As the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park in McCalla is giving Alabamians an opportunity to step back into the 1800s and experience the sights, sounds and skills of early American life.
The park will host Tannehill’s Living History event on March 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in association with America250 Alabama, offering visitors a chance to see demonstrations and presentations highlighting everyday life in the 19th century.
Historical presentations will take place throughout the park at the furnace, gristmill and Pioneer Village, where interpreters will discuss topics such as labor, food production and the life of a Civil War soldier.
Visitors will also be able to watch demonstrations of traditional trades including blacksmithing, woodcarving and other crafts that were once common throughout the region. Music will be performed by the Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Association, and author Barry M. Cole will read from his book “One Hundred Pearls.”
Additional programming will take place at William’s Cabin, where presenters Audra Spanfellnar and Kay Vines will lead a program titled “1800s Home Life,” exploring fashion, food and everyday rural life during the era.
Admission follows the park’s regular gate pricing: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and military members, $4 for children ages 5–11, and free for children under 5.
The event also highlights the historical significance of Tannehill Ironworks itself, one of Alabama’s best-preserved industrial sites from the 1800s.
Located in McCalla, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park preserves the remains of a 19th-century iron-making complex that operated during the Civil War era. The site includes the remnants of furnace stacks, coke ovens and other structures tied to Alabama’s early iron industry.
Today the roughly 1,500-acre park also serves as a recreational destination with hiking trails, camping areas, fishing spots and picnic areas throughout the property. Trails wind through wooded areas and along Roupes Creek, while the park’s museum displays artifacts connected to the ironworks and the people who lived and worked there.
Tannehill Ironworks hosts a variety of events throughout the year celebrating Alabama’s cultural and industrial heritage. The March 7 Living History program offers visitors a chance to experience the traditions and skills of the 1800s while reflecting on the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
