The Best Books about Shoals History

The Shoals region is rich with history, filled with fascinating stories of innovation, tragedy, and perseverance. Whether you're captivated by the mysterious past of Native American tribes, the pioneering spirit of early settlers, or the darker tales of outlaws and war, the history of this area offers something for everyone. The books in this list provide a captivating journey through the hidden corners of the Shoals' past, from Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s utopian dreams on the Tennessee River to the poignant memories of the Trail of Tears. Dive into these expertly written works to uncover the legends, forgotten stories, and pivotal moments that have shaped the Shoals into what it is today.

Electric City: The Lost History of Ford and Edison’s American Utopia

by Thomas Hager (Abrams Press) | Buy on Amazon

The extraordinary, unknown story of two giants of American history—Henry Ford and Thomas Edison—and their attempt to create an electric-powered city of tomorrow on the Tennessee River

Hidden History of North Alabama

by Jacquelyn Proctor Reeves (The History Press) | Buy on Amazon

Historian Jacquelyn Procter Reeves transports readers deep into the shadows of the past to learn about the secret of George Steele's will, the truth behind the night the "Stars Fell on Alabama" and the story of the Lawrence County boys who died in the Goliad Massacre. Learn these secrets--and many more--in Hidden History of North Alabama.

Images of America - Florence, Alabama

by Carolyn Barske (Arcadia Publishing) | Buy on Amazon

Join author and historian Carolyn Barske as she recounts the history of Florence, Alabama through the lens of over 200 vintage images.

If The Legends Fade

by Tom Hendrix (Country Lane) | Buy on Amazon

"All things shall pass. Only the stones will remain." ....In northwest Alabama, there is a stone wall dedicated to my great-great-grandmother's journey about which this book is written, and to all Native American women. The wall is my way of honoring my ancestors.

The Devil's Backbone: The Story of the Natchez Trace

by Jonathan Daniels (Pelican Publishing) | Buy on Amazon

The Natchez Trace has as dark and bloody a history as any thoroughfare since the beginning of our nation.

Blood Shed in This War: Civil War Illustrations 

by Captain Adolph Metzner (Indiana Historical Society) | Buy on Amazon

With several illustrations during his time in the Shoals, Captain Adolph G. Metzner's stunning visual diary of sketches, drawings, and watercolors depict his world during three years of service with the First German, Thirty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry campaigning in the Western Theater during the Civil War.

Handbook of Alabama’s Prehistoric Indians and Artifacts

by David M Johnson (Borgo Design) | Buy on Amazon

This comprehensive guide is an archaeological ambassador, bridging the interests and needs of amateurs, students, and professionals and assisting in their valuable efforts to discover and preserve Alabama's archaeological resources.

Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama (Images of America)

by Carolyn M. Barske and Bryan Murphy (Arcadia Publishing) | Buy on Amazon

This pictorial history illustrates the Tennessee River's influence on Northwest Alabama and people, places, and events that have shaped the area's cultural and natural history.

Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation

by John Ehle (Anchor Books Doubleday) | Buy on Amazon

A sixth-generation North Carolinian, highly-acclaimed author John Ehle grew up on former Cherokee hunting grounds. His experience as an accomplished novelist, combined with his extensive, meticulous research, culminates in this moving tragedy rich with historical detail.

A Walk Through The Past: People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama

by William McDonald (Bluewater Pub) | Buy on Amazon

Descended from early pioneers of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama, the author, William Lindsey McDonald began collecting historical information about the Muscle Shoals more than a half century ago. This research has involved personal interviews with Civil War veterans, former slaves, and descendants of both Native Americans and families of the frontier who were among the first of the European descendants to arrive in North Alabama.

Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley

by E. G. Squier (Smithsonian Books) | Buy on Amazon

Originally published in 1848 as the first major work in the nascent discipline as well as the first publication of the newly established Smithsonian Institution, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley remains today not only a key document in the history of American archaeology but also the primary source of information on hundreds of mounds and earthworks in the eastern United States, most of which have now vanished.

1865: From Ashes And Broken Dreams

by M. B. Shelton (A Smart Site Publication) | Buy on Amazon

Shelton, a Confederate soldier, recounts life in post Civil War as told in his recently discovered writings. A former prisoner of war, he returned to his hometown in Alabama only to find a township in ruin and lost opportunities.

Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross, and a Great American Land Grab

by Steve Inskeep (Penguin Books) | Buy on Amazon

The story of the Cherokee removal has been told many times, but never before has a single book given us such a sense of how it happened and what it meant, not only for Indians, but also for the future and soul of America.

Letters From Alabama On Various Subjects (1830)

by Anne Newport Royall (Kessinger Publishing) | Buy on Amazon

Written by Anne Newport Royall, an American travel writer and journalist, during her travels in Alabama in the early 19th century. The book is a fascinating account of her experiences and observations of the Southern state, including its people, culture, and natural beauty.

Remembering Florence

by Debra Glass & Larry Fisher (Independent Publishing) | Buy on Amazon

Packed with fond memories and hundreds of family and archival photographs contributed from over three-thousand members of the Remembering Florence Facebook Community, this unique collection celebrates the people and history of Florence, Alabama, in their own words.