High Falls Park

During rainy times High Falls is the next best thing to Niagara Falls, and it is stepping-stone fun during dry times. I first learned about High Falls Park (a DeKalb County park in Alabama) during an Eagle Awareness Weekend at Lake Guntersville State Park in 2001. I had never heard of it, and it didn’t appear on published maps back then. The Guntersville park staff told us about it and provided us with a hand drawn map. We drove the 15 miles from the park to see it, and it was spectacular! That January day was an excellent time to see the falls at their maximum size – covering the entire 300-ft width of the rocks and falling 35 feet. I went to see it again after all the rain we had this December and it was just as impressive. 

It’s just a short downhill walk from the parking lot to a view of the falls and the natural arch carved out by the flowing water. A pedestrian bridge crosses Town Creek a short way upstream of the falls. This bridge was built in 1996 on the rock supports of the original 1923 covered bridge which burned in the 1950’s. In addition to providing excellent views of the gorge, the bridge leads to hiking trails across the creek. You can also see a rope hanging from a tree upstream which marks the spot where local churches performed baptisms.

We visited the falls another time one September, while doing some geocaching, and at that time of year it was practically dry. This enabled us to walk all over the rocks in the creek and get a great view of the natural arch which is about 25 feet long and 35 feet high. We did locate at least one geocache along the park’s hiking trails back then. 

The park encompasses 38 acres with several hiking trails, picnic pavilions, and a children’s playground. On my most recent visit I was happy to find that the park now has some additional amenities – bathrooms and a snack bar (which was closed).

Be sure to keep track of closing time, which is 4 pm in the winter. I was watching the time and knew I still had 15 minutes left when a Sheriff nearly gave me a heart attack by blasting his siren at me when I was just a few yards away in the woods. I walked back to the road to find out what his problem was, but he drove back up to the parking lot. The few other people that had been there were gone and the old sheriff was hobbling across the parking lot to check on something. I suspect the lady waiting in his car was his wife. I think he was just in hurry to get the gates closed and get on home!

Sites along the road nearby:

You definitely need directions to find this park, although it’s not far from the turn off for Bucks Pocket State Park. It’s a little over an hour's drive from Huntsville. Address: 969 County Road 144, Grove Oak, AL 35975 (where CR 144 dead ends)

Eggbeater Jesus Church

  

The First Baptist Church building of Huntsville, Alabama has everything: art, architecture, history…and it’s even listed on Roadside America!

I had driven past this church for 20 years, thinking it a bizarre old building (but not old enough to be interesting), with a strange metallic bell tower, before I finally acquired an appreciation of it. First, an increased interest in mosaics drew me to the 43-ft high “Cosmic Christ” on the facade of the church (known locally as the “Eggbeater Jesus”). Then, I saw an article in the Huntsville Times that included interior photos of the magnificent space-themed stained glass windows which I previously had no idea were there. Lastly, a new-found interest in Mid-Century Modern architecture cinched this building as an architectural icon for me. I had to see the interior for myself!

I had never been to the annual Living Christmas Tree choral presentation so I decided to attend the informal daytime presentation especially for children for a chance to see the interior and photograph the windows with daylight streaming through them. I was able to explore, photograph, and enjoy an excellent show!

I was not at all disappointed upon seeing the huge faceted stained glass windows (although I was unable to see the recently added baptistry window, which was hidden by the Living Christmas Tree set). The current windows are exact duplicates of the originals (created by Gordon Smith of Smith Stained Glass Studios in Fort Worth, Texas), which were replaced during a 1997 renovation. I have never seen anything like them. They are gorgeous and, as usual, I could not capture the extent of the beauty in photos. Their design, with swirling colors and shapes, is intended to inspire the viewer and direct attention to the pulpit. They represent creation and the creative process: “The radiance near the center [of the south window] suggests the brilliant, intense light of God. Around it, like a river of fire, flows the creative flux. Distant bursts of light suggest the creation of galaxies in the far reaches of space. Unknown planets and stars emerge. A strong suggestion lingers of order evolving out of disorder as the will of God is imposed upon the matter of the universe.” What a perfect depiction for a church built in the Rocket City during the height of the Space Race! 

South window

Blocks of colored glass are encased by epoxy filler

North window

The mosaic was also created by Gordon Smith. He began it in 1966 and completed the installation (by hand and tweezers) of the 14 million pieces of Italian tile in 1973. The design expresses the Biblical theme of “Creation and Redemption” and gives the “impression of the process of creation, of order evolving out of disorder.” Christ stands in the midst of the seven churches, symbolized by lamp stands (which look like galaxies to me). A beam of light emanating from his mouth represents God’s Word. His hands are extended, inviting one to enter the church.

Some of the tessellae have fallen off

First Baptist Church has been serving the community for over two hundred years and is Alabama’s oldest missionary Baptist body. It began in 1809 as the West Fork of the Flint River Church when Alabama was still part of the Mississippi Territory. The current building/location (formerly a turnip patch) is the fifth used by the Church, while the fourth (the “Gothic Church” built in 1895) is still standing at Gallatin & Clinton Streets in downtown Huntsville. Plans for the current building began in 1957, the same year Sputnik 1 (the first artificial earth satellite) was launched.  The Sanctuary was completed in 1966. The unusual seven-arched roofline expands outward from the pulpit to the outer doors with the seven arches representing the seven churches in Revelation. The postmodern 229-ft freestanding steeple was added in 1987. It was fabricated by Campbellsville Industries, Inc. and is covered with a zinc alloy. According to the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records, it is the largest prefabricated steeple in the world. It houses a 48-bell carillon which chimes the hour, and the bells are pealed for special occasions. A 90-ft elevator provides access to a carillonneur's room below the bells. Now I really want to go up there!

The bell from the previous church building
sits outside the church doors

Pettus Randall Miniature Museum of American History

“475 years of instant history!” That’s how Pettus Randall advertised his miniature museum in 1964. I almost missed this little gem during a quick visit to American Village in Montevallo, Alabama. I was in the area and stopped in the village just an hour before closing time. I almost left without going in the small building labeled “Randall Museum” on the map. Luckily, I decided to duck in for a quick peek – it ended up being not so quick after all. For lovers of dioramas (or miniatures or dolls…), this little museum is awesome! The 35 dioramas have labels such as: Declaration of Independence, Carver’s Contribution to Agriculture, Automobiles for the Masses, Women's Struggle for the Vote, and Remembering Iwo Jima.

The Confederacy Surrenders

Lincoln Assassination

Overcoming 'Separate but Equal'

The 'New Frontier'

After winding your way through the beautiful wood display cases housing the dioramas, you round a corner and come upon the magnificent “Hail to the Chief” – an Inaugural Ballroom scene. Originally, it contained every President and First Lady from Washington to Lyndon Johnson. It has since been updated to include those up through the Obamas.

"Hail to the Chief" - An Inaugural Ball scene

Pettus Randall, Jr., an Alabama businessman (founder of Randall Publishing), wanted to bring American History to the people of small towns who could not afford to travel to the museums of Washington D.C. He hired sculptors and artists from 14 states, along with a woodworker and dress designer/seamstress. He spent over $1.5 million (in today’s dollars) and 3 years assembling the traveling museum into two trailers. The museum visited 25 states, drawing thousands of visitors, but after touring for just a few years it could not pay for itself. Randall lost a lot of money and considered it the biggest failure of his life. The miniatures were placed in storage and remained there for nearly 40 years, until his son decided to find a way to revive his father’s dream.

The Pettus Randall Miniature Museum of American History

Both the collection and the museum building were donated to the Village by Pettus Randall III, representing the Randall Publishing Company in Tuscaloosa, as a tribute to his father. The original seamstress from 40 years ago volunteered to restore the figures’ clothing. Originally, Randall had hired her during a slow time for her children’s clothing company so she was able to keep her workers busy. He sent her to Washington D.C. to research the inaugural ball gowns and to New York to buy fabric. Once again, a lot of work needed to be done and another team of artists was brought together to restore the dolls which had deteriorated in storage (they are made with porcelain heads, hands, and feet attached to bodies made of wire, sponge rubber, and masking tape). They needed cleaning and repainting and some needed clothing and body parts replaced. The modern Presidents and First Ladies also had to be created. A stage representing the East Room of the Whitehouse was built to house the Inaugural Ball scene. They did a great job! 

The museum can only be accessed through the American Village and is included in the price of admission.

Susan's Cabinet

This cabinet includes a porcupine quill, ostrich egg, 
fish vertebrae, bird and mammal skulls

Cabinets of Curiosities (also known as Cabinets of Wonder, Wunderkammer, Kunstkabinett, and Wonder-Rooms) arose in Europe in the mid-16^th century as collections of objects of natural history, archaeology, geology, ethnography, history, art, and antiquities. They were considered to be microcosms of the world, or memory theaters, and they became the precursors to museums. I came across this information only recently and realized that this is exactly what I have been forming in my own home, and it explains my love of what I call “old-fashioned” museums, the kind with real objects in wood and glass display cases. My collecting began with travel mementos but expanded into natural history and other areas while homeschooling my three children (an incredible 2-decade experience in broadening my own horizons). My parents passed on to me a love of travel, exploration, learning, and roadside curiosities. My background in engineering is a result of an interest in science. Moving from California to Alabama gave me an appreciation of, and intense interest in, local history. My daughter opened the world of art to me, and that also led to an interest in architecture. Now, everywhere I look I see amazing and beautiful things – and I want to share them on this blog.

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” ~ Camille Pissarro

Some of my favorite shells and fossils

Travel mementos, antiques, insects, animal horns...

Geology drill samples, a piece of London Bridge, mineral samples, 
and a Mississippian era stone tool