Two of my four stops weren’t open! ☹ And the visitor center was closed on the third one. More ☹

However, Horseshow Bend made up for some of it! And Little River Canyon’s scenic drive was likely what I was going to see, even if the visitor center had been open.

Oh, by the way. Here’s the link to the preview post about this trip.

Sloss Furnace National Historic Landmark

Sloss Furnace dates back to the 1800s when steel processing began here. The current 32-acre historic site preserves the Furnace and offers tours and public space for events. The area around remains an industrial one, but a well-kept and well-maintained one. Trees are maintained, the buildings are mostly freshly painted, and the streets and sidewalks are in good condition.

There are a few buildings with apartments and condos, along with some retail, including bars and restaurants. Impressive!

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park

This park preserves the area of a War of 1812 battlefield. During the war, some of the Native people supported the Americans, and others supported the British. The Creek tribe was split, with half fighting with the Americans.

This battle proved significant, ending Creek hostilities and elevating Andrew Jackson to a position to lead the Battle of New Orleans and eventually the White House.

A shameful result became the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1832, which led to the Trail of Tears evacuation to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma.

Freedom Riders National Monument

Located at a former bus station in Anniston, Alabama, the Freedom Riders National Monument is a powerful National Park Service site that honors the courageous activists who challenged Jim Crow segregation in 1961. Established in 2017, the monument marks the site of the harrowing bus attacks and firebombing that became a pivotal turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, offering visitors a profound look at the resilience and sacrifice required to fight for racial justice in the Deep South. 🚌✊

World’s Largest Office Chair

This chair in Anniston hasn’t been maintained and looks like it’s ready for the scrap heap. I hope some organization improves the looks. It’s important that we maintain our quirky attractions!!

Little River Canyon National Preserve

This location preserves part of a 40-mile river and the canyon it created. The visitor center is operated by Jacksonville State University, a nearby public university.

And that brings us to the next day!

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

This is the first park designated as a National Military Park in 1890. Gettysburg was also designated such in 1895. In the 1930s, management of these parks moved to the National Park Service.

The Confederates won the Battle of Chickamauga. A couple of months later, the Union Army won the Battle of Chattanooga. That battle has been called a turning point in the war.

The park is located in Georgia, just south of Chattanooga. You will be in that part of the US where, as you drive, you could be in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama several times before you leave. The Visitor Center has a small museum and a 25-minute film about the battle. There is a six-mile drive through the park with designated tour stops to observe various monuments and location indicators about the action that took place there.

Russell Cave National Monument

This is a natural cave, protected from the elements, providing shelter from the weather. It isn’t very big; you can walk up to the visitor area and see the whole cave without going any further. Carbon dating estimates humans were here about 10,000 years ago!

Unclaimed Baggage

Scottsboro, AL, is home to the Unclaimed Baggage Center. Back in 1970, the founders bought the first unclaimed luggage from an airline. To this day, it’s the only store that sells this luggage. It’s often reported as a quirky location, but the store is real, and they do make money!

There are many unusual items that appear in unclaimed luggage, so it’s worth the stop. I’ll have more information on The Driveby Tourist blog. Someday!

And the day ends in Huntsville, AL. Tomorrow, I’ll visit the US Space and Rocket Center here in Huntsville.

More tomorrow. (Or the next day.)

Thanks for following…

The Driveby Tourist “Team”

Note: These will be quick notes at the end of the day. I’ll send them “regularly.” Please excuse grammatical errors as I’m doing these on the fly!