There’s no denying that Alabama boasts lots of great history, especially in our wonderful small towns. One of the small towns that offers lots of history, especially when it comes to railroads, is Tuscumbia. For information about the railroad history in Tuscumbia, Alabama, take a look below.
Tuscumbia is the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama.
This charming North Alabama town is known for many things. However, the one thing that many people are unaware of (unless they're a local) is that it was home to the first railroad built west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Built in 1830, this 2-mile railroad ran from downtown Tuscumbia, Alabama to the docks on the Tennessee River west of Sheffield, Alabama. Because of its steep railroad history, Tuscumbia was eventually deemed "America's First Frontier Railroad Town."
Today, you can visit the historic train depot that serviced this railroad. It was built in 1888 and was used by the Memphis & Charleston Railroad before it was eventually used by the Southern Railway.
Tuscumbia Railways, 204 W 5th St, Tuscumbia, AL 35674, USA
Keep in mind, this historic building is no longer operated as a train depot. Instead, it's operated as a museum that displays a variety of railroad and town artifacts such as photographs,...
Speaking of Helen Keller, she and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, used this historic depot frequently whenever they traveled to and from town. The Kellers lived only a few blocks away.
In addition to its variety of indoor exhibits, the Tuscumbia Depot Museum also has a few outdoor displays that are worth seeing up close, including real train cars and...
Located next door to the Tuscumbia Depot Museum is the Shoals Model Railroaders building. Here, a group of train enthusiasts meet once a month to discuss their love for trains, especially models.
And finally, located in nearby Spring Park is a train that people of all ages enjoy riding. Like the town's original railroad, this train is also named Tuscumbia Railway.
Spring Park Road, Spring Park Rd, Tuscumbia, AL 35674, USA
