One of the icons of Tuscaloosa's past is the Moon Winx Lodge. Built in the 1950s, the lodge fit right in with all the other motels popping up all over as more and more American's could afford reliable transportation, and thus could travel farther and farther from their home. In 1957 Alabama artist Glen House, Sr. developed the Moon Winx sign to attract passing motorists. He used neon and a recent development, dayglo paint, to lure travelers to stay at the lodge and dine in their restaurant. The restaurant shut ages ago, but the motel and its timeless sign remain on University Boulevard (Alabama Highway 215) at Forest Avenue (34th Avenue), a couple of miles east of downtown Tuscaloosa.
The Tuscaloosa Veterans Memorial is located on McFarland Boulevard (US Highway 82) just south of University Boulevard in front of University Mall. The items on display there include:
- A 1940s Willys Jeep decorated in Air Force blue
- The mast from the USS Tuscaloosa
- An M60A3 tank
- A Bell UH-1 Iroquois Huey helicopter
- A Vought A-7E Corsair II jet
It's an amazing display of military artifacts as well as monuments inscribed with the names of all Tuscaloosa citizens who have served in the various branches of the armed forces.
The University of Alabama (UA) is home to the Crimson Tide football team (and some other sports, I suppose), as well as education to a lesser degree. There is some great architecture to be found on the campus as well as rich history. During the fall and spring semester some 28,000 students can be seen all over campus, which was started in 1831.
UA's mascot is officially an elephant. While elephants are actually quite dangerous in the wild, they don't really translate to a fierce mascot for football. Therefore, the nickname of "Crimson Tide" is used in place of "elephant". "Crimson Tide" came about when an announcer at a UA football game commented that all the crimson helmets running out onto the field looked like a crimson tide.
Located at the corner of Campus Drive and Queen City Avenue is the now-defunct Queen City Pool. It was built many moons (and winx) ago by an architect who had studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. The pool out back was filled in long ago, but remnants of the outer edge jut out of the earth, and in some places the depth marks are still visible. Behind the pool is a mammoth concrete structure that appears to have been used as bleachers. Most likely the parents would socialize on the bleachers while their children enjoyed the water. To one end of the pool is a very retro fountain that is now very overgrown with weeds. It would be great if the structure could be restored and used for something other than to just have mass and take up space.
Located across Queen City Avenue from the pool is the Tuscaloosa Public Library. They have a very nice fountain in front of the building.
Tuscaloosa has a great downtown area. It's large, but very easy to navigate afoot. Most of the building are quite old, including the unused L&N depot and the Allen & Jemison building. The A&J building was purchased by a church and is in danger of being demolished because the church believes it is too expensive to maintain. Why they don't just sell it to someone who appreciates it is beyond me. If you are reading this before the fall of 2009 it might not be too late to see the old beaut in all her glory.
While we were in downtown Lori and I had lunch at one of my favorite places, Mugshots, located on Greensboro Avenue on the block just south of University Boulevard. There is the Tuscaloosa location and the other three locations are in Mississippi. It's a great restaurant with hardwood floors and pressed tin ceilings. If you're ever in need of lunch in Tuscaloosa Lori and I highly recommend it.
Located at the northern terminus of Greensboro Avenue is the Port of Tuscaloosa, which is port-of-call to the Bama Belle, a replica paddlewheel boat that can be rented for parties, receptions, dinner cruises, etc. Also located at the port is a large fountain and picnic pavilion.
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