All aboard the t! There's no denying that Alabama boasts centuries of unique history, especially in our wonderful small towns. Our state is chock full of historical sites, preserved colonial communities, and even epic history museums! One small town in Alabama that offers an extra dose of AL history is Tuscumbia - the birthplace of Helen Keller. But the history here really comes to life here when it comes to the railroad. In fact, the history of Tuscumbia, Alabama is directly tied to the railroad history of Alabama itself!

Tuscumbia is the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama.

Tucked away in the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and with a population just shy of 10,000, Tuscumbia is the perfect size community to feel both close-knit and cozy, yet still have oodles of "city" amenities to choose from.

This charming North Alabama town is known for many things. However, the one thing that many people are unaware of (unless they're a long-time local) is that it was home to the first railroad built west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Built in 1833, 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.

Operating hours of Tuscumbia Railways vary by season - and since they don't have a website, you might want to just pop on by! There's only a nominal fee for admission. However, the Roundhouse is available for event rentals.

Keep in mind that 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,...

...train items, and...

...there's even a carriage that once belonged to Helen Keller's family.

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...

...a roundhouse with a turntable.

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.

Home to the "first railroad west of the Allegheny Mountains," railfans, train lovers, and railroad history enthusiasts of all ages will find plenty to love here, that's for sure. And there's no bad time to visit - the holiday season in Tuscumbia boasts just as much charm as the warmer months!

Have you ever toured the Tuscumbia Railway? What other fun historical facts or must-see places are hiding in this small town? Let us know!

To learn more about this historic community, be sure to take a look at why it's one of the most overlooked towns in Alabama and why you should enjoy an extended visit. (Hint: one of those reasons is a pretty little waterfall hiding in plain sight!)

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alabama/historic-landmarks-tuscumbia-al/