Tuscumbia in Colbert County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Tuscumbia Railway
First Railroad west of Alleghenies
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 17, 2009
1. Tuscumbia Railway First Railroad west of alleghenies Marker
1832 ~ begun here; completed to Decatur, 45 miles east, in 1834.
Cotton shipped by this line around nearby Muscle Shoals, then by boat down Tennessee ~ Mississippi R to world markets.
1851 ~ expanded to Memphis ~ Charleston RR.
A vital line in Civil War, it changed hands several times.1898 ~ became part of Southern Railways.
Erected by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 34° 43.951′ N, 87° 42.309′ W. Marker is in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in Colbert County. It is at the intersection of West 5th Street and South Water Street, on the right when traveling west on West 5th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 West 5th Street, Tuscumbia AL 35674, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama and in the Shoals. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The First Railway in Alabama-The Tuscumbia Courtland and Decatur Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Tuscumbia Railway Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Judge Charles Womble
this page online
Also see . . .
1. The Story of First Railway West Alleghey Mountains. Sunday Morning, August 17, 1958 in Times Daily page 8 section 2 It Happened at Tuscumbia: by Nina Leftwich (Submitted on March 10, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)
2. Digging Up History, Tuscumbia workers undercover railway treasures. The Gadsden Times Tuesday April 10, 2007 (Submitted on March 10, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 17, 2009
2. Tuscumbia Railway Depot Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 9, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,108 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 9, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
