Postcards of America

From early aerial experimenters who devoted their lives to the development of a heavier-than-air flying machine to the massive expansion of military flight training during the Second World War, the story of aviation in Alabama represents a remarkable historical legacy. In March 1910, Orville and Wilbur Wright established the nation's first civilian flying school on the grounds of what would become Maxwell Air Force Base, the center for military aerospace education and airpower doctrine. The establishment of the Wright brothers' flying school represents the first of a series of extraordinary events that propelled Alabama to the forefront of the evolution of aviation as the foundation of Pres. Franklin Roosevelt's arsenal of democracy during the Second World War.

Once little more than a local curiosity, Cathedral Caverns was transformed by one man’s vision and hard work into a spectacular tourist attraction and natural landmark.

In 1952, Jacob “Jay” Gurley explored a local Marshall County curiosity which residents referred to as “Bat Cave.” Amazed by its stalagmites and sheer enormity, Gurley purchased the site and began transforming it into Cathedral Caverns. After decades of hard work, Cathedral Caverns became one of Alabama’s top tourist attractions, eventually being dedicated as a national natural landmark in 1973, and a state park in 2000. Had it not been for Gurley's hard work and dedication, this cave, a geological treasure of international renown, might have remained a little-known hole in the ground. His efforts impacted local and state tourism, economics, and politics. This is the story of one man and his vision. Enjoy the rich history of Cathedral Caverns in this collection of 15 historic black-and-white postcards.

This collection of mailable vintage-image postcards celebrates the rich history of the Tennessee River, which has shaped the lives of northwest Alabamians for centuries. Native peoples made their homes on its shores, living on the rich resources found in its waters and on its banks. Early Europeans and Americans recognized the river's importance in connecting east with west, although traveling the 40-mile stretch of rocky shoals between present-day Decatur and Florence was difficult. Overcoming that navigation challenge led to such 19th-century technological advances as the Tuscumbia, Courtland & Decatur Railroad—the first rail line west of the Appalachian Mountains—and the Muscle Shoals Canal. During the Civil War, skirmishes over control of factories, rail lines, and bridges characterized most military activity in northwest Alabama. In the 20th century, the construction of Wilson Dam and the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority improved the quality of life and increased economic opportunities in northwest Alabama.