Open to the public, these events aren’t directly funded by the MSNHA but support our mission to promote cultural tourism in our six counties through education, preservation and conservation. Community events often are sponsored by MSNHA partners and other groups & people we work with.
Cultural musicologist Christopher Reali will discuss the process of writing his 2022 book, "Music and Mystique in Muscle Shoals," and what he learned about Muscle Shoals music along the way. Based on years of archival and oral history research, the book is one of the most comprehensive histories of the music that rocked the world.
Spring is one of the best times to visit Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve – the waterfalls are flowing & wildflowers are blooming. This year is even more special as we celebrate the Lacefield’s donation of Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve to Land Trust of North Alabama. For over 40 years, Jim and Faye Lacefield […]
June's Young Learners' Series features Cherokee engineer Mary Golda Ross, the great-great granddaughter of Principal Chief John Ross. Born in 1908, Ross graduated college with a mathematics degree & studied astronomy while earning her master’s degree. She worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation during World War II & helped develop a fighter plane. When the space […]
Crystal Gayle concert presented by the non-profit Shoals Scholar Dollars to raise money for local students to attend college. Go here to buy tickets and here to learn more about Shoals Scholar Dollars.
July's Young Learners' Series is about Cherokee chief Dragging Canoe, who led a separatist group to Chickamauga Creek in 1776. Known as the Chickamauga Cherokee, this group resisted American encroachment on its lands. Later Dragging Canoe worked as a diplomat to secure alliances and preserve Cherokee culture. The Florence Indian Mound Museum's Young Learners Series […]
A 10-day long series of primarily music events occurring in and around the Shoals which honors William Christopher “W.C.” Handy and the musical legacy of the “Hit Recording Capital of the World.” The talented musicians of the Muscle Shoals are among the very best. Come and experience the sound for yourself! Go here for details.
Celebrate the end of Shoals Symphony at UNA's 40th season on a perfect summer evening at the Shoals Symphony Summer Soireé. Enjoy chamber music, authentic Dixie-Land Jazz and the world premiere of Warren Ertle's Handy Suite as a W.C. Handy Music Festival kickoff. Appetizers and drinks included. *21 and older. Go here for tickets.
Help us continue restoring Village School in Sheffield, working with the Village School Foundation. Drop in anytime from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 22. Village One's school building is a WWI-era school & community building that's one of the most historically significant buildings in north Alabama. The Village School Foundation seeks to repair the […]
W. C. Handy Festival week will get deep, real & completely iconic as Charlie Musselwhite & Travis Wammack -- high school Memphis friends -- share their lifelong personal history in word & music, along with Christine Ohlman, Kelvin Holly & Jerry Phillips (no stranger to Memphis himself, with deep stories of Sun, Graceland & The […]
Native American gathering from Nations across the country. School day is Friday & open-to-the-public day is Saturday. Free admission. Dancing, crafts, food and more. Details to come.
Community event with music, art & food to celebrate Leighton native Percy Sledge. Fee admission. Go to Leighton's Facebook page for details.
Join Keep The Shoals Beautiful for the 8th Annual Tennessee River Litter Tournament! Fish for litter in the water, on the shorelines at Riverfront or McFarland Park or anywhere that matters to you in the Shoals. $500 Grand prize to the group with the most volunteers $100 MVP Award for most litter collected (one winner […]
In this month's Young Learners Series, the program & activity will be about Creek Warrior William Weatherford. Also known as Hoponika Fulsahi (Truth Maker), Weatherford was a member of the Wind Clan from the town of Coosada, an Alabama town in the Creek Confederacy. Born into a prominent Creek lineage on his mother’s side, he […]
Join our efforts to restore the Village One School with the Village School Foundation. The building is a WWI-era school & community center that's one of the most historically significant in north Alabama. The Village School Foundation seeks to repair the building so it continues to be a community & educational resource. Each person may […]
Athens State University will be welcoming old-time music lovers of all ages to campus for the 56th annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, presented by Aetos Systems, Inc. Entertainment for this year’s Fiddler’s Convention will include Appalachian Road Show, The Grascals and the Dan Tyminski Band. Go here for tickets and here for details.
Local community teams race in traditional Hong-Kong-style dragon boats to raise money for Shoals Scholar Dollars. Funds help provide two-year scholarship to Northwest Alabama Community College for qualifying students. Go here for details on participating. Free admission for spectators.
We plan to be in-person this year, so join us as we move our tent a little to the east to the Athens State University campus. It will be a crisp fall weekend spent listening to stories of adventure and excitement ... a place where memories & magic are captured & spun into tales that […]
Save the date for The Riverside with opener Will Paustian as part of the Scout House Concert Series. Perfectly beautiful acoustics. Comfortable & charming with great talent! Tickets $15.
The Muscle Shoals Songwriters Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to bring songwriters & music lovers together from all across the globe. The festival celebrates and gives a platform to diverse voices, experiences & points of view; invests in songwriters by providing education, collaborative tools & opportunities that break down music industry […]
Native American Storytelling is an important practice historically and in the present. Stories shared over generations help keep Native American culture alive. Join us for a short informational presentation on storytelling and how it shaped & sustained different Native American cultures. After the presentation, students can create their own stories with an interactive animal activity, […]
Join us for a program and activity about Native American Finger Weaving, a traditional artform in many Native American and Indigenous nations. In the Cherokee tradition, finger woven regalia was historically used for men. It was used for adornment and item trading with others. In the past, Chickasaw women would gather in groups to weave. […]
Join us for a short informational presentation on the art of Native American jewelry making past and present. After the presentation, students will have the opportunity to create their own beaded jewelry to take home or share as part of our youth education exhibit. The program is free. Jewelry is an important form of art […]
The Florence Indian Mound Museum is hosting a series of children’s programs exploring the early history of the Shoals through short lessons & hands-on learnings. Each month features a practice relating to Native American culture. Participants will explore the history & cultural meaning behind each practice while engaging in an activity related to that topic. […]
Please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty in -- such as jeans -- and wear closed-toe shoes. Feel free to bring work gloves, as well. We'll provide supplies & direction, so no experience necessary. If you're not able to stay the whole morning, please stop by anyway to say "hi" and see what we're […]
This month's program is Native American Dance. Native American dance is an important practice historically & in the present. Dance has been shared over the ages to celebrate special events in life such as welcoming visitors, marking the change of seasons & celebrating friendships as well as many different ceremonies. Join us for a short […]
Join us with Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area for our next volunteer event at the Village School, 200 Chickamauga St., Sheffield. We'll provide supplies and direction, no experience necessary. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty in, such as jeans and closed toe shoes. Feel free to bring work gloves as well. If you're […]
Learn about traditional weaving of the Hopi and the Pueblo People. The Young Learners will learn about this special art 10-11 a.m., Saturday, June 15. A family event, appropriate for ages 5-12…grownups are free to participate, as well!!
Come out celebrate the launch of digital magazine "Native Flora" at All The Best coffee & record shop. Enjoy snack specials & giveaways including a limited run of printed copies. "Native Flora" is a zine series highlighting native plants found in northwest Alabama and their role in the ecosystem. The first issue includes forbs, graminoids […]
The Shoals’ Tennessee RiverTowns program hosts a community paddle at Waterloo’s 2nd Creek. Join us for an interpreted tour along led by MSNHA Director Carrie Crawford. We'll watch for wildlife & explore local history on this beginner-friendly paddle experience lasting around two hours and four miles. We will begin and end our paddle at the […]
The Shoals’ Tennessee RiverTowns program is excited to host a community paddling event at Waterloo’s 2nd Creek! Join us for an interpreted tour along 2nd Creek led by MSNHA Director Carrie Crawford. We will watch for wildlife & explore local history on this beginner-friendly paddle experience lasting around two hours and four miles. We will […]
Join us for our next volunteer event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17. We'll provide supplies and direction -- no experience necessary. Work will include anything from cleaning, painting, scraping, to yard work, to organizing materials and more. Email or get in touch via social media to sign up and/or alert us […]
MAIL:
UNA Box 5231
Florence, AL 35632-0001
OFFICE:
541 W. College St.
Florence, AL 35630
EMAIL: msnha@una.edu
PHONE: 256.765.5028
