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Florence Indian Mound And Museum

Florence Indian Mound Museum Reopens

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Visitation

FLORENCE, AL – The Florence Indian Mound Museum has reopened and is much bigger than before.

Archeologists say the mound dates back 2,000 years. Now a brand new building compliments it.

The new museum cost about $1.76 million, and it took nearly two years to plan and build.

The old building was more than 50 years old and needed to be replaced, said the director of the city’s arts and museums, Libby Jordan.

With the new museum, the education starts outside with a map engraved on the exterior of a wall of the mound from the early 1800s. The building surrounds one of the Tennessee Valley’s largest and oldest ceremonial Indian mounds. There are tons of Native American artifacts dating back thousands of years that line the walls inside.

“It begins though with the paleo people the very earliest cultural period here,” Jordain said. “These people would of been here shortly after the ice age living in caves, hunting mastodons. It would have been a completely different landscape than what we have today.”

This mound in particular was a very important spiritual place, and the exhibits tell the story through time of these early people. The exhibit itself is bigger than ever before. In fact, it takes up the size of the old building entirely.

“It’s very nice some of the artifacts in there are so old it’s hard for me to imagine,” said Bill Clemmons.

Some exhibits will be on rotation changing every two months. Half of the building is a meeting space for small events and field trips.

Florence Indian Mound & Museum

Located near the riverside, the Florence Indian Mound & Museum is home to the largest collection of Native American artifacts in the entire state of Alabama. The museum showcases millennia-old tools, pottery, jewelry and much more, collected at Native American sites throughout the Tennessee River Valley.

In addition to the museum, this site is home to a stunning, 43-foot mound built by Native Americans between AD 100 and 500. Be sure to take the staircase to see the breathtaking view from the top!

Museums You Need To Visit In Florence Alabama

For a small city of under 40,000, Florence, Alabama holds some intriguing hidden treasures. For instance, Florence is known as Alabamas Renaissance City, due to the annual Alabama Renaissance Faire! Additionally, Florence is home to Alabamas oldest public collegeThe University of North Alabama. But thats not allwe took a look at three of the citys must-visit museums!

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Florence Indian Mound And Museum

The mound rises from history-43 feet high, the largest trove of ancient tools, pottery, jewelry, and pipes in Alabama. See the spear points that killed mammoths and mastadons as the Ice Age retreated and the Tennessee Valley sprouted green. View fish hooks sharpened out of deer hoofs, spider necklaces elegantly carved from river bottom shells, and clay pots hand-shaped from the earth and fired for everyday survival.

The mound is history. Climb the steps yourself, wondering if Indian priests and chiefs mounted them too, reaching for the sun. Hear the Yuchi’s nearby Singing River, the Tennessee River that carries a young woman’s songs in the waters. See the rich collection of rare and sought-after Clovis and Cumberland points 500 generations old, animal effigy pipes, woven textiles, soapstone carvings-all in chronological order, from Paleo, Transitional, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian and Historic Native American ages.

The Tennessee Valley first attracted man who followed roving prehistoric beasts. Later tribes settled in the shoals to feast on fish and mussels, hickory nuts, white tail deer, turkey, berries and bear. The warm climate gave them sunflowers, corn, squash, sumpweed.

Generations parleyed with explorers like De Soto, traded with boatsmen, hunters, and, later, Civil War era farmers and soldiers. Now, you’ll see real pieces of their lives, thousands of relics and artifacts, in the Florence Indian Mound & Museum — a rare touch with the past.

Admission Charged

Indian Mound And Museum

5 New Reasons To Visit Florence, Alabama

Carolyn M. Barske, University of North AlabamaWoodland PeriodFlorenceLauderdale CountyagriculturalArchaicAlabamaohn CoffeeOakvilleMoultonLawrence CountyTennessee Valley AuthorityUniversity of AlabamaMississippianWilson DamAdditional Resources The Journal of Muscle Shoals HistoryLore of the River . . . The Shoals of Long Ago

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ALABAMA

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Operation Pollination: The Leafcutter Bee

Pollinators are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we take each day, but their populations are in jeopardy due to habitat loss and other threats. Join us at the Florence Indian Mound Museum on Saturday, August 13th as we kick off Operation Pollination – an initiative to educate on the benefits of bees and other pollinators through hands-on experiences.

In this program, we will learn about the leafcutter bee, one of Alabamas most important summer pollinators, with the chance to build and take home a bee hotel to create habitat within our home gardens. Participation is free. All ages, especially youth, are encouraged to attend! The program will begin at 9AM and wrap up at 10:30AM.

The Native American Burial Site Found In Alabama Is A Historical Wonder

Many historic sites are located in Alabama. In fact, while traveling through the state, youll likely discover one, or even more, of these sites. One historic site in Alabama that everyone should visit is the Florence Indian Mound. This Native American burial site is such a remarkable place, and you can read all about it below.

Have you ever visited the Florence Indian Mound and Museum? If so, what did you think? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Another Native American burial site in Alabama thats worth a visit is Moundville Archaeological Site, which you can read all about here.

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