Museums

W. C. Handy Home, Museum & Library

W.C. Handy Home and Museum
photo by: Susann Elsass

This restored log cabin was the boyhood home of the famous composer known as the "Father of the Blues." The museum houses a lifetime of memorabilia including his trumpet and the piano on which many of his songs were written, such as "St. Louis Blues" and "Memphis Blues." The museum provides scheduled care for the artifacts associated with the Handy family and William Christopher Handy; and it provides exhibits, educational programs, and research activities about Mr. Handy's life.  The museum plays an important part in the annual W.C. Handy Music Festival.  It more..

World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	(256) 760-6379
openingHours:	10am-4pm Tues. - Sat.
url:	www.florenceal.org
address:	620 West College Street, Florence, Al 35630
email:	bbroach@florenceal.org

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts houses the administrative office for the Florence museum system and functions as a center for cultural activities including the Kennedy-Douglass volunteers meetings, the Shoals Artist Guild meetings, Arts Alive administration and activities, W.C. Handy Festival activities, and much more.  The center also houses a permanent exhibit of historical artifacts and memorabilia, and offers a variety of traveling art exhibitions.

The center consists of two adjacent houses with an added walkway connecting them, and a carriage house to more..