The
two RV Gypsies visited
American Village in Montevallo in Alabama
October 20, 2022
 
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Montevallo is a city in Shelby County, Alabama. A college
town, it is the home of the University of Montevallo, a public liberal
arts university with approximately 3,000 students. The area where
Montevallo is now was once controlled by the Creek Indians. After
being acquired in 1814 Jesse Wilson claimed a small hill on the northern
bank of Wilson's Creek by the present Montevallo City Cemetery and
created a homestead there, making it the oldest settlement in Shelby
County. Wilson's friends and family followed afterwards and also settled
in the area, and a settlement known as Wilson's Hill developed on
the site. The settlement's location at almost the exact center of
Alabama meant it was considered one of the potential sites for the
University of Alabama. In an attempt to encourage the university to
choose the site the settlement changed its name to Montevallo, which
is Italian for the hill in the valley. For more history of Montevallo
- go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montevallo,Alabama
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American
Village
3727 Highway 119, Montevallo AL 35115 |
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Founded in 1995,
The American Village has 188-acres and more than 20 historically-inspired
buildings, plus nice grounds. It builds good citizens on the cornerstone
of liberty. It is a nationally-pioneering classroom and American history
and civics education center, with the goal to strengthen and renew the
foundations of American liberty and self-government by engaging and
inspiring citizens, leaders and stewards. It does have seasonal dates
and hours.
The American Village gave the two RV Gypsies an opportunity to step
back in time and become part of the great American journey for independence
and self-government. |
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Below: The front
side of sign about the Liberty Bell was all screwed up and partially
unreadable. the back side could not be read because of the thick greenery
blocking it. |
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Below: Independence Hall
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Below: Only one
part of the building plans shown in the photo below was completed on
this date. |
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Below: The two
RV Gypsies went Inside Independence Hall's West Wing, which is the first
phase of the American Village's project to have a replica of Philadelphia's
Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. |
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Below: The Liberty
Tree at American Village. There are various other Liberty Tree replicas
around the USA.
The original Liberty Tree (1646–1775) was a famous elm tree that stood
in Boston, Massachusetts, near Boston Common, in the years before the
American Revolution. In 1765, colonists in Boston staged the first act
of defiance against the British government at the tree. The tree became
a rallying point for the growing resistance to the rule of Britain over
the American colonies, and the ground surrounding it became known as
Liberty Hall. The Liberty Tree was felled in August 1775 by Loyalists
led by Nathaniel Coffin Jr. or by Job Williams |
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Below: The grounds outside
Independence Hall. The two RV Gypsies did not walk over the bridge for
a closer look at the statue, because they knew there was so much more
to see here. |
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Below: The
National Veterans Shrine |
Below: The entrance
to the building, monument and bell, plus the backside of the monument
(and the nearby Chapel Building) as seen leaving the National Veterans
Shrine building. |
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Below: Inside The National Veterans Shrine
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Below: Every
Veteran is Someone's Loved One |
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Below: Lee
Duquette who served in the U.S. Marines, read and studied the signs
that honored those who served. |
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Below: Each
door opened with a saying |
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Below: The
Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel |
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