The BLACKBELT HUB & SPOKE TOUR
Brought to you by the
Selma-Dallas County Tourism & Convention Bureau
This and other touring plans are available by visiting the Center for Commerce at 912 Selma Avenue.
Make Selma, Alabama, "Queen City of the Blackbelt", your home for two nights and three days while you enjoy all that our region of Alabama has to offer. You'll find activities ranging from museum hopping to antique shopping and a full array of tempting delights to please any palate. Stroll down tree-lined streets and you'll feel like a Southern Belle will come around the corner in her hoop skirt carrying her parasol at any minute. BEGIN THE TOUR Day 1 History Lives in Selma . . . Discover hundreds of years of rich history from the Civil War through the Civil Rights. Spend the morning reminiscing about days long gone. Follow the "Windshield Tour" which takes you through the largest historic district in the state - with over 1,200 historic structures. Visit famous antebellum Sturdivant Hall, a Greek Revival mansion designed by the cousin of Confederate General Robert E. Lee; the Old Live Oak Cemetery, listed on the National Historic Register and the Smitherman Historic Building, which has served as a school, a hospital, a seat of government and a civic building. Lunch at one of Selma's several downtown eateries. Choose from a typical Southern café, a sandwich shop in a restored warehouse or a pub-like atmosphere where you can enjoy a walk along the river to refresh yourself after an indulgent meal. Afternoon - Be sure to make time for a visit to Brown Chapel AME Church, where Martin Luther King, Jr. launched the Voting Rights Movement; then follow the Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Walking Tour and head to the Old Depot Museum for a great tour. The Depot houses a wonderful collection of artifacts that covers a full two floors of display area. Some refer to the Depot as the "King to King" museum because it encompasses Selma's history from William Rufus King, a founder of Selma, through Martin Luther King. Notice the century-old buildings that warehoused King Cotton and Civil War munitions. Selma was the second largest arsenal in the South during the Civil War, therefore was targeted for destruction. Continue up Water Avenue, crossing the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge on your way to the National Voting Rights Museum Institute which houses memorabilia honoring the attainment of the right to vote. Dinner is served at one of our colorful night spots. You could choose the pub on the river bank or go a couple of miles north for the charming atmosphere of a 50+ year old dinner club. As always, BBQ is another popular choice during any visit to Selma.
Day 2 Head to Marion, hometown of Coretta Scott King, for a riding tour of Judson College and Marion Military Institute's campuses. Plan to visit the Women's Hall of Fame on the Judson Campus. Then off to visit Magnolia Grove, Lt. Richmond Pearson Hobson's boyhood home in Greensboro. Hobson became a noted hero in the Spanish American War. Have lunch at one of several local, family owned restaurants in Demopolis. Spend your afternoon touring Bluff Hall, built in 1832 as a father's gift to his daughter, and Gaineswood, both antebellum homes in Demopolis. Complete this day's circle by heading back to Selma. You can find a restaurant to please any palate, located around Selma for dinner.
Day 3 Visit Alabama's first capitol at Cahawba. You can visit the welcome center and the nature trails and see the ghost town that once was a thriving river town until floods and politics forced the move to higher grounds. Camden is your next stop for today's outing. Enjoy lunch and visit the downtown area which is on the National Historic Register. Drive by many antebellum homes in nearby residential neighborhoods. If time permits, the golf and outdoor enthusiasts may choose to visit Roland Cooper State Park, along the shore of the 22,000 acre Dannelly Reservoir, for a nine hole golf course or fishing and picnic opportunities.
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