Seven Wonders of West Alabama

You may not have to travel to the outer ends of the world to experience seven wonders, according to Mark Hughes Cobb, a staff writer for the Tuscaloosa News.

In todays Sunday edition, Cobb pointed out seven "wonders" of West Alabama that you must might be interested in seeing...right here at home in the Tuscaloosa area. Here are the seven wonders of west Alabama:

1. Moundville, Alabama

Moundville was supposedly one of North America's largest cities, at least it was eight hundred years ago. Now you can view some of the remains of the inhabitants of that era. You can find 26 "Indian" mounds circling a central plaza by visiting the small town of Moundville, specifically, Moundville Archaeological Park.

For more information visit http://www.moundville.ua.edu/

2. Hurricane Creek

Rebounding back from pollutants and enviro-killers, Hurricane Creek is now one of the most beautiful expressions of nature in the United States. The gorgeous hardwoods along the creek entertain you with abundant wildlife beckoning you to stay awhile. You can ease along Hurricane Creek's almost thirty miles of bubbling waterway.

3. Ghost in the courthouse window

At some point in every University of Alabama student's career, he or she will cruise on over to Pickens County to see the a face staring out of one of the window of the Pickens County courthouse. Supposedly, the face is that of a freed slave, Henry Wells, who was hiding out there from an angry mob outside.

While Wells was staring from the window, at the local mob, lightning struck and forever inscribed his face in the window. People from around the world visit Pickens County to see the "ghost."

4. The Warner art collection (Mark Hughes Cobb's description)

Consolidation has made the journey to Tuscaloosa more convenient for art lovers from around the world, as the fabulous Warner collection of art and antiquities is now housed almost exclusively in the Westervelt Warner Museum of American Art, adjacent to the NorthRiver Yacht Club.

Former Gulf States Paper CEO and Chairman Jack Warner has spent more than 40 years amassing "an unparalleled assembly of 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century American art" (by the editors of the book "An American Odyssey: The Warner Collection of American Fine and Decorative Arts").

"Every piece of art I've ever collected, over 40 years of collecting, is here," Warner said.

As renovations got under way at the University Club and Mildred Warner House, Warner gathered pieces from those, along with Gulf States works, some loaned to the University of Alabama President's Mansion and others from his private home, to fill the building formerly known as The Anchorage.

The hundreds of paintings, sculptures, artifacts and antiques include works by James A. McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Frederic E. Church, Childe Hassam, Thomas Cole, Andrew Wyeth, Winslow Homer, Duncan Phyfe, Mary Cassatt and James Peale.

Hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Call 205-343-4540 for tour information, or visit www.warnermuseum.org.

5. Kentuck (Mark Hughes Cobb's description)

When people say Kentuck, they're mostly thinking of the Kentuck Festival of the Arts, an October tradition drawing 30,000 lovers of folk art, traditional crafts, music and more to Kentuck Park in Northport (a settlement thought to be originally named Kentuck or Canetuck, because it was a cane-brake wilderness. Another theory suggests that "Kentuck" once meant paradise).

Whatever those name origins, the Kentuck Festival grew out of a simple one-day fair back in the early ‘70s into the international hit that draws renowned contemporary and visionary folk artists, along with practitioners of traditional crafts such as weaving, smithing and more. Appearances on the Brother Ben and Festival stages range from renowned folk, blues, gospel, jazz and other musicians to theater, dance and other performing artists.

But in addition to that riot of color and sound, the third weekend in October, Kentuck also stands for the arts center at the heart of it, located in downtown Northport at the corner of Fifth Street and Main. With museum and gallery space, Kentuck features regular exhibits and classes throughout the year. The courtyard is the site of numerous demonstrations and performances, especially during the monthly Art Nights, held the first Thursday of each month. www.kentuck.org. 205-758-1257.

6. Dreamland

"Ain't nothing like ‘em nowhere." That's what sport celebrities from around the globe say about their visit to Tuscaloosa's own Dreamland Barbeque.

Just white bread and ribs is all you will get at the original Dreamland Barbecue...and really, that's all you will want. Talk about good!

The legend of Dreamland was spread through The New York Times, Forbes FYI, Chili Pepper Magazine, Southern Living, USA Today, ESPN and others.

http://www.dreamlandbbq.com/

7. The Bama Theatre

Located in downtown Tuscaloosa, this old theatre is a throwback to the early thirties. It's now host to a lot of local events and pagents, and every weekend or so, you just may be able to catch an old flick there.