Spotlight on Electrification in the Tennessee River Valley

The Tennessee River Valley’s history is a story of generations of explorers, beginning with early explorations of the New World to today’s explorations of Space. What we see today is possible because of the vision of people that came before us.  Alabama has been celebrating her Bicentennial over the past three years by honoring the people, places, and events that have defined the state’s past.  Celebrations have included workshops, local events, as well as the traditional state events reserved for dignitaries.  The State’s decision to fund project at both county and community levels has provided an opportunity for local citizens to participate and discover Alabama’s rich and varied history. How cool is that?

One of the community projects captured our attention with its clever use of art to tell a story.  The project, A Bright Idea, is a newly dedicated light bulb sculpture in the City of Athens that commemorates the 85^th anniversary of “turning on lights” in the city. The first street lights were installed in 1908, and in 1934, became the first city in Alabama to receive power from the newly created Tennessee Valley Authority.   The City of Athens stated in their press release that “the light bulb sculpture pays tribute to the ingenuity behind providing electrical power, preserves our local history, and honors those who have lost their lives and those who risk their lives to ensure the lights stay on.” 

We see this as a fitting tribute of celebrating the Valley’s history through the art of Placemaking.