Russell Cave National Monument Russell Cave and the surrounding area are home to over 10,000 years of history. Prehistoric southeastern people inhabited Russell Cave during the winter months of the year. All the prehistoric cultures of the southeast are represented here. Prehistoric people are grouped into cultural time periods. Paleo-people, Archaic people, Woodland and Mississippian people have all stayed inside the cave. The land containing Russell Cave became a Cherokee Native American reservation during the early 1800's. The land was eventually sold to Thomas Russell. The cave was named for Russell when maps were made of the area and the cave was used as a reference point. This are of Northeast Alabama is rich in Civil War history. The town of Bridgeport (8 miles from Russell Cave) was the sight of many battles and sieges. Russell Cave may have been used as a refuge during the war but no evidence supports this other than family stories. In the late 1800's and through out the 20th century, Russell Cave was used for picnics, family reunions, camping, and more. In the 1950's archeologists began to explore the cave for use by early people of the southeast. A major excavation of the cave by the Smithsonian Institute and the National Geographic Society showed the extensive prehistoric history of Russell Cave.
Selma to Montgomery March Byway Journey through history along the trail that marks one of the major historic events in 20th-century American history, the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail In an effort to dramatize the need for voting rights legislation, a peaceful non-violent march from Selma to Montgomery was planned. On March 7, 1965 the march set out from Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama. Once the marchers reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were brutally beaten by law enforcement officers. The event was televised all across the nation. Two days later, Dr. King led a second march from Brown Chapel towards Montgomery; this march was peacefully turned around at the point of confrontation. On March 21, 1965 a third march under the protection of the National Guard began at Brown Chapel once again and successfully made its way to the State Capital in Montgomery in five days, after walking 54 miles. This monumental event captured by news media brought the struggle of voting rights of African Americans to the forefront of this nation's conscious. As a result, Congress rushed to enact legislation that would guarantee voting rights for all Americans. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965.
Talladega Scenic Drive In northeast Alabama, the Talladega Scenic Drive is the best and easiest way to view the state's natural treasures from the comfort of your automobile.
Tims Ford Lake Located in southern Middle Tennessee between the towns of Lynchburg and Winchester, Tims Ford Lake is more than 34 miles long and has 10,600 surface acres at normal summer water levels. TVA completed Tims Ford Dam and Lake on the Elk River in 1970 for power generation and flood control. The lake collects rainfall from a 529-square-mile watershed. Principal fish species are crappie, largemouth bass, sunfish, channel catfish, and blue catfish.
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site The military selected Tuskegee Institute to train pilots because of its commitment to aeronautical training. Tuskegee had the facilities, and engineering and technical instructors, as well as a climate for year round flying. The first Civilian Pilot Training Program students completed their instruction in May 1940. The Tuskegee program was then expanded and became the center for African-American aviation during World War II.
