History and Culture What People are Saying . . .
 "Seeing all this pieces together history . . ." USA Today
"The best living history museums . . ." Ladies Home Journal
"During the years before the Civil War, Selma had a plantation aristocracy second to none . . . "Smithsonian Guide to America
"Selma shares the glory . . ." Newsweek
"Selma, Alabama is a town situated on the edge, situated where today blends with a grand and memorable yesterday. . . ." Southern Living
Selma's Beginnings: A Brief History
History Lives in Selma
On a bluff high above the rolling waters of the mighty Alabama River, you'll discover hundreds of years of rich history in Selma. Here, just 45 minutes west of Montgomery, you'll find the largest historic district in Alabama with over 1,200 historic structures, palatial antebellum and Victorian homes, museums. Century-old buildings that warehoused King Cotton and Civil War munitions, are now home to delightful specialty shops, cafes and offices. Landmark sites of the nation's Voting Rights Movement. And nearby, the ghostly remains of the state's first permanent capital, Cahawba. Indian lore says Selma is built where Chief Tuskaloosa met with explorer DeSoto. The site was officially recorded in 1732 as Ecor Bienville, then later as the Moore's Bluff settlement. In 1820, Selma (meaning "high seat" or "throne") was incorporated. It was planned and named by future Vice President of the United States William Rufus King. From its earliest days, Selma has made history. During the Civil War, it was one of the South's main military manufacturing centers, producing tons of supplies and munitions, and turning out Confederate warships such as the ironclad Tennessee. Union General J.H. Wilson's troops destroyed Selma's army arsenal and factories, and much of the city, in a fiery, bloody siege. To see Selma-manufactured munitions and war relics, visit the Smitherman Historic Building. Tour gracious antebellum Sturdivant Hall, a Greek Revival mansion designed by the cousin of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Browse for antiques in restored downtown riverfront warehouses and discover hand-made treasures and other specialty items in Victorian cottage shops. Then dine in some of Selma's fine restaurants, where ample helpings of Southern cuisine are specialties. Cross famous Edmund Pettus Bridge and remember the courage of thousands who overcame violence and hardship of their 1965 Selma to Montgomery march for Voting Rights. Take the Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Walking Tour and visit stately Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, where Dr. King launched the Voting Rights Movement and where the names of those who died for the dream are inscribed in stone. Exhibits honoring Civil Rights efforts can be found in the Old Depot Museum and the National Voting Rights Museum. Adventurers will enjoy exploring Live Oak Cemetery, a National Register Landmark, for the graves of William Rufus King; Benjamin S. Turner, the ex-slave who became Alabama's first black congressman; and Martha Todd, half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Visitors will also want to see the ghost town of Alabama's one-time capital, Cahawba. Located outside Selma, this fascinating former trading port offers ruins to explore and period artifacts to see.
|
Home 
