Shelby County sits centrally in the history of Alabama

Someone unexpected addressed the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce July 10 — Martha Washington. 

The various historical tourist attractions in Shelby County, including Martha Washington’s home American Village, were in the spotlight at the meeting. 

Lee Sentell, director of tourism for the State of Alabama, expressed his love for American Village and its mission to educate young people about citizenship and civic life. 

“I’m really happy to be here for a number of reasons,” Sentell said. “This is the only place in Alabama where you can hear Martha Washington pray, and it is logical because it is the only place where people expect her to show up.”

He said American Village is one of if not the biggest tourist attraction in Alabama. Each year it brings in 30,000 students for field trips, 40,000 tourists and 10,000 people for its Independence Day celebration, the largest Fourth of July celebration in the state. 

American Village, which has been open on Sundays since June, has also become a popular wedding venue with its Lucille Pyals Thompson Colonial Chapel.  

“No other place in America, other than maybe Virginia, has building like this where you can show your nieces, nephews and grandchildren how history was made,” Sentell said. 

Support for attractions  

Sentell said Alabama legislature gave his office $1 million to give out as grants for this next year, and that his office will be sending out notices to everyone. All tourist attractions in Alabama can contact their local legislatures to apply for $1,000 grants. 

Campaigns are another way Sentell said his department promotes counties and cities in Alabama. These include as  lists such as “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.” Each year, the department features a different campaign, such as gardens, state parks or food. 

“I love hometown festivals because not every county and not every city can have a major attraction — very few have 70,000 people come to a place like American Village,” Sentell said. “It’s a way to do pride campaigns and it really works.”