FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Andi Martin, Marketing and Public Relations Manager  

andi.martin@ahc.alabama.gov, 334-230-2680

April 8, 2019

Announcing the Dedication of Old Cahawba’s Cahaba Blueway Access Site

(Montgomery, AL) The Alabama Historical Commission announces a public dedication of the Cahaba Blueway access site located at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park on Monday, April 15 at 1:00 pm. Old Cahawba is one of 15 Cahaba River accesses that are officially being designated as Cahaba Blueway access sites during the month of April. 

Flowing from the City of Trussville, just northeast of Birmingham, to Old Cahawba Archaeological Park west of Selma, the Cahaba River connects 10 municipalities and 6 counties along its 200-mile course.  It is among the most biologically diverse and scenic rivers in North America and is an outstanding natural asset that has significant potential to enhance quality of life in nearby communities and to generate economic development through recreational and nature-based tourism. 

The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development and its partners have developed the Cahaba Blueway program to enhance public awareness of the river as a recreational destination, to make available the information needed for safe navigation on the river, and to facilitate the development of access infrastructure to make getting on and off the water with a canoe or kayak safer and easier.

Program partners have created a website at cahabablueway.org where people can get all of the information they need to plan a paddling trip on the river.   The site features an interactive map with information about each access point and river section, important paddling and river safety tips, and links to local paddling outfitters and retailers as well as local hospitality and tourism information resources.  The site also features guideline documents that communities are encouraged to use as they develop new Cahaba Blueway accesses that are safe, environmentally sustainable, and durable.

Directions to Old Cahawba: From downtown Selma, take Highway 22 (Dallas Avenue) west 8.6 miles. Cross over the Cahaba River and turn left onto County Road 9 and follow this 3.3 miles until it dead ends. Turn left onto County Road 2 and follow this 1.5 miles until you see the Visitor Center on the right. Visitor Center Address: 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville, AL 36767.

To learn more about Old Cahawba, or the Alabama Historical Commission, please visit www.ahc.alabama.gov.

About Old Cahawba

Old Cahawba lies at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers, and from 1819 to 1826 it served as Alabama’s first capital. Today, the Alabama Historical Commission owns and operates this significant archaeological site.

About the Alabama Historical Commission

Located in historic downtown Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission is the state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to protect, preserve and interpret Alabama’s historic places. AHC works to accomplish its mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and promotion of state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and, statewide programs to assist people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation activities. For a complete list of programs and properties owned and operated by the AHC, hours of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov  

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