including the infamous Brooke Cannon, the most powerful muzzle-loaded cannon ever made, were manufactured in selma.

History Made Here

discover the prominent role selma played in the drama and intrigue of the Civil War.

|CIVIL WAR

FIND A FAMOUS GRAVE AT OLD LIVE OAk CEMETERy

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Selma’s Old Live Oak Cemetery is the final resting place of many Civil War soldiers, and The Confed-erate Monument. Many other prominent Selmians

are interred at this beautiful, historic cemetery as well, includ-ing William Rufus King, founder of Selma, U.S. Senator and U.S. Vice President; Elodie Todd Dawson, sister of Mary Todd Lincoln; and John Tyler Morgan, Confederate General who became a U.S. Senator and Father of the Panama Canal.


Join the funWhile you’re here, get in on the action at any one of Selma’s exciting, entertaining annual events.

MARCH

Bridge Crossing Jubilee

Historic Selma Pilgrimage

ArtsRevive Annual Art Show

APRIL

Battle of Selma Re-Enactment

MAy

Streetfest

JUNEJuneteenth

OCTOBER

Central Alabama Fair

Riverfront Market Day

Tale Tellin’ Festival

Haunted History Tours

NOVEMBER

Kenan’s Mill Bluegrass Festival

West Dallas Antique Tractor, Car,

Gas Engine & Craft Show

DECEMBER

Christmas Parade

Holiday FestivalVisit: selmaalabama.com for event details and specific dates.

Willie Harris

Photo by Willie Harris

Central alabama’s

PREMIERBRIDAL REGISTRY

Founded circa 1845 as G.l. & J.r. Poor

121 Broad StreetTwo Blocks from Historic Edmund Pettus Bridge

1-800-264-4616www.butlertruaxjewelers.com

FEATURINGCentral Alabama’s Largest Selection of Vera Bradley Handbags & Accessories

Cahawba Crafts: Hand Made Crosses & Other Crafts Made in Alabama

Specializing in Elegantly Cool Stuff Our sister store located next door to the jewelry store.

Arte Italica

Dana Whittman

Juliska

Skyros

Bernaudaud

Lenox

Mikasa

Noritake

Reed & Barton

Waterford

Annie GlassHand Made in America

Enrico Wood

Beatriz BallAlabama’s Largest Selection

Empire PewterMade in America

Royal Selangor Pewter

Vagabond Pewter

Chamilia Beads

Pickup Sticks

Burt’s Bees

Jim Shore

Tervis Tumblers

Yankee Candle

Casafina

Earthborn PotteryHand Made in Leeds, AlAlabama’s Largest Selection

Mandy Bagwell

Vietri

Herend

Mottahedah

Pickard

Spode

Wedgewood

Tamara Childs Art GlassHand Made in America

Peterman Wood Bowls & AccessoriesHand Made in America

Michael Aram

Salisbury PewterMade in America

Waxing Poetic

Viva Beads

Caldrea

Shelley Kyle

Willow Tree

Business Founded as G.L. &

J. R. Poor Proprietors were

brothers from Boston.

Business Transferred to E. H. Hobbs’

Son-In-Law, Truman McGill. Name

Changed to Hobbs & McGill.

Business Sold to Store’s

Jeweler, Isidore Hix. Name

Changed to I.J. Hix.Business Sold to Roger &

Dolly Butler Upon Death of

I. J. Hix. Name Changes to

Roger Butler Jewelers.

Business Transferred to S.F. Hobbs’

Younger Brother, E. H. Hobbs.

Name Changed to E. H. Hobbs.

Business Sold to Samuel Freeman Hobbs

New Owner was a Young Entrepreneur from

Boston. Name Changes to S.F. Hobbs

Business Transferred to the Butler’s Daughter & Son-In-Law,

Doris & Jim Truax. Name Changed to Butler Truax Jewel-

ers. Moved into Present Location... October 15, 2002... Upon

Completing Restoration of the S. H. Kress & Co. Building (circa

1928). Renovation Incorporated Antique Mahogany Fixtures

from E. H. Hobbs’ Store 1919 Remodeling.

1845 1859 1870 1915 1919 1932 1964 1980 2002

Alabama’s Largest Selection of Debbie Brooks Designer Handbags

Specializing inFine Jewelry & Watches,

Bridal Registry & Fine Gifts, Estate Jewelry & Silver


FISHING, BOATING, WILDLIFE WATCHING

Dallas County State Public Fishing Lake800 Co. Rd. 6, Sardis334-874-8804

Cast a line at this 100-acre lake and fish for bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish from a rented boat or the fishing pier.

Paul M. Grist State Park1546 Grist Rd 334-872-5846

Rent a canoe or small boat for fishing or just exploring the park’s 100-acre lake. View a variety of trees, plants and wildlife, including a wide array of migrating birds like the Easter Wood-Pewee, the Wood Thrush, American Restart and more. This tranquil park also has ample hiking trails.

Catfish PondsAll along Highway 80, com-mercial catfish ponds dot the fields. Among these ponds are multiple species of birds and other animals. Look for Wood Storks, Snowy Egrets and Great Blue Herons. Raptors are also around. Watch for Northern

Herriers and Red-Tailed Hawks.Cahaba RiverTwo canoe launch sites at Old Cahawba; one at Hwy. 22 bridge.

The lovely Cahaba is Alabama’s longest free-flowing river and one of the most biologically diverse areas in the country. Its waters offer a relaxing ride for

canoeing. Paddle while watch-ing for birds and other creatures or pull up to a sandbar and en-joy a picnic lunch. Find detailed river maps and more at the Old Cahawba Visitor Center.

HUNTING LANDS & LODGES

dallas County

Alabama River LodgeSardis334-874-4445 www.alariver.com

Blackwell Bend Hunting Selma205-516-9084 www.blackwellbendhunting.com

Blackbelt Hunting [email protected]

Bow & Gun ClubSelma334-996-8190

Briarpatch Hunting PreserveBrowns334-683-8039

Casey Hunting CampMinter334-872-4657www.caseyhuntingcamp.com

Hamilton Hills Plantation, Inc.Minter334-875-5704www.hamiltonhillsplantation.com

Tatum Creek Hunting CampMarion Junction334-418-6980www.tatumcreek.com

Valley Creek OutdoorsSelma334-872-0491www.valleycreekoutdoors.com

|SEE & DO

Hike through forests and glens, observing rare birds. relax on a tranquil paddle trip. Fish for abundant bass, crappie, catfish

and bream at numerous locations along the Alabama river and in area lakes. or go after a trophy buck or flush out some quail

— outdoor enthusiasts can do it all in and around selma.

OUTDOORADVENTURES

Did You Know?Dallas County and the five counties that adjoin it are known throughout the United States as the “Whitetail Deer Capital of the Nation,” for having more white-tailed deer per acre than any other region in Alabama. Also, Alabama has more deer per acre than any state in the Union. The region also has its fair share of turkey, as well as almost every species of small game you can imagine.

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Art has power, and in Selma, a dedicated group of volunteers is working to use that power to re-invigorate and revitalize the city and surrounding areas. Founded in 2003, ArtsRevive’s mission is to: “enhance community development in the greater historic Selma region through the develop-ment of arts, urban design and tourism while preserving the diverse cultural heritage of the region.”

Local artist Vicky Stoudenmire and others saw the potential just waiting to be tapped in Selma, and ArtsRevive was her brainchild. “I was talking with some other artists about how lovely Selma is and our desire to preserve and enhance it through art,” she said. “Anytime you boost arts in a community it is economically beneficial, but we needed an organization to really focus the effort, so we started ArtsRevive.”

President Fran Pearce agreed. “Selma is a beautiful town with such beautiful architecture and rich history,” she said. “The opportunities to improve upon that are endless.”

While spurring and supporting eco-nomic development is ArtsRevive’s goal, creativity is its tool. ArtsRevive’s board is comprised of a diverse array of talented area artists and those who love the arts all

CELEBRATE A SELMA ARTIST

Charlie Lucas, aka “The Tin Man,” has been fascinating art aficionados, casual observers and everyone in between with his fanciful sculp-tures often created from bits and pieces of metal and other materials others have discarded as scrap.

Dubbed “found object art,” under the influ-ence of the Tin Man’s hands, this process has resulted in some amazing expressions of cre-ativity. This self-taught artist now helps others find their gift. At his studio in Selma, Lucas hosts art students from Auburn University for workshops as part of their studies. He’s also an honorary ArtsRevive board member.

A rtMeets Economicsselma’s Artsrevive is harnessing the power of creativity to enhance the city’s future.


working together. One of ArtsRevive’s major projects is

the transformation of the old Carneal Auto building in downtown Selma into the ArtsRevive Center, a space for offices, art shows, art workshops and other com-munity events.

A very visible project came about four years ago, when ArtsRevive partnered with other arts groups to embellish the city with butterflies decorated by local artists. (The butterflies have been removed from street corners and can now be found in local businesses around town.)

And that’s what ArtsRevive is really all about: bringing people together to reach a common goal. “We’ve brought groups together to accomplish things we couldn’t do by ourselves,” Pearce explained. “We see art as a wonderful unifier for our diverse community.”

Its many collaborations keep the area’s cultural calendar full of exciting events. In the past year, ArtsRevive has brought the

Montgomery Ballet to perform in Selma, brought live theatre in the form of an Ala-bama Shakespeare Festival play and taken on the role of hosting the famous Alabama Tale Tellin Festival at the late Kathryn Tucker Windham’s request (which it will

do again this year). It has also been in-strumental in the continuation of Selma’s local theatre group Encore’s Off Broad Street Productions. ArtsRevive is also involved with the long-running Market Day, helping the event bring in more and new artists to show and sell their works. The second annual Street Fest will be held in May 2012.

Finally, March 10, 2012 marks ArtsRe-vive’s 10th “Calling All Artists Art Show,” a statewide art show that will be held in the finished Carneal Building. “It’s great to see it hit 10 years,” Pearce said. “This event was the real beginning of ArtsRe-vive, and over the last decade our vision of the arts making a difference in our town is catching on. We’re looking forward to partnering with even more groups to achieve our mission.”

Learn more about ArtsRevive and its upcoming events and projects at www.artsrevive.com.


“Art for All” could be the motto of the Selma Art Guild, a local group that runs the city’s only permanent art gallery showcasing the talents of area artists. Started in 1970, the Guild welcomes anyone and everyone to its gallery housed in a historic craftsman-style bungalow to see and enjoy paintings, sculptures, drawings, photography, fiber arts and more for free, as the gallery never charges admission.

As Sally Jordan, the Guild’s current president, explained, the Guild occupies an important place in the heart of its community. “We give artists the chance to exhibit their creative endeavors while also giving our residents and visitors the opportunity to view the work as well as buy it to add to their home or office décor,” she said.

Approximately 30 different artists working in various media are represented in the gallery in over 200 pieces that are all for sale. And what’s on the walls and on display is constantly changing and

always fresh. A specific artist is highlighted each month in the gallery’s front room, and to kick-off each “Artist of the Month,” the gallery holds a free reception with food and drink in the after-noon of the second Sunday of the month.

Special events throughout the year encourage the public to enjoy all that the Guild and its gallery offer. On four Friday nights a year (one each season), the gallery offers Friday Night Art Walks with food and drinks that invite folks to stroll through the gallery after work and unwind with art. Other events include a Juried Youth Art Show in May, a Juried Art Show in June as well as workshops

and lectures. In February, the Guild hosts one of its most interesting exhibits, “Trashy Chic for Green People,” which showcases reusable items made into wearable art. “Each of our artists comes up with a ‘green’ outfit,” Jordan said.

She stressed why art should play a prominent role in any community. “Artists and their work let us see the world in a different perspective. It confirms our comfort level or expands our parameters,” she said.

|SEE & DO

Showing Offthe selma Art Guild touts the talents of area artists.

WANNA GO?

Selma Art Guild Gallery 508 Selma Ave

Open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4pmOpen second Sunday of each month for artist’s reception from 2 to 4pm

Find more information about special events on the Guild’s facebook page or call 334-875-4262.

WANNA CREATE?

The Selma Art Guild is now offering week-end art classes and holding scheduled “paint parties.” Call 334-875-4262 to find out what’s currently on the schedule.


Much can be learned about the character and heritage of a place simply by looking at its architecture. This is certainly true in Selma; it is one of the few towns in the United States with so much impressive architectural variety in such a small area. Many of the over 1,200 old houses you can observe boast architectural significance that goes far beyond the stories of the families who built or lived in them. Indeed, the city’s homes, buildings, churches and other structures reveal its rich past in every arch, window, column and deep porch.

But many of these structures could have been lost forever, slowly destroyed by years of neglect, if not for the efforts of The Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society, a group of concerned citizens (all volunteers) that’s been working to preserve the city’s history by protecting its architectural gems. Since

SDCHPS began in the early 1970s, it has saved at least half a dozen buildings by purchasing and reselling them, sometimes renovating them first.

Issuing the city’s historic designation plaques is another of its functions, as Candi Duncan, SDCHPS’s treasurer, explained. “We issue the plaques to denote interest in properties,” she said.

As you’re exploring Selma, you’ll notice the multiple markers. A blue plaque means

the structure was built prior to the Civil War; a yellow plaque in-dicates it was built in between the end of the Civil War and 1910; a green plaque means the structure was constructed after 1910 but is at least 50 years old.

Duncan stressed the importance of historic preservation. “You can’t move forward if you don’t know where you’ve been, and a part of all of our histories is in these homes, structures and churches.”

Homes History Builtuncover selma’s secrets and discover its multi-layered history as seen in its wide array of architectural styles.

MUST-SEE SITES

The places and landmarks in Selma with architectural significance are too numer-ous to list here, but we’ve highlighted a

few of the best. To see and learn more, ask for the complete self-guided Architecture & History tour booklet at the Selma Welcome Center.

• Butler Truax Jewelers • Heritage Village• Brownstone Manor • Henderson House• Weaver-Hooper House • Sturdivant Hall• Brown Chapel A.M.E Church

HALLELUJAH HISTORy

Selma’s many churches reflect a wide array of architectural styles and time periods.

• Queen of Peace Catholic Church• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church• First Presbyterian Church• Temple Mishkan Israel• Church Street United Methodist• First Baptist Church of Selma• Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church• Green Street Baptist Church• Tabernacle Baptist Church


Butler Truax Jewelers125 Broad St334-874-4616

Offering charms, a beautiful “Selma” plat-ter and Selma Christmas ornaments. They also feature Mandy Bagwell’s colorful, whimsical plates and collections. Mandy Bagwell is a well-known artist raised in Selma.

Carter Drug Company133 Broad St334-875-7223

Offering Selma cookbooks, books by local authors (some autographed), magnets, Gannt’s candy and Marion Honey (both local treats).

Mark’s MartLocated on Landline Rd334-872-3003

Offering Gannt’s candy, a variety of “Patty Cakes” products including tasty “Cheddar Blossoms, Marion honey and Lyon’s candles.

National Voting Rights Museum6 Highway 80 E334-418-0800

Offering shirts, books, magnets, key chains and Voting Rights commemorative items.

Old Depot Museum4 Martin Luther King St334-874-2197

Offering Selma postcards, (both antique and current) and an assortment of books.

Pilcher-McBryde Drug Company101 Broad St334-875-7208

Offering T-shirts, spoons, bells and candle holders.

Sturdivant Hall Gift Shop713 Mabry St334-872-5626

Offering Selma tote bags and t-shirts, cookbooks (including “The Lady of Cot-ton”), books, pencils, mugs, note cards and books by famous Selma author Kathryn Tucker Windham.

Swift Drug Store217 Broad St334- 874-4651

Offering a variety of Selma souvenirs.

Truax & Company121 Broad St334-874-9600

Offering cookbooks, Kathryn Tucker Windham books and tapes and Pat Labbe’s tasty “Cheddar Blossoms.”

Junebugg’s Flea & Antique Mall1302 E. Highland Ave334-875-3532

Offering consignment pieces from locals — treasure abounds!

Cotton House1001 Alabama Avenue334-872-1899

The best source for Selma Alabama Tees - Pick up or order!

Treasure HuntsGet your fill of “selma-Made” stuff at these local retailers.

|SEE & DO


Performing Arts Centre1000 Selma Ave334-874-2145Visit the authentically restored Walton Theatre & Courtyard. Today the Performing Art Center hosts a variety of events that enhance the cultural of Selma. Open Mon-Fri, 9-5pm and 10 -1pm on Sat.

Selma Art Guild Gallery508 Selma Ave334-874-9017Paintings in all mediums and pottery items are shown by many area artists in this turn of the century cottage. Open Fri-Sat, 12-4pm.

Selma Children’s Museum816 Selma Ave 334-505-5192www.selmacm.org

This small museum is designed for children’s big imaginations

and includes hands-on, interac-tive exhibits sure to get kids thinking and to enrich their education by seeing, doing and creating. Open Mon-Sat, 10-2pm. Admission charged.

Selma Public Library1103 Selma Ave 334-874-1720

A wide variety of books and all city and county information is available. Open Mon-Sat, 9-5pm.

Selma Walton Theater 1000 Selma Ave334-874-6691

Call for showtimes and ticket prices. See page 17 for more information.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY

TRACE yOUR ROOTS

To learn more about who and where you came from, sometimes you have to dig deep. But the Selma Public Library has a collection of genealogy resources that provide help. The Resource Room contains a section specific to Alabama history searchable by counties; a family history room; Alabama Census records; the official records of both the Union and Confederate armies; and more. Contact the library at 334-874-1720 for more information.

PLAN A REUNION TO REMEMBERSelma-Dallas County Tourism is on hand to help you plan the perfect family reunion with these time-tested do’s and don’ts.

Plan ahead. Booking rooms and creating an itinerary at least 12 to 18 months ahead will give you more options in offsite venues, hotel space and more

flexibility on dates. Work with Selma-Dallas County Tourism and take advantage of its expertise. Since it works with groups of all sizes all the time, the Tourism department is a great resource.

Begin with a fixed budget and stick to it. With advances in technol-ogy, it’s easier than ever to keep a reunion budget from blowing up. Use the web and emails more than paper mailings for invitations and updates. You can also communicate through a reunion facebook page.

Put together welcome packets for each attendee, and front the pack-age with “Letter of Welcome” from the City of Selma. Selma-Dallas Tourism can assist and provide step-on tour guides, itinerary planning, promotional items, photography, theme tours and package tours.

Though activities for reunion guests are important, don’t over-schedule the itinerary. After all, the purpose of a reunion is to “reunite” attendees. Make sure there’s enough free time for casual reconnecting.

America’s Best Value Inn 1915 West Highland Avenue334-872-1900

Budget Inn601 Highland Avenue334-872-3451

Comfort Inn1812 Highway 14 East334-875-5700

Craig Motel1134 US Highway 80 East334-875-3150

Days Inn and Suites1125 Highland Avenue334-872-0014

Economy Inn2322 Highway 80334-875-1212

Hospitality Inn1200 Highland Avenue334-874-6681

Hampton Inn2200 West Highland Avenue334-876-9995

Historic Selma Hotel1806 West Highland Avenue334-872-0461

Holiday Inn Express and Suites2000 Lincoln Way334-874-1000

Jameson Inn Selma2420 Broad Street334-874-8600

Resident Suites2006 West Highland Avenue334-875-1200

St James Hotel1200 Water Ave334-872-3234

Selma Hotels

official selma visitor guide 2012

Documents

selma welcome center

songs of selma park

s i t o r g u i d eo

selmas windshield tour

additional visitor information

s i t o r g u i d ewelcome

selmas ghost tour

visitor guidestart