Tuscumbia: The Shoals City Where Helen Keller Was Born
Colbert County's seat of government sits in the Shoals region of northwest Alabama, a cluster of four cities -- Tuscumbia, Florence, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals -- that share a stretch of the Tennessee River valley. Tuscumbia's population of around 8,400 makes it the smallest of the four, but its historical footprint reaches further than its size would suggest.
Ivy Green, the birthplace and childhood home of Helen Keller, stands on a residential block north of the commercial district. The property, built in 1820, operates as a museum and hosts an annual outdoor production of "The Miracle Worker" each summer. Spring Park, located in the center of town, features a waterfall, a small lake, and a miniature railroad that has been running since the 1980s.
The local economy leans on healthcare, retail, and the cultural tourism that flows through the Shoals. The Tuscumbia Railway Depot, one of the oldest surviving stations in the state, has been restored and serves as a local landmark. Unlike its neighbor Muscle Shoals, which built a global reputation through recording studios and session musicians, Tuscumbia's identity is more closely tied to its civic history and county government functions.
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Colbert County's seat of government sits in the Shoals region of northwest Alabama, a cluster of four cities -- Tuscumbia, Florence, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals -- that share a stretch of the Tennessee River valley. Tuscumbia's population of around 8,400 makes it the smallest of the four, but its historical footprint reaches further than its size would suggest.
Ivy Green, the birthplace and childhood home of Helen Keller, stands on a residential block north of the commercial district. The property, built in 1820, operates as a museum and hosts an annual outdoor production of "The Miracle Worker" each summer. Spring Park, located in the center of town, features a waterfall, a small lake, and a miniature railroad that has been running since the 1980s.
The local economy leans on healthcare, retail, and the cultural tourism that flows through the Shoals. The Tuscumbia Railway Depot, one of the oldest surviving stations in the state, has been restored and serves as a local landmark. Unlike its neighbor Muscle Shoals, which built a global reputation through recording studios and session musicians, Tuscumbia's identity is more closely tied to its civic history and county government functions.
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