Russell Cave National Monument, Alabama

34 deg 58' 46.39" N
85 deg 48' 34.68"W
About 5.8 miles NW of Bridgeport

Nestled in Doran's Cove in the Appalachian foothills up against the Tennessee border, Russell Cave National Monument had few visitors when we dropped by last fall. It seems to have been more popular with prehistoric Americans. The cave has evidence of 10,000 years of human occupation. A free ranger-guided tour goes over the site of an extensive excavation conducted jointly by the Smithsonian Institution and National Geographic in the 1950's. There are fine exhibits and a movie in the visitor center, but I preferred the booklet we purchased reprinting an article from the October, 1956 National Geographic Magazine.

There are picnic tables at the visitor center with a large open area that hosts a Native American Festival in May. There is also a nature walk that is a stop on the North Alabama Birding Trail.

The ranger that gave our tour through the cave shelter was from Orme, Tennessee, just up the valley. She said that when there is flooding along the stream that comes to the surface in the park and flows into the cave, the rangers are always surprised by the quantity and variety of debris from Orme that ends up in the cave. We decided to slip briefly into another state to investigate. Orme is a former railroad town with little to offer the tourist beyond a picturesque train station. We didn't mind. We were very satisfied to soak up the intense fall colors all along the valley.

Dual Destiny Monument, Double Springs, Alabama

34 deg 8' 47.23"N
87 deg 24' 8.01"W
About 55 miles NW of Birmingham

We were once again lead by a post on Google Earth to the heart of Double Springs, county seat of the 'Free State of Winston'. This monument, with the Winston County courthouse in the background, is moving testimony to the pain of civil war.

Natural Bridge, Alabama

34 deg 5' 24.47" N
87 deg 36' 54.26"W
About 60 miles northwest of Birmingham

Natural Bridge is a delightful little town with an unofficial population of 28. Natural Bridge Park surprised us with its beauty. Admission of $2.50 per person is collected in a gift shop full of classic souvenirs. Past the artesian water fountains and the rock formation resembling an Indian face is a trail to the natural bridge. The trail continues under the bridge and for perhaps half a mile along the rocks to a beautiful falls. This park would be a refreshing place for a picnic during the summer heat and must be spectacular in the fall.

Crenelated Water Tower, Marvel, Alabama

33 deg 8' 49.95"N
87 deg 0' 7.47"W
About 28 miles southwest of Birmingham

Marvel was a mining town in the Cahaba coal fields. Roden Coal Company operated there from the early 1900's until the 1950's. Although many people still live in the town, this water tower is a striking remnant of more prosperous times. The top is crenelated and a ladder angles out of one of the windows, which must require more acrobatics to climb than I'd be willing to do at that height. I've never seen a concrete water tower before and I would like to know how it was constructed. MSHA has a photo of the mine's surface plant with a note that there was an explosion on October 22, 1916 that killed 18 miners.
Next time we visit Marvel, we'll look for the mine ruins.