At the t go right on blue lake drive approximately one mile. Jacksons book was very well researched and is an enjoyable read about the history of alabamas most known river system. The cities along the rivers path are the kinds of places many would consider to be dream hometowns. Life on the coosa, tallapoosa, cahaba, and alabama paperback. The cahaba river is the longest substantially freeflowing river in alabama and is among the. Alabama residents of all walks of life share their memories and connection to the cahaba river. Cahaba, historic village, dallas county, southwestcentral alabama, u. With headwaters near birmingham, the cahaba flows sou. Cahaba was the site chosen and was approved on november 21, 1818. Cahaba river society educator, expert resource, and. Canoeing the cahaba river public hunting in central alabama. White said the book includes the history of homewoods management and. Thats when the hymenocallis coronaria, more commonly called the cahaba lily, blooms. This book is considered a classic among alabama canoeists and will provide you with information about other canoe trips available in alabama as well as detailed.
Diamonds in the rough reconstructs the historical moment that defined the cahaba coal field, a mineralrich area that stretches across sixtyseven miles and four counties of central alabama. I learned to swim in the cahaba river in the 60s, what wonderful childhood memories i have from that river. This book is considered a classic among alabama canoeists and will provide you with information about other canoe trips available in alabama as well as detailed information about this specific. Founded in 1819 as the first capital of alabama, cahaba thrived until floods forced the state government to move to tuscaloosa in. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in alabama history. Cahaba riverkeeper was founded in 2009 to defend the ecological integrity of the cahaba river and its watershed, to ensure clean water and a healthy aquatic environment, and to preserve the recreational and aesthetic values of the river basin. Cahaba river national wildlife refuge was established september 25, 2002 for the purpose of protecting and managing a unique section of. Cahaba is now an abandoned town and a state historical site, administered by the. The historic cahaba pumping station museum birmingham water.
Combining existing written sources with oral accounts and personal recollections, james sanders days diamonds in the rough describes the numerous coal. By 1821, cahaba had about 1,000 inhabitants, compared with only 600 in montgomery, and two of the states first steamboats, the tensas and the harriet, were navigating the alabama river up to and beyond cahaba, signaling the importance of river transportation to the towns future. Jan 06, 2018 this engraving of the union prison at cahaba was published in 1877 by benson j. Today, old cahawba is a state historical site, a nature reserve and a ghostly place. However, very little text is given to the tallapoosa, and even less to the cahaba. The discovery of coal along alabamas cahaba river is legendary. This site offers articles on alabamas famous people, historic events, sports, art, literature, industry, government, plant and animal life, agriculture, recreation. Situated alongside the longest freeflowing river in alabama and one of the countrys most biologically diverse the cahaba river area is full of beautiful scenery and historic places. Brook, homewood, hoover and bessemer to its confluence with the cahaba river. It lies at the confluence of the cahaba and alabama rivers, 8 miles km southwest of selma. In 1828, centreville was located on the west side of the cahaba river, on the grounds later occupied by the residence of judge pratt and the bibb county high school.
Alabama has as good of fossils as any place in the world. The cahaba river offers a variety of paddling experiences. The cahaba river near west blocton in june 2007 the cahaba river is a major tributary of the alabama river and part of the larger mobile river basin. Took my daughter and her friend to a pond to see if they could catch a fish. A brief history is the most updated history of the city, written by gary lloyd and published by the history press in 2014. There are several places you can drop your kayak in. The alabama historical commission, the caretaker for the old cahawba. Lay lake is best known for its spotted bass and largemouth bass fishing. Stephens, a commission was formed on february, 1818 to select the site for alabama s state capital. There are about 50 populations left, the largest being on the cahaba river in alabama, catawba river in south carolina and flint river in georgia.
A great diversity of life depends on the cahaba river, with alabama s longest remaining stretch of freeflowing river, the primary drinking water source for onefifth of the states people in the birmingham metro area, and a treasure of biological diversity of national and global importance. Today, the alabama rivers alliance has four full time staff and an annual operating budget of more than. With 140 of its 191 miles undammed, it is the longest freeflowing river in alabama and is among the most scenic and biologically diverse rivers in the united states. Cahaba river fishing reports recently shared catches and fishing spots. This book looks at the way these streams have shaped the lives of the people who lived along them, and how. The cahaba river has been an integral part of the growth of centreville, bibb county, alabama. Life on the coosa, tallapoosa, cahaba, and alabama. We take a deep dive into our citys long, complicated, and everchanging relationship with the waterway. The alabama is joined 45 miles 72 km north of mobile by the tombigbee to form the mobile and tensaw rivers, which flow into mobile bay, an arm of the gulf of mexico. This book looks at the way these streams have shaped the lives of the people who lived along them, and how, in turn, people have used the rivers to their.
Cahaba historical village, alabama, united states britannica. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Meandering southern rivers occasionally create unique natural lakes known as oxbow lakes. Cahaba lily blooms a sight to see each may alabama newscenter. Located at the confluence of the alabama and cahaba rivers, it suffered regular seasonal flooding this was one reason that the state legislature moved the capital to a better location in 1826. Life on the coosa, tallapoosa, cahaba, and alabama kindle edition by jackson, harvey h download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Dallas county is located in the black belt region of the westcentral portion of the state, and is traversed by the alabama river. The 190milelong cahaba river is home to many rare species, some of which were. Natural history the cahaba river stretches for almost 200 miles and is alabamas 1ongest free. It passes near the edmund pettus bridge, which crosses the alabama in. The cahaba lily is only visible for a short window in late spring. Life on the coosa, tallapoosa, cahaba, and alabama by harvey jackson isbn.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading rivers of history. Through the cahaba river wildlife management area an excellent source of information about canoeing the cahaba river is john foshees book alabama canoe rides and float trips. With headwaters near birmingham, the cahaba flows southwest, then at heiberger turns southeast and joins the alabama river at the ghost town and. Cahaba river national wildlife refuge was established september 25, 2002 for the purpose of protecting and managing a unique section of the cahaba river and land adjacent to it. Lafayette remained in cahaba three days, after which the cavalcade floated down the alabama river via claiborne and mobile, to new orleans. The historic cahaba pumping station museum 4012 sicard hollow road birmingham, alabama 35243. The cahaba river is vitally important to the communities in its watershed, including parts of alabama s jefferson, shelby, bibb, perry and dallas counties. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Cahaba had its beginnings as an undeveloped town site at the confluence of the alabama and cahaba rivers. Justin averette every may, a couple of bends in the cahaba river become one of alabamas most beautiful sights to see. The cahaba river is vitally important to the communities in its watershed, including parts of alabamas jefferson, shelby, bibb, perry and dallas counties. Perry county now has a beautiful park featuring an oxbow that was created by the cahaba river. Cahaba river access points click on an access point for more information.
Life on the coosa, tallapoosa, cahaba, and alabama kindle edition by harvey h. This book is a compilation of some of the funny and helpful tips from our past history. Cahaba, alabama historical markers the historical marker. Cahaba river society is an educator, expert resource, and collaborative partner working to protect and restore the cahaba river watershed and its rich diversity of life. Cahaba river publishing was a business dedicated to photographing the remnant wild places of the southeastern united states in order to create a visual identity for the biological diversity that has evolved from this unique geological juncture of the roots of ancient mountains and the sediments of the coastal plain. But with the surrender of creek land in 1814, white settlers flowed into alabama to build homes by its rivers and use the bounty of its fields and forests. Named by professor michael tuomey, the first state geologist, the cahaba coal field includes the site of the first systematic extraction of coal in alabama. From horseshoe bend to gees bend and beyond, you will learn fascinating alabama history at each rivers turn. Cahaba riverkeeper is dedicated to the scientific study of the cahaba and its tributaries and to keep.
Popular alabama history books meet your next favorite book. The cahaba boasts the longest freeflowing stretch of river in alabama 140. Store smithsonian journeys smithsonian channel smithsonian books. New historical society book documents shades creeks flow. As demands increase for development and water withdrawals in the future, it is up to the people of alabama to ensure that the cahaba river is protected for generations to come. Four streams make up the alabama river system, the coosa, tallapoosa, cahaba, and alabama.
The alabama river has three lock and dams between montgomery and the mobile river. The cahaba river is the longest substantially freeflowing river in alabama and is among the most scenic and biologically diverse rivers in the united states. There are four separate populations of cahaba lilies in alabama, with three being within the cahaba river national wildlife refuge and one in buck creek in the shelby county city of helena. The river provides recreation to many anglers, botanists, canoeists, hikers and wildlife watchers. Lafayette did not dance in cahaba, alabama alabama history. This site offers articles on alabama s famous people, historic events, sports, art, literature, industry, government, plant and animal life, agriculture, recreation, and so much more. Available data for this site click to hide stationspecific text funding for this site is provided by. Jackson has written an interesting, readable history of the alabama and coosa rivers.
Now a historical park, the few enduring ruins of old cahaba greet visitors. This engraving of the union prison at cahaba was published in 1877 by benson j. With headwaters near birmingham, the cahaba flows southwest, then at heiberger turns southeast and. The cahaba river is one of alabamas most precious natural resources. The cahaba river as it flows near grants mill road on the east side of birmingham, jefferson county. Because much of sicard hollow and the cahaba river is made up pennsylvanian or coal age rock, what fossil hunters find are the remains of what was once an ancient swamp. Smithsonian magazine recently heralded the cahaba as one of the most biologically rich rivers in the.
Dallas county was created by the alabama territorial legislature on 1818 feb. In 1828, centreville was located on the west side of the cahaba river, on the grounds later occupied by the residence of. The cahaba lies within the mobile river basin and is home to the springblooming cahaba lily. Founded in 1819 as the first capital of alabama, cahaba thrived until floods forced the state government to move to tuscaloosa in 1826. On july 1, 1997, the alliance started its first fiscal year operating without a fiscal sponsor. Still using the cahaba river society as its fiscal sponsor, the fledgling alabama rivers alliance moved into a new office in december of 1996.
It is a major tributary of the alabama river and part of the larger mobile river basin. As alabama s longest freeflowing river, the cahaba has a big impact on birmingham. Native americans fished and hunted along the cahabas banks long before the white man settled in north america. Welcome to your free, online resource on alabama history, culture, geography, and natural. A 200 milelong water trail through the heart of alabama, the cahaba blueway is connecting communities and visitors to the beauty and biological wonder of. A look into the cahaba river and what it will take to. It passes near the edmund pettus bridge, which crosses the alabama in selma and is infamous as the site of a 1965.
Jan 29, 2014 alabama residents of all walks of life share their memories and connection to the cahaba river. See more ideas about cahaba river, river and sweet home alabama. A section of the cahaba river in shelby county, alabama. Together they flow for more than 900 miles, through some of the most historic regions of the state. The alabama rivers alliance was formed out of the efforts of its predecessor the alabama state rivers coalition.
The river currently supports 64 rare and imperiled plant and animal species, of which are found nowhere else in the world. Jackson weaves a fascinating story a amazing variety. Welcome to your free, online resource on alabama history, culture, geography, and natural environment. The alabama state rivers coalition was formed in 1993 and led by the cahaba river society, alabama chapter of the sierra club, lake watch of lake martin, alabama citizen action, friends of the locust fork river, and alabama environmental council. The site of a confederate prison camp during the american civil war, cahaba remained the seat. That said, i still enjoyed the book and i agree with the other.
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