Tears and Triumphs: Honoring North Alabama’s First Peoples

This project was completed in collaboration between two UNA history classes, UNA art students, and community partners. The goal of this mural is to highlight UNA and Florence’s Native American history.

Introduction to Public History Class (Fall 2023 Cohort)- Renae Blasingame, Avery Calvert, Josh Camper, Trace Darnell, Melissa De Szendeffy, Harrison Haynes, Garrett Keenum, Alana Rogers, Kailee Rogers, Chason Shackelford, and Kate Swanner

Exhibit Design Class (Spring 2024 Cohort)- Renae Blasingame, Cameron Cantrell, Cate Dill, Ted Herndon, Jessie Johnson, Garrett Keenum, Nedra Pittman, Alyss Reed, and Katie Turner

Mural Artists: Krista Denden, Coven Dickey, Alexandra Esteve, Amy Huang, Ryan Walters, and Justin Wells

Project Leads: Dr. Sean Jacobson and Professor Chiong-Yiao Chen

Funding: Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and UNA Provost Office

Building Bridges to the Past

HGSA Members and Their Historical Adventures

Our HGSA members work in their communities to foster historical connections and gain new skills. Below are some photos of the historical adventures of our members.

Pictured above are photos from the Tears and Triumphs mural unveiling. Top Left Photo: The Introduction to Public History and Exhibit Design classes, Dr. Sean Jacobson, and Chief Chuck Hoskins Jr. of the Cherokee Nation. Top Right Photo: Photo of the mural taken by Avery Calvert. Bottom Left Photo: Exhibit designed by Avery Calvert and Garrett Keenum for the unveiling of the Tears and Triumphs mural. Bottom Right: Native American cultural clothing sewn by Anita Flanagan.

Pictured above are Avery Calvert, Michelle Harris, and Garrett Keenum at the Ohio Valley History Conference presenting The Willingham. Left Photo: Avery, Michelle, and Garrett before presenting. Middle Photo: Avery in a session. Right Photo: Austin Peay State University’s campus.

Pictured above are four quilts made by Kristy Heath. Kristy quilts because she wants to continue a dying craft and pass it on to her child in hopes that it lives for many more generations.

Pictured above is Kurt Vetters presenting his Civil War battlefield paintings at the Muscle Shoals Civil War History Roundtable.

1864 Florence Gunboat Battle

By: Kurt Vetters, The University of North Alabama

December 27th, 1864.  Confederate General Hood’s retreating Army lies five miles to the right, east, (see Hood’s retreat) crossing the Tennessee River on a pontoon bridge to safety.  Union General Thomas is in pursuit from Nashville, trying to trap the rebel army against the river.  Union Admiral Lee’s Tennessee River fleet is tasked with breaking the pontoon bridge.​

Kurt Vetters is a former US Army Cavalry Captain and Civil War reenactor who now resides in Florence, Alabama. He is an author and painter with an emphasis on historical subjects.   

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Vetters served as Executive Officer of Delta Company, 1st Battalion 40th Armor and was awarded two Army Commendation Medals. He is currently the Vice President of a medical supply company and is a former American Legion Post Commander.  

Vetters has always had a passion for military history and has written for the Greenfield, Indiana Daily Reporter and Studio Magazine in the Shoals.  He is currently a Master of Public History Student at the University of North Alabama and has contributed works to The Byler Road Project, Historic Tuscaloosa, the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, and the Florence Alabama Arts and Museums Department. He has written two Civil War Novels, Confederate Winter and Freedom Spring.