Things To Do
Fame Recording Studios
"The famous sign above the entryway into FAME’s studios reads: “Through these doors walk the finest Musicians, Songwriters, Artists, and Producers in the World”. This is as true today as it was in 1961. Since it first opened its doors, FAME has welcomed a literal who’s who of music royalty from Etta James, Wilson Pickett, and Aretha Franklin to Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, and Jason Isbell. They have all come searching for the beautiful, soulful, sonic footprint that defines FAME Recording Studios."
Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
"MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIO OPENED IN EARLY 1969 BY THE MUSCLE SHOALS RHYTHM SECTION (ALSO KNOWN AS THE SWAMPERS) – DAVID HOOD ON BASS, JIMMY JOHNSON ON RHYTHM GUITAR, ROGER HAWKINS ON DRUMS, AND BARRY BECKETT ON KEYS. THEY BEGAN WORKING TOGETHER AT RICK HALL’S FAME STUDIO IN MUSCLE SHOALS, ALABAMA WHERE THEY BECAME WELL-RENOWNED IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY FOR PLAYING A UNIQUE STYLE OF FUNKY R&B WITH ARTISTS SUCH AS ARETHA FRANKLIN, WILSON PICKETT, AND ETTA JAMES."
Helen Keller Birthplace
"Since 1954, Helen Keller’s birthplace has been a permanent shrine to the “miracle” that occurred in a blind and deaf seven-year-old girl’s life. At that time Ivy Green was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. We welcome you to walk the grounds of one of America’s true historical treasures and experience the miracle where it actually took place."
Alabama Music Hall of Fame
"The Alabama Music Hall of Fame was a dream and goal of the Muscle Shoals Music Association, a Shoals-area based professional organization of producers, musicians, songwriters, recording studio owners and other music professionals. In 1980, the Muscle Shoals Music Association and the state Legislature, under the leadership of State Senator Bobby Denton, created the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board with a mandate to honor Alabama’s great music achievers and to build a facility in which to showcase these talented individuals and their accomplishments."
Frank Lloyd Wright - Rosenbaum House Museum
"An American architectural treasure, the Rosenbaum House is the only structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the state of Alabama and the only such house in the southeast that is open to the public."
University of North Alabama
"The University of North Alabama is a public university in Florence, Alabama. It is the state's oldest public university."
George H. Carroll Lion Habitat
"The University of North Alabama boasts the only live Lion mascot in the country living on a college campus."
W C Handy Museum
"He was an African American Composer, born in Florence, Alabama. During his lifetime W.C. Handy was and still is the "Father of the Blues"."
Pope's Tavern Museum
"Museum on local & Civil War history in a tavern/inn used as both a Union & Confederate hospital."
Florence Indian Mound and Museum
"Museum displaying Native American artifacts at a 43-ft.-high earthen mound built around 500 BCE."
Wilson Lock and Dam
"Wilson Navigation Lock is one of 10 locks (14 locks if including auxiliary locks) located on the 650-plus navigable miles in the Tennessee River Basin. In 1959, the Tennessee Valley Authority completed the main single-lift lock, along with several related improvements, to replace the old and inadequate double-lift lockage system. It began operating Nov. 10. 1959. On average 10 million tons of commodities are transported through the lock every year, which include wheat, corn, scrap metal, and chemicals. There are more than 1,000 lockages for recreational traffic each year. It is the highest single lift lock east of the Rocky Mountains with a normal lift of between 93 and 100 feet."
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
"The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Official Visitor Center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the home of Space Camp. We have one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world."
Buc-ee's
If you plan on taking a trip down I-65, you MUST stop at Buc-ee's! It is unlike any other convenience store experience you've ever had.