Environment and Setting
The state of Alabama is located in the southeastern United States, with a mountainous north and sweeping beaches to the south. Alabama offers a variety of natural and cultural beauties. Alabama played a significant role in American history, with the Civil Rights Movement and the Civil War. One key player during the Civil War was the Tannehill Ironworks and Furnace, which produced “2 tons of pig iron daily for Confederate military needs” (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.). Located in McCalla, Alabama, near the center of the state, the furnace had “hundreds of workers, many of them enslaved” and a “massive, 30-foot-high” furnace (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.). During the raids by General James H. Wilson’s Union troops, they “burned every Alabama furnace but one,” which still stands today (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.). These grounds were later restored and preserved by the “Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission” with the assistance of the “Woodstock and Tuscaloosa Civitan clubs” (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.).
Screenshot from the Tannehill Museum Virtual tour (Matterport, 2025).
Community Profile
With a total population of “12,965,” McCalla, Alabama, is a small town located in between Jefferson and Tuscaloosa Counties (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.). McCalla is a suburban area located 30 minutes from Birmingham and 40 minutes from Tuscaloosa, offering a rural and tranquil atmosphere while remaining close to major metropolitan areas. With a majority white population of “7,386,” the town is also home to “4,608” Black/African Americans as the minority majority (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.). McAdory High School, which serves as the public school for the McCalla area, has a “minority enrollment [of] 78%” and “73% of students are economically disadvantaged” (U.S. News & World Report, n.d.). This infers that the white population likely chooses private schooling over public schooling. Even with a “90% graduation rate,” the high school test scores of English, math, and science are below the state averages (U.S. News & World Report, n.d.). This disparity could be reflective of several systemic issues, such as underfunding, limited access to educational resources, and the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students. While the 90% graduation rate is promising, it is critical to reflect on how disparities in educational resources can affect the long-term educational and career opportunities for Black students. The school’s proximity to Tannehill State Park poses an opportunity for students to explore Alabama’s history, and a focus on African American history would allow students to see themselves represented. The park and museum could offer students tools for engaging with the historical legacies of slavery and promote an understanding of their communities' contributions to the nation. If the park and museum began to highlight Black history, they could offer an invaluable opportunity for students to connect with their roots and supplement the school’s efforts. By bridging the gap between funding, education, and history, the park and museum can allow students to expand their knowledge of history, economics, and science.
McCalla. Alabama highlighted on a Google Maps image of Alabama
Agency Profile
The most iconic feature of McCalla, Alabama, is the Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. With a rich history beginning in the 19th century, the state park is made up of “1,500 acres” and also features the Ironworks and Steel Museum (Tannehill State Park, n.d.-a). The park is notable for its “thriving ironworks operation during the Civil War era” and has preserved its “furnace stacks, coke ovens” and a cemetery for enslaved people (Tannehill State Park, n.d.-a). Beyond its educational offerings, the park is a popular choice of residents for outdoor recreation. With “several hiking trails,” which offer “scenic woodlands … along the banks of the Roupes Creek” and numerous camping options, the park sees “more than 425,000 visitors a year” who love this small park (Tannehill State Park, n.d.-a; Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.). The park hosts important community events such as “Trade Days” where community members can sell their arts and crafts and numerous craft events such as wood carving demonstrations, iron pours, and blacksmithing (Tannehill State Park, n.d.-c). One of the most notable events hosted by the park is the “Re-Enactment Battle of Tannehill Furnace,” which recreates the 1865 Civil War battle in which the Tannehill Furnace was raided by Union troops (Watts, 2023). With 2,000 participants, organizers have had to remind participants and viewers that the reenactment is for “historical educational purposes only, not intended to be political,” as political tensions in the South have begun to reckon with their history (Watts, 2023). However, while actors put on uniforms and cook over fires, the cemetery of enslaved people remains empty. The people who worked the furnaces are forgotten in the rush to reenact a war without remembering the human price that was paid for the grounds. The museum similarly lacks references to the enslaved people. This is a major oversight for McCalla. With a rich history and a black population who may have ancestors buried at the park, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park would benefit in exploring their stories. Opened in 1981, the museum is home to “more than 10,000 relics, including rare machinery” to teach “how iron was manufactured in the nineteenth century” to its “425,000 visitors” (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.). The most recent archaeological projects have discovered “16 slave cabins on the site,” but there is a noticeable lack of mention of these discoveries on the park’s website or in the park’s museum (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.). As a “most visited historical site in the state,” the Tannehill Museum is missing an opportunity to highlight the truth of “how iron was manufactured in the nineteenth century” (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.).
Sign at Tannehill directing hikers to the cabins of enslaved people.
Agency's Mission Goals
When exploring the website of Tannehill Ironworks State Park and museum, there is a lack of any mission statement, goals, or objectives. The museum briefly mentions their goal to teach “how iron was manufactured in the nineteenth century” but lacks details of how their collections have met these expectations (Tannehill Ironworks, n.d.). This gives a sense of ambiguity about the park’s purpose and focus. While the activities may seem self-evident to someone who has visited the park - education and recreation - without explicit statements, it's difficult to define success or guide future endeavors. The slogan of their website, “Discover the history and beauty of Tannehill Ironworks State Park today,” could be inferred to be their mission, but it lacks specifics on what visitors will learn or how the park approaches education (Tannehill State Park, n.d.-b). If the park and museum created a clear and concise mission statement, it would define the core values the park upholds, what aims it hopes to achieve, and define their intended audience. A definitive mission statement would also assist with the decision-making and prioritization of projects. A mission statement would also assist with future grant applications, which the park has demonstrated an interest in pursuing when reviewing their meeting minutes (Alabama Historic Commission, 2025). A mission statement that includes a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion would also prompt an incentive to curate welcoming spaces, foster a sense of belonging, and encourage diverse communities to visit the park to explore their histories.
Screenshot of the Tannehill State Park Iron and Steel Museum virtual tour (Matterport, 2025).
References
Alabama Historic Commission. (2025, January 22). Fowler House, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park: Minutes of October 13, 2024 meeting. Alabama Historic Commission. https://files.blp.cloud/external/folder/tvbr54c70118e3416413e819ea4e28617c289?layout=list
Matterport. (2025) 3D virtual tour of Iron and Steel Museum of Alabama [Virtual tour]. Matterport. https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=DkUjohLyL1z
Tannehill Ironworks. (n.d.). Tannehill Ironworks. Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/tannehill-ironworks/
Tannehill State Park. (n.d.-a). About us. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://tannehillstatepark.org/about-us/
Tannehill State Park. (n.d.-b). Commissioners. Tannehill State Park. https://tannehillstatepark.org/commissioners/
Tannehill State Park. (n.d.-c). Events. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://tannehillstatepark.org/events/
U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). McCalla, Alabama. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://data.census.gov/all?q=McCalla,%20Alabama
U.S. News & World Report. (n.d.). McAdory High School. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/alabama/districts/jefferson-county-schools/mcadory-high-school-202
Watts, R. (2023, March 10). Civil War re-enactment returns to Tannehill State Park. AL.com. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://www.al.com/life/2023/03/civil-war-re-enactment-returns-to-tannehill-state-park.html