The Melvin Monument

This handsome monument at the corner of Lauderdale Street and Alabama Avenue 

honors Lt. John Tillman Melvin of Selma. He was among the first to volunteer,

 and he was the first American naval officer killed in World War I. He lost his life

 aboard the U.S. patrol boat Alcedo off the coast of France when it was torpoeded

 by a German submarine on Nov. 5, 1917. An inscription reads, "He gave his life

 that democracy and liberty might live."

Linking to Our World Tuesday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Coca-Cola Mural

This is the most refreshing mural in town!

Linking to Monday Murals and City Daily Photo Blogs

Smitherman Historic Building

When you visit Selma, don't miss the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum

 that is housed in the Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building. 

Located at the end of Alabama Avenue a few blocks off Broad Street,

 the 1847 structure built by Masons has housed schools, hospitals,

 a courthouse and now a museum.  Each of the three floors is dedicated

 to different exhibits with the first housing civil war, slavery and Wilby Theatre 

artifacts. The second floor has a replica of longtime Mayor Smitherman's office

 and other civic rooms, and the third is set up for hospital memorabilia. 

  Columns from the old Hotel Albert are preserved in an outdoor courtyard, 

and there are walkways and a fountain. The building is often used 

for weddings, receptions and other events. 

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday, Weekly Top Shot and City Daily Photo Blogs 

Weekend Reflections, Selma Interpretive Center

Upper windows of the Selma Interpretive Center were a brilliant blue

 earlier this week as sunny skies moved in. The center, operated

 by the National Park Service,  offers exhibits, a short film

 about voting rights and books. 

Linking to Weekend Reflections and City Daily Photo Blogs

Moss Catcher

I think Selma shall never run out of fences for the Friday Fences blog hop,

 and many of these old iron works of art also serve as moss catchers,

 and that just adds to the southernness. 

Linking to Friday Fences and City Daily Photo Blogs

Don't Walk

STOP. "Don't Walk" if you are crossing Water Avenue

 from the Selma Interpretive Center! 

Wait until the sign depicts someone walking!

 Even then, look both ways!

There are lots of signs to be interpreted in this photo, so I'm linking to Signs, Signs. 

Linking to Signs, Signs and City Daily Photo Blogs

Last Hurrah

It's a last hurrah of summer for many of our butterflies although 

they will be around a bit longer.  This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

 (our state's official butterfly) feasts upon lantana,

 but soon there will be yellow butterflies

 flitting among spider lilies. 

Linking to Our World Tuesday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Puttin' on the Dixieland

Water Avenue reverberates with music, music, music during the annual

 Riverfront Market Day in October, and that includes Dixieland jazz 

from The Upper Society of Lower Water Avenue. I pulled this photo 

from last year's festival. Be sure and save Saturday, Oct. 12 for this year's music,

 arts, crafts and food festival! It coincides with the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival

 that Friday and Saturday. 

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows and City Daily Photo Blogs

Lavender

So this has been the perfect summer to grow a kitchen garden. Lots of rain

 and cooler temperatures helped this lavender flourish as well as basil, 

white chocolate mint and rosemary. The best part is bringing some

 inside for a kitchen window bouquet!

Oh, and by the way, today our area experienced record-breaking cold!

 The high here was only 72 F in mid-August.

.

How has your garden grown this summer?

Linking to Weekly Top Shot and City Daily Photo Blogs

Washing Windows

Here is the guy who keeps the sparkles in the windows at the St. James Hotel.

Linking to Weekend Reflections and City Daily Photo Blog