Warrior Mountain Historic Marker, River Region Travel Guide

The Warrior Mountain Historic Marker stands as a testament to the rich history of the region, once known as the Warrior Mountains. This area was home to Native Americans, settlers, and people of mixed ancestry, with evidence of occupation dating back to the Paleo-Indian period (10,000 BC) through the Mississippian Period (1540 AD). Chief Tuscaloosa (Black Warrior), a noted Creek Indian leader mentioned by Desoto in 1540, lends his name to the area. A 1733 map identified the southern drainage from these mountains as the Tuscaloosa River.The first known written reference to "Warrior Mountains" was by rifle maker John Bull (1777-1840), who engraved one of his rifles "David Smith, Warrior Mountains - 1829". According to family tradition, James Havens wished to be buried near his Native American friends on the Warrior Mountains. James E. Saunders' 1899 book also refers to the southern highlands of Lawrence County as the Warrior Mountains.On June 15, 1936, President Roosevelt changed the name to the Black Warrior Forest, and on June 17, 1942, Congress officially designated it as the William B. Bankhead National Forest. Today, the area includes the Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area, Sipsey Wilderness, and Sipsey Wild and Scenic Rivers. The marker serves as a point of reflection on the diverse history and natural beauty of this Alabama landmark.