Florence, Alabama

Remember! Your vacation, your choices. Visit as many or few of the included attractions in Florence listed below at no cost. Explore the history behind the town that has tracked some of the greatest musical recordings of all time. FLORENCE TOURISM AND VISITOR CENTER

Make a stop at this information center to learn about Florence’s past, present, and future plans. Pick up some useful brochures and local maps that will help make the best of your time in the city and make sure to check out the unique merchandise! There will be free coffee, water, and lemonade available for guests, and a documentary about Muscle Shoals will be shown.

POPE’S TAVERN AND MUSEUM

This one time stagecoach stop, tavern and inn, now owned by the city, is one of the oldest structures in Florence. Both Confederate and Union Forces used it as a hospital during the War Between the States. It is located on what was known as Jackson’s Military Road and Andrew Jackson himself is said to have stopped here. The museum now houses a wealth of local history and pioneer artifacts.

KENNEDY-DOUGLASS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is a gallery, educational facility, museum, and a center for the coordination and promotion for cultural activity in the area. It is a home base and meeting place for cultural groups and a showcase and classroom for all arts disciplines. The center hosts a wide variety of rotating art exhibits, programs and activities. It also offers workshops and classes, concerts, and interesting lectures and programs.

W.C. HANDY HOME AND MUSEUM

Discover the life of William Christopher Handy, known as the “Father of the Blues.” Born in Florence, W.C. Handy has made a considerable contribution to the musical community, including such compositions as Memphis Blues, St. Louis Blues, and Beale Street Blues. The museum houses a collection of memorabilia, musical instruments, personal papers, and original sheet music. Handy’s famous trumpet and his personal piano are just a few of the items on display.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT ROSENBAUM HOUSE

A genuine work of art—from the floors to the furnishings to the faucets—the Rosenbaum House grows naturally from its surroundings, cascading down a 2-acre lot facing the Tennessee River. It is one of the purest examples of Usonian design (named for the USA) with open floor plans and rooms that naturally flow from one to another.

FLORENCE INDIAN MOUND AND MUSEUM

The Florence Indian Mound is the Tennessee Valley area’s largest domiciliary mound. It is typical workmanship of the Native American Indians who lived in this area before the Cherokees, Chickasaws, and Creeks. The museum contains Native American artifacts, dating back more than 10,000 years, arranged in chronological order.

FLORENCE PREMIUM EXPERIENCE SWEET HOME ALABAMA: A MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME INCLUDING MUSCLE SHOALS STUDIO AND THE ALABAMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME

PREMIUM EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

UNCOVER THE HIDDEN MELODIES OF ALABAMA

When thinking about America’s Deep South and its musical influence, images of Memphis’ Beale Street, Nashville’s Honky Tonks and hopping Juke Joints in the Mississippi Delta likely come to mind. What may not come to mind is the profound affect that the state of Alabama has had on Music in America. Uncover the hidden melodies of Alabama, on today’s experience through musical history in the region.

SOAK IN THE ECCENTRIC ENVIRONMENT

Begin your musical journey at the iconic Alabama Music Hall of Fame, an impressive 12,500 square-foot museum dedicated to revealing the story, accomplishments and success of musicians in every genre – ranging from finely orchestrated classical compositions to the uncoordinated, deep and raspy voices of folk music. You’ll pass glamorously sequined costumes, see the deep grooves engraved in some of the most coveted records from years of being replayed, hear the mechanical buzz resonate from authentic juke-boxes as the arm searches for the record and drops the needle on your favorite track, or gaze into the eyes of one of your icons as we pass by life-sized statues of musical legends.

DISCOVER MUSICAL LEGACIES

Then, travel back in time as we discover where many of these musical giants began their legacies. As we arrive at the Muscle Shoals Studio, it’s difficult to imagine how this humble building has harbored some of the most wellknown and respected artists of today. But in 1969, a group of four musicians worked together to create their very own recording studio, recording some of the most iconic music legends in history including, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan.