Background

Guntersville Museum: Preserving Local History

Explore Guntersville's heritage: Native American artifacts, local art, and the story of Lake Guntersville's creation.

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Housed in a historic 1936 armory, the Guntersville Museum showcases the rich history and culture of the Guntersville, Alabama region [3, 6]. Exhibits range from Native American artifacts to displays about the construction of the Guntersville Dam and the area's natural history [4, 3].

A brief summary to Guntersville Museum

  • Tuesday 10 am-4 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-4 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-4 pm
  • Friday 10 am-4 pm
  • Saturday 1 pm-4 pm
  • Sunday 1 pm-4 pm

Local tips

  • Check out the museum's gift shop for books on local history, note cards, and unique gifts [15].
  • Combine your visit with a walk around the adjacent Guntersville Public Library and Whole Backstage Community Theatre [10, 15].
  • Visit the museum on a Saturday or Sunday to also experience the nearby Guntersville Farmers Market (seasonal).
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Getting There

  • Walking

    The Guntersville Museum is located at 1215 Rayburn Ave, within Guntersville's cultural district [17]. If you are already in the downtown area, for example, near the Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce on Gunter Avenue, the museum is a pleasant walk of approximately 10-15 minutes [17]. Head north on Gunter Avenue, then turn left onto Rayburn Avenue. The museum will be on your right, next to the Guntersville Public Library and across from the Whole Backstage Theatre [17].

  • Driving

    If approaching from Highway 431, turn onto AL-69 South toward Guntersville [17]. Continue on AL-69 South for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto Rayburn Avenue. The Guntersville Museum will be on your right at 1215 Rayburn Ave [17]. Free parking is available at the museum [17].

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Discover more about Guntersville Museum

The Guntersville Museum, located in the heart of Guntersville, Alabama, offers a captivating journey through the region's past [9, 7]. The museum is housed in the historic rock Armory, constructed in 1936 under President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration [3, 15]. Originally a military armory for Company E, 167th Infantry Division, the building itself is a piece of history, built from local rough limestone in a distinctive castle-like architecture and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places [3, 6, 15]. Inside, visitors can explore a diverse collection of exhibits [9]. An impressive Native American exhibit displays artifacts dating back to the Paleo-Indian era [3, 10]. Exhibits also illustrate the activities during the construction of the Guntersville Dam, which created almost a thousand miles of mountain-lakes shoreline [3]. The museum also features a permanent collection of work by nationally-acclaimed local artist Frank Nelson, and a display of mostly native birds collected and mounted by Bessie Rayburn Samuel in the 1920s [3]. The museum not only preserves the past but also serves as a cornerstone of the city's cultural district, adjacent to the Guntersville Public Library and overlooking the Whole Backstage Community Theatre [10, 15].

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