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In the News

MSNHA Media Mentions

Click headlines below for recent newspaper articles & broadcast clips about MSNHA projects, programs & people. Have we missed something? Send links of MSNHA in the news to msnha@una.edu. Thanks!

March 2, 2024
Source: TimesDaily

RiverLine honors MSNHA director

Feb. 2, 2024
Source: TimesDaily

Audio clips explain musical Florence mural

Dec. 19, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Public gives input to Colbert County trail plans

Nov. 13, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Young Learners’ Series focuses on storytelling

Oct. 11, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Event focuses on urban forestry, horticulture

Sept. 14, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

RiverLine, MSNHA present plans for ORB

Sept. 9, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Public to view conceptual plans for ORB

Aug. 27, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Greg Harrison’s passion is history

July 18, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

RR Bridge gets $11K 

July 17, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

W.C. Handy inspires latest composition

July 6, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Project would add overlook to RR bridge

June 17, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Grants, donations help invigorate Leighton Library

June 13, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Creek cleanup nets 200 pounds of litter

May 23, 2023
Source: Courier Journal

Recognizing the importance of our pollinators

May 10, 2023
Source: Moulton Advertiser

Alliance of National Heritage Areas visits Courtland

May 5, 2023
Source: Quad Cities Daily

Operation Pollination gets support

Feb. 10, 2023
Source: TimesDaily

Johnson and the Shoals lauded during summit

Dec. 22, 2022
Source: The Moulton Advertiser

Lawrence County Rotary looks at Operation Pollination

Nov. 2, 2022
Source: QuadCitiesDaily.com

MSNHA to host Black Friday concert

Sept. 6, 2022
Source: Courier Journal

Coldwater returns

June 27, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

Viewing nature’s might from the water

June 17, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

Public shows interest in Singing River Trail

June 9, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

Visiting disc golfer loves amenities of the Shoals

April 28, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

UNA grad student paddles length of Tennessee River

April 28, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

Bill would reauthorize MSNHA

March 28, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

WWI project’s legacy takes center stage

Feb. 22, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

Shoals, Barnes  lauded by Tennessee RiverLine

Jan. 14, 2022
Source: TimesDaily

Grant helps Colbert Tourism create monthly songwriters showcase

Oct. 10, 2021
Source: TimesDaily

Workers learn to be ambassadors of the Shoals

Sept. 14, 2021
Source: TimesDaily

All hits, no misses (editorial)

June 21, 2021
Source: TimesDaily

MSNHA welcomes new kayak fleet

May 25, 2021
Source: Courier Journal

New kiosk on Cypress adds perspective to launch area

May 19, 2021
Source: Quad-Cities Daily

MSNHA Cypress Creek kiosk ribbon-cutting today

March 28, 2021
Source: TimesDaily

WZZA earns marker on Roots of American Music Trail

Dec. 24, 2020

Source: Moulton Advertiser

Historic Jackson House original floors restored thanks to MSNHA

Nov. 7, 2020

Source: WAFF

Florence mountain bike trail gets much needed improvements

Nov. 7, 2020

Source: TimesDaily

Bike club proud of new kiosk at Wildwood Park

Oct. 23, 2020

Source: TimesDaily

Shoals named inaugural cohort in RiverTowns program

FLORENCE — The Shoals has been named an inaugural cohort of the Tennessee RiverTowns program, a part of the Tennessee RiverLine program.

The program is a vision for a continuous system of padding, hiking and biking experiences along the 652-mile length of the Tennessee River from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Paducah, Kentucky.

The announcement was made Thursday by Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area Executive Director Carolyn Crawford on the grounds of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Office/Visitors Center.

Aug. 20, 2020

Source: Moulton Advertiser

Oakville hosts MSNHA Women’s Exhibit through September

Aug. 2, 2020

Source: TimesDaily

Women of History: Oakville Indian Mounds host pioneering women exhibit

An opera singer from Athens, an astronaut from Decatur, an education activist from Lawrence County and a Grammy winner from East Limestone will be celebrated in an exhibit at the Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center next month.

Curated by the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and the University of North Alabama, the exhibit, which features informational panels and pictures, opens in Lawrence County on Tuesday and will remain on display through Aug. 31.

July 16, 2020

Source: TmesDaily

Tourism program offers ‘backstage pass’

FLORENCE — A new program designed to help promote the Shoals’ rich music heritage will provide a “backstage pass” to six local music venues.

The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and Alabama Music Hall of Fame sponsor the program.

“We’re thrilled and very excited to see this project come to fruition, and I can’t wait to see everyone out there enjoying themselves in the studios,” said Carolyn Barske Crawford, director of the heritage area.

June 30, 2020

Source: TimesDaily

Grants offered to help with digital instruction

FLORENCE — With coronavirus guidelines putting school field trips in doubt, the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area (MSNHA) is offering grants to help teachers and destination sites connect online.

“As a result of COVID-19, organizations across the MSNHA can’t host educational programs or field trips,” Director Carrie Crawford said in a news release. “To help organizations reach students, we’re opening a special education-series grant for developing site-specific digital lessons in partnership with teachers to achieve educational outreach goals while physical visits are limited.”

May 27, 2020

Source: TimesDaily

Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area opens grants applications process

FLORENCE — The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area will open its application process next week to help communities deal with the impact of COVID-19 on their organizations.

“We will prioritize projects that allow for social distancing and focus on other innovations for navigating our new normal,” said Carrie Crawford, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area director.

April 7, 2020

Source: https://www.enewscourier.com/

Athens plans to digitize cemetery information

Athens is planning to digitize information about each of its cemeteries in order to improve grave identification and to better preserve records.

Information about Athens city cemeteries will soon be converted to a digital format in order to improve grave identification and better preserve records needed by cemetery employees and the public.

The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area has given the city a $19,600 grant to buy digitized cemetery software that will preserve historic and current cemetery records, said Holly Hollman, city grant coordinator.

Jan. 30, 2020

Source: Moulton Advertiser

Jackson descendants get preview tour of Jackson House

It’s been a long time coming, but the Jackson House is making significant progress toward opening its doors for private rental. In response to a multitude of calls and inquires about the house and its future role as one of Moulton and Lawrence County’s surviving historic homes, the Jackson House Foundation has done an incredible job in undertaking this project in order for the house and its history to be preserved and shared with the community.

In order to make the improvements done to date, the JHF has held an annual Spring Celebration, a Fall Fling, several raffles, chicken stew sales and other fundraisers. They have also applied for and received grants from individuals and were awarded several grants from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, which were instrumental in redoing the kitchen, painting and repairs to the exterior of the house, and other minor repairs. 


Jan. 21, 2020

Source: The News Courier

Exhibit honors ‘Women of Limestone’

A new exhibit at the Limestone County Archives pays tribute to the accomplishments of women of Limestone County as this month marks the 100th anniversary of their right to vote.

“Women of Limestone” will be on display in the Archives’ exhibit space through March 31. A companion exhibit, “Women of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area,” will also be featured at the Archives through Jan. 31.

Dec. 1, 2019

Source: TimesDaily

Study looks at promoting, enhancing Shoals sound

A comprehensive study recommends the Shoals place more focus on music tourism, create partnerships and Shoals-wide regulations in the music industry, and create workforce development in the field.

The study from the international firm Sound Diplomacy also reveals music is a $49 million annual industry in the Shoals and is responsible for 479 jobs. It includes recommendations for enhancing music’s local impact and influence.

Partners helping to fund the study were the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, FAME Recording Studios, Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, RCP Companies, University of North Alabama and the cities of Tuscumbia, Florence, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals.

Nov. 18, 2019

Source: TimesDaily

Shoals residents use ‘strategic doing’ to develop next steps for Tennessee RiverLine project

FLORENCE — Shoals residents put their heads together Thursday to take the next steps for the Tennessee RiverLine project.
The project, born out of a student design studio project at the University of Tennessee, aims to develop and promote a multi-modal trail experience along the Tennessee River.
About 20 residents gathered at the University of North Alabama’s east campus for the latest workshop, which used the “Strategic Doing” method to encourage participants to come up with ways to promote the Shoals as a hub for outdoor recreation.
“I think the meeting went really well,” said Carrie Barske Crawford, director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and part of the project’s local team. “It’s great to see people excited and engaged on projects like this. Some really great ideas came out of it.”

Oct. 29, 2019

Source: TimesDaily

Maud Lindsay Free Kindergarten named to National Register

FLORENCE — The longstanding — albeit migrating — Maud Lindsay Free Kindergarten was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to the efforts of a few students at the University of North Alabama.
Established in 1898, the school has rested at four different locations to date, beginning on Wood Avenue and now on Enterprise Street.
It has become somewhat of a family tradition for many to attend, and it’s still serving children in the Shoals area as young as 4 years old.
Students in a historic preservation class with Carrie Barske Crawford, director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, got to work in 2016 to nominate the school for the National Register.

Oct. 16, 2019

Source: TimesDaily

November meeting to address next steps for Tennessee RiverLine project

Progress is continuing to flow for the Tennessee RiverLine partnership, according to project officials.

The project, born out of a student design studio project at the University of Tennessee, took off this summer with five “652 to YOU” meetings, each at a chosen pilot community along the Tennessee River.

“At the July Tennessee RiverLine community engagement event, people had so many great conversations about how they use the river currently, and how they envision engaging with the river in the future,” said Carrie Barske Crawford, director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and part of the project’s local team. “We are excited to see what community-driven projects come out of the November workshop, based on the ideas generated in the July meeting.”

Oct. 13, 2019

Source: The News Courier

Interpretive signs dedicated at Delano Park

Ten outdoor interpretive signs in Decatur’s Delano Park were dedicated Friday during a ceremony hosted by the Delano Park Conservancy.

The new Riverwild signs serve as a tool to inform and educate the public and to share the historical, natural and cultural significance of the Tennessee River.

The ceremony, an official Alabama Bicentennial event, represents the culmination of many years of efforts on the part of many contributors. The project was made possible in part by grants from Alabama’s Mountains Rivers and Valleys Resource Conservation and Development Council and Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

Sept. 12, 2019

Source: The Moulton Advertiser

Jackson House steps closer to opening as venue space

The Jackson House Foundation was recently reimbursed $6,550 following the completion of a $13,100 heating, ventilation and cooling project at the historic home earlier this year.

On Thursday, the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area met with the foundation to award the reimbursement grant, which compensated for about half the total cost of the project, JHF Director Tammy Roberts said.

The project included the installation of new HVAC units and new ductwork, according to Roberts.

Sept. 7, 2019

Source: QuadCitiesDaily.com

Pond Spring to host General Joe Wheeler birthday celebration

HILLSBORO-The Alabama Historical Commission and Pond Spring: The Home of General Joe Wheeler invite you to a celebration of heritage, culture and cars. The historic Wheeler home will host the annual General Joe Wheeler’s Birthday Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Site Director Bruce Lipscombe has partnered with a number of local organizations to create a full festive atmosphere in honor of what would have been the General’s 183rd birthday.
      Another featured element for the day includes a sign dedication for new interpretive panels, made possible by a grant from Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

Aug. 29, 2019

Source: The News Courier

Sounds of our state: Athens Arts League’s Alabama Music Series pays tribute to state’s soundtrack

Athens Arts League is honoring Alabama-based music with an Alabama Music Series that brings Alabama-based bands to Athens. As part of the series, college and high school students interested in music careers participate in stage setup, sound checks, merchandise sales, photography and marketing so they can gain hands-on experience.

The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and current and former members of the Limestone County Legislative Delegation are helping sponsor the Alabama Music Series. The five-concert series will go through January 2020. 

Aug. 21, 2019

Source: TimesDaily

Group seeks grant for Village School improvements

SHEFFIELD — City Council members Monday unanimously approved a grant application that would be used to make additional improvements to the historic Village School building.

Village neighborhood resident Greg Harrison, who has performed hours of restoration work on the historic buildings, said the 2020 Historic Sites Grant was prepared and submitted by The Village School Foundation on behalf of the city of Sheffield.

A $10,000 grant from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area that was matched by $10,000 from the city was used in April to repair damaged roofing tiles and other roof damage.

Aug. 9, 2019

Young Learners Series provides hands-on education outside classrooms

Source: TimesDaily

Summer initiatives like the Young Learners Series are continuing to offer unique experiences outside the classroom that engage and educate students on local history and culture.

The series, offered monthly on the third Saturday, is a collaboration between the Florence Indian Mound Museum and the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

Curator Brian Murphy said learners of all ages participate in a brief lesson and activity with a different topic each month. MSNHA helps fund and promote the events.

July 21, 2019

Residents bring ideas, enthusiasm to RiverLine meeting

Source: TimesDaily

FLORENCE–The second of five stops to communities to gather ideas on how to improve life along the Tennessee River has been completed, and organizers say they look forward to culling all ideas to form a plan, both locally and regionally.

“I think it went really well,” said Carrie Barske Crawford, director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. “I think it’s great to learn about how people are already using the river and then how they want to use the river moving forward.”

July 16, 2019

Crawfish in the river ecosystem

Source: Courier Journal

FLORENCE–The Florence Indian Mound Museum in partnership with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area is hosting a series of children’s activities that help students investigate the early Native-American culture of the Shoals area through interactive learning.

July 4, 2019

Plato Jones to play Saturday event

Source: The News Courier

ATHENS–Athens Arts League is expanding the Fourth of July holiday celebration into the weekend by hosting a free community street party.

The Scout House Street Party with music and food trucks will be Saturday, July 6, from 5-9 p.m. on East Street beside Scout Music House.

Plato Jones, a Tuscaloosa cover band comprised of Athens musicians, will be the headliner. 

The party kicks off Athens Arts League’s Alabama Music Series, sponsored in part by the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and current and former members of the Limestone County Legislative Delegation. The purpose of the series is to promote Alabama-based musicians and provide cultural events for citizens of Athens and Limestone County.

June 13, 2019

Art After Hours is in tune with red, white and blue

Source: The News Courier

Athens Arts League hosts Art After Hours from 7-9 p.m. every second Friday from April through September at High Cotton Arts in downtown Athens. Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and the city of Athens help support the free community art event.

June 9, 2019

Backers aim to connect communities on Tennessee River trail

Source: WHNT

FLORENCE (AP)–Tourism officials in northwest Alabama say they hope the Tennessee RiverLine project happens soon.

June 7, 2019

Tourism board supports RiverLine project

Source: TimesDaily

FLORENCE–Florence-Lauderdale Tourism board members agreed Thursday after hearing a presentation about the proposed Tennessee RiverLine project that the sooner it gets underway, the better. Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area director Carrie Crawford shared details of the project, saying that the Shoals is one of five pilot communities.

June 6, 2019

Get involved in the Tennessee RiverLine project

Source: TimesDaily

FLORENCE — From Knoxville, Tennessee, to Paducah, Kentucky, the Tennessee River stretches 652 miles and touches four states — Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. Its 41,000 square mile watershed is home to more than 4.5 million residents, over half of whom live in communities along its banks.

May 19, 2019

Shoals part of group considering Tennessee RiverLine trail system

Source: TimesDaily

FLORENCE — The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area will host meetings in July to begin developing the vision for a proposed multi-modal trail system that would run the length of the Tennessee River.

The Shoals will join four other Tennessee River communities that will help create a continuous regional trail system from the river’s beginning at Knoxville, Tennessee, to its confluence with the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky.

The concept is known as the Tennessee RiverLine and would promote hiking, bicycling, canoeing and kayaking experiences along the river.

April 23, 2019

Culture for the young

Source: Courier Journal

FLORENCE – The Florence Indian Mound Museum through its partnership with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area is hosting a series of children’s activities. These will help students investigate the early culture of the Shoals through interactive learning.

These programs will cover a wide range of topics and they are suitable for an elementary level age group. The programs will focus on Native American history, culture, and will have a creative component which will engage students in hands-on learning. All events are free.

The astronomy program will take place Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.

April 6, 2019

Group celebrates completion of Village School roof repairs

Source: TimesDaily

SHEFFIELD — The wooden ceiling of the auditorium of the historic Village School looks brand new, but it’s not.

It’s the same heart pine that was placed there when the structure was built in 1918.

Greg Harrison, a resident of the Village I neighborhood adjacent to the school, points to small hole where water had leaked through the tile roof. He’s glad there weren’t more leaks over the auditorium, but leaks in other places have damaged the interior over the years.

Thanks to a project funded by the city, the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and MG Roofing of Muscle Shoals, that should no longer be a problem.
 

April 5, 2019

Nitrate Village No. 1 school gets new roof–restoration of this historic school on schedule

Source: TimesDaily

SHEFFIELD-On Thursday, April 4 the Muscle Shoals Heritage Area along with Friends of Nitrate Village No. 1 School Revitalization held a press conference to celebrate the completion of roof repair on the 100-year old school.

Carrie Barske Crawford, director of MSHA told the crowd the roofing project has been completed and the next step would be to work on the interior of the historic school.  With grants from MSHA of $10,000 and matching funds from the City of Sheffield in the amount of $10,000 and a little extra work from MG Roofing the roof is now sound.

April 4, 2019

Source: Colbert Tourism Facebook page

At a news conference today (4/4) in Sheffield, an update was given on plans to repurpose the old Village School on Pickwick Street.
Carrie Crawford, director of Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Sheffield Councilman Steve Stanley and Greg Harrison, president of Village School Foundation, announced the roof of the 100-year-old structure has been repaired by MG Roofing. Now, renovation efforts can focus on the outside walls and interior. The historic school will become a multi-purpose community center.

March 19, 2019

Exploring our local F.L. Wright museum

Source: Courier Journal

FLORENCE — The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and Florence Arts and Museums are partnering on a year-long series of presentations and workshops based on our city’s wealth of history buildings, neighborhoods and landscapes.

Feb. 14, 2019

Historical book highlights Tennessee Valley area

Source: Franklin County Times

RUSSELLVILLE — For those who know the history of Franklin County and its borders, its connection to the Tennessee River and TVA is no surprise. For those who were unaware, the program held at the Russellville Public Library Feb. 7 was an educational opportunity.

Feb. 14, 2019

Music-related talks are Saturday

Source: TimesDaily

FLORENCE — Florence/Lauderdale Tourism and the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area will host a series of music panel discussions Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at the tourism visitor center.

The panel discussions will focus on Muscle Shoals music legends, gospel music and interracial collaborations during the Civil Rights era.

The event is free to the public.

Feb. 12, 2019

Crawford opens Tuscumbia’s bicentennial speaker series

Source: Courier Journal

The city of Tuscumbia’s Bicentennial Commission will kick off its 2019 year-long celebration with a Bicentennial Speaker Series.

The series will begin Saturday, Feb. 16, with a discussion and exhibit depicting the Tennessee River and North Alabama. Carolyn Barske Crawford, co-author with Brian Murphy of their recent release, “The Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama,” will speak at 10 a.m. at the Round House in Tuscumbia. Using images drawn from collections across the state of Alabama, the book examines a range of subjects. These include the Civil War, the construction of Wilson Dam and the nitrate facilities, the coming of TVA to the region and the work of IFDC.

Jan. 31, 2019

Speakers present book at Oakville Education Center

Source: The Moulton Advertiser

The Oakville Indian Mound Education Center hosted a free lecture on Thursday, Jan. 24, featuring guest speakers Carolyn Barske Crawford and Brian Murphy, who co-authored the book, The Tennessee River & Northwest Alabama: A History Through Photographs. 

Crawford, the executive director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and a faculty member of the University of North Alabama’s History Department, and Murphy, curator at the Florence Indian Mound Museum, said they began constructing their book about two years ago.

Jan. 29, 2019

National Register presentation is Thursday

Source: TimesDaily

There will be a presentation Thursday exploring the National Register of Historic Place, its significance and criteria for eligibility.

The presentation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Indian Mound, 1028 S. Court St.

Presenters will discuss what the National Register is, the nomination process and address issues of eligibility and benefits of being on the register.

Jan. 24, 2019

Library announces new book exhibit

Source: Franklin County Times

Russellville Public Library will be hosting two programs during the month of February instead of the usual once-a-month Thursday adult program. There will also be two exhibits set up during the first week of February for patrons to enjoy.

The Wade Hall Postcard Exhibit will remain on display for library patrons to peruse until Feb. 8. Starting Jan. 28, the Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama Book Exhibit will also be on display, and it will continue until Feb. 8.

Jan. 22, 2019

Grant helps repair Village School roof

Source: TimesDaily

A $10,000 grant provided by the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Association and additional funds from the city has enabled a new preservation group to continue its efforts to restore the historic Village School building.

The school is located in the Village One neighborhood, which in 1918 served as housing for supervisors, workers and the commander of the U.S. Corps of Engineers group who worked on the nitrate plants on what is now the Tennessee Valley Authority Muscle Shoals Reservation.

C