Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
The Shoals
Music, History, Culture
Jeff at Frank Lloyd Wright Museum
Ancient Mound in Florence
“The Shoals” covers four Alabama towns: Florence, Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. The area’s stimulating venues range from ancient archeological artifacts—one of the largest ancient Indian mounds in the Tennessee Valley is located here—to modern, world-influencing history and people. My first experience with Alabama’s northeast Shoals area was years back when I attended the W.C. Handy Music Festival honoring the “Father of the Blues.” The festival has been lauded by state and local government and selected as a Top Ten Event in Alabama. It’s held annually in the last full week of July on the scenic shores of the Tennessee River in McFarland Park. I will never forget the lively arrangements of the Dutch group Accoustrio singing Southern gospel and blues! My second connection was initiated by a phone call from Designer Kaitlin Wallace of Pillar & Peacock Interiors in Florence. Kaitlin called our Pike Road studio and ordered one of Cindy’s fabric designs. So, we drove up to meet the designers and enjoyed discovering one of Alabama’s most interesting and charming cities; and a sprawling
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Helen Keller at Well Statue
Shoals region with amazing history and culinary delights. The spectacular O’Neal Bridge spans the Tennessee River connecting these cities, and from its railings the Wilson Dam is visible upriver resembling a Roman aqueduct. One senses strength and courage in those structures not unlike that of Tuscumbia native Helen Keller, aka, “America’s First Lady of Courage.” At her childhood home, Ivy Green, we placed our hands on the very water pump where Miracle Worker Anne Sullivan achieved a communication breakthrough with blind-deaf little Helen, transforming her world from one of darkness to light. The “Miracle Worker” play is held on the grounds of Ivy Green weekends in June and July. This would make a great trip idea with the grands! And for those interested in architecture, the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Rosenbaum House in Florence is Wright’s only Alabama structure. Super-interesting tours of the home last about 45 minutes and are led by experienced interpreters. Other creatives like world-renown textile designers Billy Reid and Natalie
Jeff at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Chanin have returned home to the Shoals and have made prominent contributions to the local economy. Chanin’s company, called Alabama Chanin, produces “thoughtfully made goods for the person and the home.” She uses 100% organic cotton sourced from seed to fabric along with repurposed and reclaimed materials to create exquisite apparel. Her designs are locally sewn—that means made in the USA—and sold internationally. The company offers tours and workshops, and there’s an excellent café on site, as well. An excursion to the Shoals would be incomplete without a visit to two of Alabama’s most famous recording studios, FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Duane Allman, Otis Redding, the Osmond’s, Paul Anka, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Cher, Linda Ronstadt (my favorite) and many others passed through these doors. We attended the most fascinating presentations at these studios, giving us colorful insight into music history and, especially, the significant role this region of Alabama played. We also enjoyed visiting the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
