Huntsville History Month kicks off October 1
Month-long celebration of local heritage highlights local events, activities
HUNTSVILLE – Tomorrow the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) kicks off Huntsville History Month, the fourth year for the community-wide campaign that celebrates the area’s rich historical heritage throughout the month of October. The focal point of the initiative is the month-long calendar of events – a one-stop shop for those eager to take a step back in time.
The format of this year’s History Month will also include four specially-themed weeks that will highlight specific pillars of the city’s history.
Judy Ryals, President/CEO of the CVB, said, “Huntsville is a destination that celebrates our storied past, while also looking to the future and laying the groundwork for a brighter tomorrow. Our community’s history is woven into the fabric of our attractions, architecture, outdoor spaces, and beyond, making the Rocket City a must-see destination for those who want to experience both history and history in the making.”
October 4-8: Space
Huntsville is ready to make history once again as NASA returns to the moon – a milestone in human achievement as Artemis I launches the first woman and first person of color to the lunar surface. Coinciding with World Space Week, the first week of History Month will highlight Huntsville’s connection to the space missions of yesterday, today, and the future – and why we’re called the “Rocket City.”
October 11-15: Outdoors
From Monte Sano State Park to the Land Trust of North Alabama’s historic trails and green spaces, Huntsville’s outdoor spaces have many stories to tell. Discover stories of coal mining, wandering goats, electrification, and even a Civil War skirmish with Burritt on the Mountain’s History Hiking Day on October 16.
October 18-22: Huntsville Visionaries
The Huntsville we know today is a result of the strategic foresight of key visionaries of the past – those who dreamed big and worked to realize those dreams into actuality. Join the Historic Huntsville Foundation on October 24 for a special historic marker dedication at William Hooper Councill Memorial Park, recognizing Huntsville’s first Black women suffragists.
October 25-29: Art
Though Huntsville is known for our strong STEM community, we’re also home to a thriving arts and cultural scene as well. Highlights for this week include Huntsville Arts Week, coordinated by Arts Huntsville, which includes half-priced admission to the Huntsville Museum of Art October 23-24 and other activities.
After many of the events traditionally included in Huntsville History Month were put on hold for 2020, several community staples have returned this fall. Huntsville Ghost Walks are being offered through October, as well as the Rocket City Rover’s “Boos Cruise,” a guided history tour experienced on pedal pub.
Digital and outdoor activities, such as the Digital Huntsville History Tour, Rocket City Civil Rights Driving Tour, a variety of scavenger hunts, and free, guided historic district walking tours through the Five Points and Old Town neighborhoods offer a variety of ways to explore the past.
In addition to special events, the CVB is encouraging visitors and residents alike to experience the area’s many historical attractions, several of which are offering unique, seasonal programming tying in to the campaign’s history focus.
The Huntsville/Madison County CVB will also be sharing Huntsville history on the digital screen, inviting the public to share their favorite historical places and little-known historical facts on social media using the hashtag #HistoryHsv.
For more information, visit huntsville.org/HistoryMonth or contact Kristen Pepper, Director of Marketing at the Huntsville/Madison County CVB, at 256.551.2294 or by email at kristen@huntsville.org.
