Tuscumbia offers the best in small town living. It is a convenient place to do business and a wonderful place to raise a family.
It offers a wide variety of unique activities for its citizens and visitors. Whether you want to spend the day in Spring Park, visit Ivy Green, play a round of golf, tour the Historic Railroad Museum, or just stroll the streets of downtown, you’ll find yourself enjoying your stay in Tuscumbia.
Come see “the charm of the Shoals” for yourself.
A Bit of History
Nested near a bountiful big spring in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains is the city of Tuscumbia, Alabama. The French first settled the area near the Tennessee River in the 1700’s only to have their town destroyed in 1786. The Chickasaw Indians moved here next, building their town near the spring. They were soon followed by the Michael Dickson Family, circa 1815.
Tuscumbia became the county seat for Colbert County in 1867. The citizens of the county built a beautiful courthouse in town in 1882. This building was gutted by fire in 1908 and was rebuilt in 1909. This structure has been chosen to represent Alabama as one of the historic courthouses in America.
Helen Keller, the daughter of Captain A. H. Keller and Kate Keller, was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia. At the age of nineteen months, an illness left her deaf and blind. With the help of Miss Anne Sullivan, Helen overcame many of her handicaps to become “America’s First Lady of Courage”. Helen Keller’s home, Ivy Green, is open daily for visitors.
Tuscumbia’s charm is evident as you stroll through the streets of downtown. The revitalization and restoration of the city provide the backdrop for a relaxing shopping and dining experience.
Tuscumbia grew as a rail center around the turn of the century. Eighteen passenger trains daily were reported to stop in town. However, the need for more room for rail yard expansion led to the decline of passenger train service in town. Tuscumbia is growing today with the restoration of many of its old downtown historic buildings.
