2012 EDITION
History Lives Here Art & Architecture Abound Savor Southern Flavors
Welcome to the Queen City! OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE
Publisher Pam Mashburn
Selma-Dallas County Director of Tourism Candace Johnson
Editor Jennifer Kornegay
Art Director
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 attractions. 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.
Bryan Carter
Design Carter Photography & Design
On-site Project Manager Elizabeth Holland
Photography Bryan Carter Janet Gresham Cunningham Group Catherine Pittman Smith Photography Mary 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:
exploreMedia 7956 Vaughn Rd #331, Montgomery AL 36116 (334) 201-8787 info@exploreMedia.org 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.
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Welcome to Selma
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Eat & Drink
24 Arts
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See & Do
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Shopping Selma Style
912 Selma Avenue, Selma, AL 36701 334-875-7241 1-800-45-SELMA (73562) info@SelmaAlabama.com www.SelmaAlabama.com
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Civil Rights
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Culture & Community
16 Navigate
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Plan a Reunion
Cover Photo by Carter Photography & Design
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Selma Hotels
For additional visitor information, please contact:
Selma-Dallas County Tourism
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2012 Visitor Guide
Civil War
Outdoor Adventures
Things We Love About Selma
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. Confederate Chronicles
Selma was one of the major munitions manufactures for the Confederacy in the Civil War making it a prime Union target and the location of some serious battles.
Street Scenes
All along Historic Water Avenue, you’ll find sites of signifigance to both the Civil War and The Civil Rights Movement, including the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge and the beginning of the Selma to Montgomery Trail, the Songs of Selma Park and the Bridge Tender’s House.
Bigger & Better
Take 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 Ground
Some of the loveliest examples of Selma’s architectural variety and skill can be observed in the many old churches scattered throughout 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 Stories
A century after the Civil War, Selma made history again as the site of some of the most infamous events in the Civil Rights Movement including “Bloody Sunday” and the successful Selma-to-Montgomery March, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Haunts & Haints
With more than a century of history predating 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 the Welcome Center. And if you visit in late October, participate in the Haunted History Tour weekend featuring Selma and Old Cahawba. But don’t get too frightened. While their tales may send a shiver up your spine, Selma’s “ghosts” are all friendly.
Outdoor Adventures
Sitting 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 Freshness
Get 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 Artistry
Selma 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’ individual imaginations.
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EAT& DRINK
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The Coffee Shoppe
The Selma House Tea Room
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.
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 accompaniments. 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.
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2012 Visitor Guide
Tally-Ho Restaurant
THE Restaurant On Grumbles Alley
Southern Girls 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.
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.
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.
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| EAT & DRINK
China Star
New Orleans Bar & Grill
Selma Family Restaurant
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 specialities 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.
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 tomato, onion and banana pepper salsa with cheddar cheese melted over it all.
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 vegetables. 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.
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Did You Know?
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 BradMoore’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.
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.
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| EAT & DRINK Seafood / Steak / Chicken Brad Moore’s H 5518 Alabama Hwy 22 334-872-3337 New Orleans Bar & Grill H 8 Mulberry Rd 334-874-6400 Oasis Steakhouse 1629 West Highland Ave 334-526-2601 The Restaurant on Grumbles Alley 1300 Water Ave 334-872-2006 St. James Hotel 1200 Water Ave 334-872-3234
BBQ Golden Ranch BBQ 2003 W Highland Ave 334-874-1777
SELMA RESTAURANTS H Chamber Member Golden China 128 Broad St 334-872-2778
Jacks 1806 W. Dallas Ave 334-872-2488
Pizza Hut 307 Highland Ave 334-875-6700
Fast Food
Kentucky Fried Chicken 1326 E Highland Ave 334-872-7513
Popeye’s Chicken 1221 Highland Ave 334-877-0681
Little Caesars 1330 E Highland Ave 334-874-1298
Buffalo Street 1332 E Highland Ave 334-877-3434
McDonalds 600 Highland Ave 334-874-9122
SONIC Drive In H 2407 N Broad St 334-875-2594
Hancock’s BBQ H 72 County Rd 46 334-872-5541
All-In-One-Shop 3000 Earl Goodwin Pkwy 334-874-7002
Hickory Pit 1700 Selma Ave 334-874-9950
Burger King 312 Highland Ave 334-874-8300
Lannie’s BBQ Spot 2115 Minter Ave 334-874-4478
Captain D’s H 1516 W Highland Ave 334-872-7000
Lannie’s BBQ 205 Medical Ctr Pkwy 334-872-8573
Chinese
Steak Pit 208 Highland Ave 334-875-7707
China Star 1798 Hwy 14 E 334-875-3603
Tally-Ho H 509 Mangum Ave 334-872-1390
China Wok 1374 Highland Ave 334-872-8848
Central Park USA 1376 Highland Ave 334-875-9551 Church’s Fried Chicken 1208 Broad St 334-877-1129 Domino’s Pizza 1809 W Highland Ave 334-875-8060 Hardees 1401 Highland Ave 334-872-8351
Mr. Waffle 1518 W Highland Ave 334-874-7600 Pancake House 1617 Broad St 334-875-9900 Papa John’s Pizza 210 Highland Ave 334-875-7771 Pete’s Famous Franks 1611 Broad St 334-872-5557
Southern Deli 1391 E Highland Ave 334-872-1242 Strong’s Sandwich Shop 118 Washington Street 334-874-9366 Subway 1342 Highland Ave 334-874-9471 1909 W Dallas Ave 334-872-9222 3057 Hwy 80 E 334-875-5095 2530 Hwy 80 W 334-874-8764
r Taco Bell H 303 Highland Ave 334-872-6034
Taylor’s Restaurant Cecil Jackson Bypass 334-872-5482
Wendy’s 405 Highland Ave 334-875-5194
Vasser’s 1900 W Dallas Ave 334-418-0560
Zaxby’s H 618 Highland Ave 334-872-6591
Mexican
Meat & Three Downtowner Restaurant 1114 Selma Ave 334-875-5933 Essie’s Place 2322 Hwy 80 334-875-1850 Ramada Inn 1710 W Highland Ave 334-872-0461 Southern Girls 2808 Citizens Pkwy 334-874-0090
El Ranchero 113 Broad St 334-872-6013
Specialty Dallas County Produce & Seafood 2899 1⁄2 Citizen Pkwy 334-874-6941 Mark’s Mart H 1022 County Rd 44 334-872-3003 Selma House Tea Room H 700 Tremont Street 334-418-1635 The Coffee Shoppe H 308 Broad Street 334-878-2739
HISTORY& HERITAGE
| SEE & DO
Old Cahawba 9518 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 Spanishmoss-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. Brown Chapel AME Church and King Monument
Old Depot Museum 4 Martin Luther King St 334-874-2197
See artifacts and exhibits from the Civil War through Civil Rights history. Open Mon-Fri, 10- 4pm. Group Tours Sat by appointment. Admission charged.
Old Live Oak Cemetery
410 Martin Luther King St 334-874-7897 www.historicbrownchapelamec-selma.org
Highway 22 W/West Dallas Ave
Visit the headquarters for the 1965 voting rights marches.
Discover the monuments to Vice President William Rufus King and Congressman Benjamin Sterling Turner.
Historic Water Avenue
Old Town Historic District
View the world-famous Edmund Pettus Bridge and Songs of Selma Park at the corner of Water and Broad overlooking the Alabama 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.
View up to 1,250 structures dating from 1820s. Printed tour maps are available at the Centre for Commerce.
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National Voting Rights Museum & Institute 6 Hwy. 80 E 334-418-0800 www.nvrm.org
View memorabilia honoring the attainment of Voting Rights. Mon-Fri, 10-4pm; Sat, 10-2pm; Sun by appointment.
Edmund Pettus Bridge Intersection Broad St & Water Ave
This famous Civil Rights landmark represents a pivotal point in Voting Rights.
Slavery & Civil War Museum 1410 Water Ave 334-418-0800 nvrm.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.
detached kitchen, gift shop and formal garden. Open Tues-Sat 10-4pm. Closed on Mon. Admission charged.
Did You Know?
Vaughan-Smitherman Museum 109 Union St 334-874-2174
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. Admission charged.
Kenan’s Mill 188 County Road 236 1-800-45-Selma kenansmill.selmaalabama.com
Sturdivant Hall Museum 713 Mabry St 334-872-5626 www.sturdivanthall.com
Visit one of the South’s best and most beautiful examples of a Greek Revival antebellum home. Tour includes the house,
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 Buchanan donated it to the SDHPS in 1997, restoration is ongoing with the mill fully operational and open during special events.
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.
Selma-Dallas County Museum of History and Archives, Inc.
Old Depot Museum The Old Depot Museum invites you to share the area's memories and take a moment to look back and reflect on Selma and Dallas County’s cultural heritage. The many exhibits and collections from the world of yesterday will charm, educate and inspire you. The Old Depot Museum is a historical experience for everyone and we are waiting to welcome you. 4 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street (at the foot of Historic Water Ave)
Selma, Alabama 36701 334-874-2197
Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday by appointment
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| CIVIL RIGHTS
Marching Forward Civil Rights events in and around Selma provide
The 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 doorstep. 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 grandfather from assault. His senseless death motivated the Selma to Montgomery March. On March 7, Reverend Hosea Williams and John Lewis stepped
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moving examples of what ordinary people can do.
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
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 Voting 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 Street 334-872-0509
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.
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) 877-1984 www.nps.gov/semo/index/htm
Selma Interpretive Center on The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail www.nps.gov/semo/index.htm
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 land- marks 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.
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A L A B AM A H I S TO R I C AL COM M IS S IO N
Selma House Tea Room Butler - Truax Jewelers
Old Depot Museum
| CIVIL WAR
History Made Here
Discover the prominent role Selma played in the drama and intrigue of the Civil War. 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 Confederate 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 continued 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 literally come alive as hundreds of dedicated Civil War re-enactors recreate 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. 18
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Did You Know?
Some of the largest cannons used in the Civil War, including the infamous Brooke Cannon, the most powerful muzzleloaded cannon ever made, were manufactured in Selma.
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 sisterin-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 indigent Masons, the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum is one of Selma’s most beautiful structures as well as one of its most historic. Its significance 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.
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 Confederate Monument. Many other prominent Selmians are interred at this beautiful, historic cemetery as well, including 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 Fun While you’re here, get in on the action at any one of Selma’s exciting, entertaining annual events.
MARCH
OCTOBER
Bridge Crossing Jubilee Historic Selma Pilgrimage ArtsRevive Annual Art Show
Central Alabama Fair Riverfront Market Day Tale Tellin’ Festival Haunted History Tours
APRIL Battle of Selma Re-Enactment
NOVEMBER
Streetfest
Kenan’s Mill Bluegrass Festival West Dallas Antique Tractor, Car, Gas Engine & Craft Show
JUNE
DECEMBER
Juneteenth
Christmas Parade Holiday Festival
MAY
Visit: selmaalabama.com for event details and specific dates.
Willie Harris
Photo by Willie Harris
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Specializing in Fine Jewelry & Watches, Bridal Registry & Fine Gifts, Estate Jewelry & Silver Alabama’s Largest Selection of Debbie Brooks Designer Handbags
Founded circa 1845 as G.l. & J.r. Poor 121 Broad Street Two Blocks from Historic Edmund Pettus Bridge
1-800-264-4616
www.butlertruaxjewelers.com
Central alabama’s
PREMIER
BRIDAL REGISTRY Arte Italica Dana Whittman
Casafina
Juliska
Earthborn Pottery Hand Made in Leeds, Al Alabama’s Largest Selection
Skyros
Mandy Bagwell
Bernaudaud Lenox Mikasa Noritake Reed & Barton Waterford
Vietri Herend Mottahedah Pickard Spode Wedgewood
Annie Glass Hand Made in America
Tamara Childs Art Glass Hand Made in America
Enrico Wood
Peterman Wood Bowls & Accessories Hand Made in America
Beatriz Ball Alabama’s Largest Selection Empire Pewter Made in America Royal Selangor Pewter Vagabond Pewter
Michael Aram Salisbury Pewter Made in America
1845
1859
Business Founded as G.L. & J. R. Poor Proprietors were brothers from Boston.
1870 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
1
Busines Son-In Ch
bbs’ . s.
Specializing in Elegantly Cool Stuff
Our sister store located next door to the jewelry store.
FEATURING Central Alabama’s Largest Selection of Vera Bradley Handbags & Accessories Cahawba Crafts: Hand Made Crosses & Other Crafts Made in Alabama
Chamilia Beads Pickup Sticks Burt’s Bees
Waxing Poetic Viva Beads Caldrea
Jim Shore
Shelley Kyle
Tervis Tumblers
Willow Tree
Yankee Candle
1915
1919
Business Transferred to E. H. Hobbs’ Son-In-Law, Truman McGill. Name Changed to Hobbs & McGill.
1932
1964
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.
1980
2002
Business Transferred to the Butler’s Daughter & Son-In-Law, Doris & Jim Truax. Name Changed to Butler Truax Jewelers. 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.
| SEE & DO
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
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.
Did You Know? deer-pictures
.com
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.
Fishing, Boating, Wildlife Watching Dallas County State Public Fishing Lake 800 Co. Rd. 6, Sardis 334-874-8804
Cast a line at this 100-acre lake and fish for bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish from a rented boat or the fishing pier.
Catfish Ponds
All along Highway 80, commercial 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.
ing for birds and other creatures or pull up to a sandbar and enjoy a picnic lunch. Find detailed river maps and more at the Old Cahawba Visitor Center.
Casey Hunting Camp Minter 334-872-4657 www.caseyhuntingcamp.com
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.
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Bow & Gun Club Selma 334-996-8190 Briarpatch Hunting Preserve Browns 334-683-8039
Paul M. Grist State Park 1546 Grist Rd 334-872-5846
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Blackbelt Hunting Lodge Sardis 334-875-5604 info@blackbeltlodge.com
Hunting Lands & Lodges Cahaba River Two 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-
2012 Visitor Guide
Dallas County Alabama River Lodge Sardis 334-874-4445 www.alariver.com Blackwell Bend Hunting Selma 205-516-9084 www.blackwellbendhunting.com
Hamilton Hills Plantation, Inc. Minter 334-875-5704 www.hamiltonhillsplantation.com Tatum Creek Hunting Camp Marion Junction 334-418-6980 www.tatumcreek.com Valley Creek Outdoors Selma 334-872-0491 www.valleycreekoutdoors.com
A rt Meets Economics Selma’s ArtsRevive is harnessing the power of creativity to enhance the city’s future.
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 development 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 economic 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 sculptures often created from bits and pieces of metal and other materials others have discarded as scrap. Dubbed “found object art,” under the influence of the Tin Man’s hands, this process has resulted in some amazing expressions of creativity. 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.
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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 community 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 Alabama 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 instrumental 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 ArtsRevive’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 ArtsRevive, 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.
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| SEE & DO
Showing Off The Selma Art Guild touts the talents of area artists.
“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 craftsmanstyle 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 afternoon 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.
Wanna Go? Selma Art Guild Gallery 508 Selma Ave
Open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4pm Open 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 weekend art classes and holding scheduled “paint parties.” Call 334-875-4262 to find out what’s currently on the schedule.
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Homes History Built
Uncover Selma’s secrets and discover its multi-layered history as seen in its wide array of architectural styles. 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 indicates 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.”
Must-See Sites The places and landmarks in Selma with architectural significance are too numerous 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
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| SEE & DO
Treasure Hunts Get your fill of “Selma-Made” stuff at these local retailers.
Butler Truax Jewelers 125 Broad St 334-874-4616
National Voting Rights Museum 6 Highway 80 E 334-418-0800
Swift Drug Store 217 Broad St 334- 874-4651
Offering charms, a beautiful “Selma” platter 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.
Offering shirts, books, magnets, key chains and Voting Rights commemorative items.
Offering a variety of Selma souvenirs.
Carter’s Drug Company 133 Broad St 334-875-7223
Offering Selma cookbooks, books by local authors (some autographed), magnets, Gannt’s candy and Marion Honey (both local treats).
Offering Gannt’s candy, a variety of “Patty Cakes” products including tasty “Cheddar Blossoms, Marion honey and Lyon’s candles.
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Offering Selma postcards, (both antique and current) and an assortment of books. Pilcher-McBryde Drug Company 101 Broad St 334-875-7208
Offering T-shirts, spoons, bells and candle holders. Sturdivant Hall Gift Shop 713 Mabry St 334-872-5626
Mark’s Mart Located on Landline Rd 334-872-3003
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Old Depot Museum 4 Martin Luther King St 334-874-2197
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Offering Selma tote bags and t-shirts, cookbooks (including “The Lady of Cotton”), books, pencils, mugs, note cards and books by famous Selma author Kathryn Tucker Windham.
Truax & Company 121 Broad St 334-874-9600
Offering cookbooks, Kathryn Tucker Windham books and tapes and Pat Labbe’s tasty “Cheddar Blossoms.” Also featuring “Cahawba Crafts” that are handmade by a local artist. Junebugg’s Flea & Antique Mall 1302 E. Highland Ave 334-875-3532
Offering consignment pieces from locals — treasure abounds! Cotton House 1001 Alabama Avenue 334-872-1899
The best source for Selma T-shirts. Pick up or order.
CULTURE & Community and includes hands-on, interactive exhibits sure to get kids thinking and to enrich their education by seeing, doing and creating. Open Mon-Sat, 102pm. Admission charged.
Performing Arts Centre 1000 Selma Ave 334-874-2145
Visit 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.
A wide variety of books and all city and county information is available. Open Mon-Sat, 9-5pm.
Selma Art Guild Gallery 508 Selma Ave 334-874-9017
Paintings in all mediums and pottery items are shown by many area artists in this turn of the century cottage. Open Fri-Sat, 12-4pm.
Trace Your Roots
Selma Public Library 1103 Selma Ave 334-874-1720
Selma Children’s Museum 816 Selma Ave 334-505-5192 www.selmacm.org
This small museum is designed for children’s big imaginations
Selma Walton Theater 1000 Selma Ave 334-874-6691
Call for showtimes and ticket prices. See page 17 for more information.
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 334-8741720 for more information.
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Plan a Reunion to Remember Selma-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 technology, 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 package 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 overschedule the itinerary. After all, the purpose of a reunion is to “reunite” attendees. Make sure there’s enough free time for casual reconnecting.
Selma Hotels America’s Best Value Inn 1915 West Highland Avenue 334-872-1900
Hampton Inn 2200 West Highland Avenue 334-876-9995
Budget Inn 601 Highland Avenue 334-872-3451
Historic Selma Hotel 1806 West Highland Avenue 334-872-0461
Comfort Inn 1812 Highway 14 East 334-875-5700
Holiday Inn Express and Suites 2000 Lincoln Way 334-874-1000
Craig Motel 1134 US Highway 80 East 334-875-3150
Jameson Inn Selma 2420 Broad Street 334-874-8600
Days Inn and Suites 1125 Highland Avenue 334-872-0014
Resident Suites 2006 West Highland Avenue 334-875-1200
Economy Inn 2322 Highway 80 334-875-1212
St James Hotel 1200 Water Ave 334-872-3234
Hospitality Inn 1200 Highland Avenue 334-874-6681