Florence Alabama - In Pictures

Florence "The Renaissance City"

The City of Florence | In Pictures

Florence is the largest city in the Quad Cities of northwest Alabama. It is the seat of Lauderdale County. It was named after the Italian city of the same name, and is therefore commonly referred to as the "Renaissance City".

Florence is traversed by two major US highway routes, and five non-hidden Alabama highways. The most interesting aspect of Florence roads, in my opinion, is the fact that although Florence has no interstate highways (or freeways for that matter), the city has a series of BGS (Big Green Signs). There is also a major construction project ongoing, as a new bridge has been built over the Tennessee River, and a highway connecting it to Florence Blvd., the current routing of US 43/72, is planned. The route will more than likely carry US 43 and perhaps 72 when it is completed.

Date
of Pic Description Thumbnail

Downtown

6/15/02 Actually from a bluff in Sheffield, but this is looking across the Tennessee River to downtown Florence. Notice the old railroad bridge at bottom right. It has been out of use since 1988, with half of it removed, but it has recently been opened to pedestrians on its second deck.

6/15/02 Another shot, this time including O'Neal Bridge, which carries US 43/72 traffic across the river. It was originally built in 1926 as a toll road. It is named for former Alabama governor Emmitt O'Neal, who lived in Florence.

Downtown Street Scenes

9/15/03 A view down Court Street at it's northern end, looking south. At its northern end, just behind me in this pic, the road dead ends into Irvine Avenue and the University of North Alabama campus. As you can see, the street begins as two lanes divided by a grassy median, but quickly merges into a four-lane street just before the business district begins.

11/10/03 Here we are at the end of the two lane section, looking back north. The purple paw prints on the street are there to lead visitors to UNA's campus. They begin at Court Street's intersection with Tennessee Street, then travel north past this pic, turn right onto Irvine Avenue, over one block, then left into UNA's main entrance.

6/22/02 A few more blocks south down Court Street, near the intersection with Tombigbee Street. This is just a nice view of the old buildings in the downtown business district.

11/19/03 Another block south, Court intersects Mobile Street. This is a night view looking back north near that intersection. In fact, you can see the cobblestone of Mobile in the center of the picture.

11/10/03 A couple of more blocks down Court Street, this is its intersection with Tennessee Street. US 72 used to come in from the left side of the picture on Tennessee, and turn left onto South Court Street to head towards the Tennessee River. Court Street at the time also carried US 43. In the picture is the First Southern Bank building, and one block south of it in the background is the Lauderdale county courthouse.

11/10/03 Now from that same intersection, this is looking east down Tennessee Street.

11/10/03 From that pic above, let's jog one block east over to Seminary Street, and turn north. One block up that street, and you come to the intersection with Mobile Street. Here it is, looking west back towards Court. The street and the sidewalk that lines it forms the Mobile Street Plaza. Also notice, this short portion of the street is one way and cobblestoned, the only cobblestone street left in Florence.

11/10/03 Back to Seminary Street. This is looking north, between Hermitage Drive and Irvine Avenue. This part is a historic district, as the marker explains. The little white sign next to the historic marker says "Museum parking only". The museum it refers to is Pope's Tavern, which is to the right of this picture, beyond the black fence. Up ahead you can see the main entrance of UNA.

9/15/03 Let's move east another block now to the next major north/south street in downtown Florence. That would be Wood Avenue. Here's a view looking north near the intersection of Wood and Tuscaloosa Street, with the new Florence/Lauderdale Public Library to my right side and Wilson Park on my left.

6/22/02 This is at the intersection of Wood and Hermitage Drive. This pic is looking northeast up Hermitage. The street was the route of US 43 out of Florence until the 1950s. It was originally part of the Andrew Jackson Military Road, which ran from Nashville to New Orleans. The street gets its name from The Hermitage, Jackson's home in Nashville.

9/15/03 One more block to the east finds the next north/south street, Walnut Street. We're moving out of the business district now, as most of Walnut is lined with homes. This is looking north towards the intersection with Tuscaloosa Street. Just to the left of the pic is the rear parking lot for the Florence/Lauderdale library.

9/15/03 Speaking of Tuscaloosa Street, let's take it over about four blocks to Pine Street, just to the west of Court Street. This is looking north on Pine. Just past this short stretch of shady, tree-lined road, you will be on the campus of UNA.

Downtown Buildings

11/10/03 Well, let's stay on Pine Street but start taking a look at some of the buildings of downtown Florence. Here we are at the intersection of Pine and Mobile Street. This is Courtview Tower, the tallest building in Florence at fourteen stories. It's a combination residential/commercial tower. Unfortunately, not the most attractive building. Why the pastel pink color? Florence ain't no Miami.

11/10/03 Back over to Seminary Street now. One of the architectural elements seen frequently in downtowns around the south is stately columns. Here is one example of that in downtown Florence. This is the post office and federal courthouse, which takes up the entire city block between Mobile and Tombigbee Streets.

6/22/02 A second example of the columns in use. This is the AmSouth bank building on Seminary, in front of Wilson Park. The building was modeled after the Forks of Cypress mansion. The mansion was owned by the brother of Andrew Jackson, and was built in the early 1800s near Cypress Creek north of Florence. Unfortunately, the house burned in the 1960s after being struck by lightning.

11/10/03 Another columned building. It sits, as you can see, just north of the AmSouth building. It's the home of the First United Methodist Church of Florence.

6/22/02 More columns adorn the front of the new Florence/Lauderdale Public Library. The library opened in the fall of 2002. It sits on the corner of Wood Avenue and Tuscaloosa Street. This is the Wood Avenue side, just across the street from Wilson Park.

6/22/02 This is looking at the old library, which sits next door to its successor. This was a nice facility in its day, but the new library is probably double the size of the old one. The building is still there today, but rumors are a nearby church may buy the land eventually and raze the building.

9/15/03 This is looking at the rear entrance to the new library, which is actually the most used entrance. It is facing Walnut Street.

9/15/03 This is Wood Avenue Church of Christ. The architecture of this building is a departure from the norm around the downtown area. It sits on the corner of Wood and Tuscaloosa Street, across from Wilson Park and the library.

Downtown Signs

9/15/03 The city of Florence recently began installing new guidage signs around the city to lead visitors to certain destinations, as well as to sign the destinations themselves. Here is an example of a sign leading visitors to key locations in the downtown area. This is looking south on Wood Avenue near the intersection with Hermitage Drive.

9/15/03 Another example of the signs, although this one is a little bit of a different design. This is looking southeast down Hermitage Drive, to its ending just ahead at Court Street.

9/15/03 Finally, a third type of the sign. No guidage sign, this simply tells you where you are at. This is looking west down Tuscaloosa Street, and yes indeed, that is the Kennedy-Douglass Center For the Arts. It is the only art museum in Florence.

Florence Parks

6/22/02 Well I've mentioned Wilson Park so many times, but haven't produced any pics. So here you go. This is the fountain which is at the center of the park. On nights, mostly during the summertime and at Christmas, the fountain is lit with various colors. It is the location for the annual Renaissance Faire. Also, a variety of W.C. Handy music festival activities take place here. Florence really possesses a unique "central park" here.

11/10/03 This statue sits at the entrance to the park on the corner of Seminary Street and Tombigbee Street. It's W.C. Handy, playing the trumpet. William Christopher Handy was born in Florence, and is known to many as the "Father of the Blues". The W.C. Handy music festival happens every August to pay tribute to the man and his genre of music.

10/31/03 Looking into Veterans Park, from the entrance off of Cox Creek Parkway. Unfortunately I let this shot be out of focus. The sign on the left is used at the entrance to all parks in Florence. Veterans may not be around much longer, as rumors persist about the park being transformed into a "tourist attraction" of some sort. No word yet on exactly what that will be.

10/31/03 Another view inside Veterans Park. This is near the beginning of a frisbee golf course that is in the park, the only one of its kind in the Shoals. The course is not too popular anymore, unfortunately. However, officials say that if Veterans is closed, they will construct a new course at McFarland Park along the Tennessee River.

10/31/03 A view of Wilson Dam, from the south end of the park on the Tennessee River. This is looking at the east side, or the "high side" of the dam.

11/19/03 I was really hoping this picture would turn out better than it did. This is the view from Florence harbor, looking west down the Tennessee River towards McFarland Park. Although you can't really see it, there is a barge in the middle of the shot.

Miscellaneous Other Pics

6/15/02 From the Sheffield side of the Tennessee River, this is looking east towards the Patton Island Bridge and Renaissance Tower.

11/13/02 Just a pretty picture, IMO, of a residential street in Florence.

10/29/03 A view of the east Florence business district. Not the best shot actually, I'll try to get another one soon. This is looking north up Royal Avenue. US 72 ran through this area in the 50s, and made a turn onto Huntsville Road here.

11/10/03 Looking up the hill from Royal Avenue to Coffee High School. Established in 1912, this is its last year of existence as it and Bradshaw High School will combine to form Florence High School in 2004. The signs at the bottom of the pic are used during UNA football games at Braly Municipal Stadium, just to the left of this pic. I wish they'd do something with them when they aren't in use.

11/10/03 Speaking of Braly Stadium... here it is. Braly is the home to Coffee and Bradshaw football this year and Florence High School football next year. The UNA football team also calls it home. In December every year since 1985, it hosts the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game.

11/19/03 Remember the AmSouth bank building I talked about above? How it is modeled after the Forks of Cypress mansion, which burned in the 1960s? Well, here is all that's left of the mansion. This is on Jackson Road just north of Florence.

Florence	"The Renaissance City"
The City of Florence \| In Pictures

Date of Pic	Description	Thumbnail
Downtown
6/15/02	Actually from a bluff in Sheffield, but this is looking across the Tennessee River to downtown Florence. Notice the old railroad bridge at bottom right. It has been out of use since 1988, with half of it removed, but it has recently been opened to pedestrians on its second deck.
6/15/02	Another shot, this time including O'Neal Bridge, which carries US 43/72 traffic across the river. It was originally built in 1926 as a toll road. It is named for former Alabama governor Emmitt O'Neal, who lived in Florence.
Downtown Street Scenes
9/15/03	A view down Court Street at it's northern end, looking south. At its northern end, just behind me in this pic, the road dead ends into Irvine Avenue and the University of North Alabama campus. As you can see, the street begins as two lanes divided by a grassy median, but quickly merges into a four-lane street just before the business district begins.
11/10/03	Here we are at the end of the two lane section, looking back north. The purple paw prints on the street are there to lead visitors to UNA's campus. They begin at Court Street's intersection with Tennessee Street, then travel north past this pic, turn right onto Irvine Avenue, over one block, then left into UNA's main entrance.
6/22/02	A few more blocks south down Court Street, near the intersection with Tombigbee Street. This is just a nice view of the old buildings in the downtown business district.
11/19/03	Another block south, Court intersects Mobile Street. This is a night view looking back north near that intersection. In fact, you can see the cobblestone of Mobile in the center of the picture.
11/10/03	A couple of more blocks down Court Street, this is its intersection with Tennessee Street. US 72 used to come in from the left side of the picture on Tennessee, and turn left onto South Court Street to head towards the Tennessee River. Court Street at the time also carried US 43. In the picture is the First Southern Bank building, and one block south of it in the background is the Lauderdale county courthouse.
11/10/03	Now from that same intersection, this is looking east down Tennessee Street.
11/10/03	From that pic above, let's jog one block east over to Seminary Street, and turn north. One block up that street, and you come to the intersection with Mobile Street. Here it is, looking west back towards Court. The street and the sidewalk that lines it forms the Mobile Street Plaza. Also notice, this short portion of the street is one way and cobblestoned, the only cobblestone street left in Florence.
11/10/03	Back to Seminary Street. This is looking north, between Hermitage Drive and Irvine Avenue. This part is a historic district, as the marker explains. The little white sign next to the historic marker says "Museum parking only". The museum it refers to is Pope's Tavern, which is to the right of this picture, beyond the black fence. Up ahead you can see the main entrance of UNA.
9/15/03	Let's move east another block now to the next major north/south street in downtown Florence. That would be Wood Avenue. Here's a view looking north near the intersection of Wood and Tuscaloosa Street, with the new Florence/Lauderdale Public Library to my right side and Wilson Park on my left.
6/22/02	This is at the intersection of Wood and Hermitage Drive. This pic is looking northeast up Hermitage. The street was the route of US 43 out of Florence until the 1950s. It was originally part of the Andrew Jackson Military Road, which ran from Nashville to New Orleans. The street gets its name from The Hermitage, Jackson's home in Nashville.
9/15/03	One more block to the east finds the next north/south street, Walnut Street. We're moving out of the business district now, as most of Walnut is lined with homes. This is looking north towards the intersection with Tuscaloosa Street. Just to the left of the pic is the rear parking lot for the Florence/Lauderdale library.
9/15/03	Speaking of Tuscaloosa Street, let's take it over about four blocks to Pine Street, just to the west of Court Street. This is looking north on Pine. Just past this short stretch of shady, tree-lined road, you will be on the campus of UNA.
Downtown Buildings
11/10/03	Well, let's stay on Pine Street but start taking a look at some of the buildings of downtown Florence. Here we are at the intersection of Pine and Mobile Street. This is Courtview Tower, the tallest building in Florence at fourteen stories. It's a combination residential/commercial tower. Unfortunately, not the most attractive building. Why the pastel pink color? Florence ain't no Miami.
11/10/03	Back over to Seminary Street now. One of the architectural elements seen frequently in downtowns around the south is stately columns. Here is one example of that in downtown Florence. This is the post office and federal courthouse, which takes up the entire city block between Mobile and Tombigbee Streets.
6/22/02	A second example of the columns in use. This is the AmSouth bank building on Seminary, in front of Wilson Park. The building was modeled after the Forks of Cypress mansion. The mansion was owned by the brother of Andrew Jackson, and was built in the early 1800s near Cypress Creek north of Florence. Unfortunately, the house burned in the 1960s after being struck by lightning.
11/10/03	Another columned building. It sits, as you can see, just north of the AmSouth building. It's the home of the First United Methodist Church of Florence.
6/22/02	More columns adorn the front of the new Florence/Lauderdale Public Library. The library opened in the fall of 2002. It sits on the corner of Wood Avenue and Tuscaloosa Street. This is the Wood Avenue side, just across the street from Wilson Park.
6/22/02	This is looking at the old library, which sits next door to its successor. This was a nice facility in its day, but the new library is probably double the size of the old one. The building is still there today, but rumors are a nearby church may buy the land eventually and raze the building.
9/15/03	This is looking at the rear entrance to the new library, which is actually the most used entrance. It is facing Walnut Street.
9/15/03	This is Wood Avenue Church of Christ. The architecture of this building is a departure from the norm around the downtown area. It sits on the corner of Wood and Tuscaloosa Street, across from Wilson Park and the library.
Downtown Signs
9/15/03	The city of Florence recently began installing new guidage signs around the city to lead visitors to certain destinations, as well as to sign the destinations themselves. Here is an example of a sign leading visitors to key locations in the downtown area. This is looking south on Wood Avenue near the intersection with Hermitage Drive.
9/15/03	Another example of the signs, although this one is a little bit of a different design. This is looking southeast down Hermitage Drive, to its ending just ahead at Court Street.
9/15/03	Finally, a third type of the sign. No guidage sign, this simply tells you where you are at. This is looking west down Tuscaloosa Street, and yes indeed, that is the Kennedy-Douglass Center For the Arts. It is the only art museum in Florence.
Florence Parks
6/22/02	Well I've mentioned Wilson Park so many times, but haven't produced any pics. So here you go. This is the fountain which is at the center of the park. On nights, mostly during the summertime and at Christmas, the fountain is lit with various colors. It is the location for the annual Renaissance Faire. Also, a variety of W.C. Handy music festival activities take place here. Florence really possesses a unique "central park" here.
11/10/03	This statue sits at the entrance to the park on the corner of Seminary Street and Tombigbee Street. It's W.C. Handy, playing the trumpet. William Christopher Handy was born in Florence, and is known to many as the "Father of the Blues". The W.C. Handy music festival happens every August to pay tribute to the man and his genre of music.
10/31/03	Looking into Veterans Park, from the entrance off of Cox Creek Parkway. Unfortunately I let this shot be out of focus. The sign on the left is used at the entrance to all parks in Florence. Veterans may not be around much longer, as rumors persist about the park being transformed into a "tourist attraction" of some sort. No word yet on exactly what that will be.
10/31/03	Another view inside Veterans Park. This is near the beginning of a frisbee golf course that is in the park, the only one of its kind in the Shoals. The course is not too popular anymore, unfortunately. However, officials say that if Veterans is closed, they will construct a new course at McFarland Park along the Tennessee River.
10/31/03	A view of Wilson Dam, from the south end of the park on the Tennessee River. This is looking at the east side, or the "high side" of the dam.
11/19/03	I was really hoping this picture would turn out better than it did. This is the view from Florence harbor, looking west down the Tennessee River towards McFarland Park. Although you can't really see it, there is a barge in the middle of the shot.
Miscellaneous Other Pics
6/15/02	From the Sheffield side of the Tennessee River, this is looking east towards the Patton Island Bridge and Renaissance Tower.
11/13/02	Just a pretty picture, IMO, of a residential street in Florence.
10/29/03	A view of the east Florence business district. Not the best shot actually, I'll try to get another one soon. This is looking north up Royal Avenue. US 72 ran through this area in the 50s, and made a turn onto Huntsville Road here.
11/10/03	Looking up the hill from Royal Avenue to Coffee High School. Established in 1912, this is its last year of existence as it and Bradshaw High School will combine to form Florence High School in 2004. The signs at the bottom of the pic are used during UNA football games at Braly Municipal Stadium, just to the left of this pic. I wish they'd do something with them when they aren't in use.
11/10/03	Speaking of Braly Stadium... here it is. Braly is the home to Coffee and Bradshaw football this year and Florence High School football next year. The UNA football team also calls it home. In December every year since 1985, it hosts the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game.
11/19/03	Remember the AmSouth bank building I talked about above? How it is modeled after the Forks of Cypress mansion, which burned in the 1960s? Well, here is all that's left of the mansion. This is on Jackson Road just north of Florence.