The celebration of Alabama’s bicentennial is in its third of three years, and the anniversary of our official statehood is quickly approaching.

The City of Russellville is also celebrating its 200th anniversary – just before the state does, Nov. 22, 2019. Although the official date is still eight months in the future, the commemorative events are going on now.

There are plenty of opportunities for you to help Russellville celebrate its bicentennial, and we hope you will take advantage of them.

Maybe you’ve missed earlier events, like the Wade Hall Traveling Postcard Exhibit or the official kick off at Sloss Lake, but there’s still plenty of time to mark this historic anniversary for both the City of Russellville and the state of Alabama. Several more celebratory occasions are on the near horizon: the Red Bay Arbor Day celebration March 13 at Red Bay City Hall; the Ronnie McDowell concert March 16 at the Historic Roxy Theatre in Russellville; and the Russellville church tour, just to name a few.

In addition to our local events, online at alabama200.org you can find tons of great information about the people, places and events that have shaped our state and made it what it is today. You can also find out about exhibits and programs like the State PastPort effort – featuring two sites in Franklin County – and check out a comprehensive calendar that details ALABAMA200-related events throughout the state. Whether you’re up for a day trip or a weekend road trip, you can find plenty of events and programs in northwest Alabama and beyond.
Of course, the bicentennial isn’t just about our past and where we have been but about where we are going. As the ALABAMA200 website puts it, this is “an opportunity to chart a vibrant, prosperous future for the state” – and, if we might be so bold to add, for the City of Russellville – “with history as our guide.”