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The Shoals Mural at McFarland Park

Mural 102623

           THE SHOALS MURAL AT MCFARLAND PARK TO OFFER AUDIO INTERPRETATION, PRINTS

Florence, Alabama
– The Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has created three audio segments which share the backstory of the new mural painted on the east wall of the Visitor Center in McFarland Park.

Created by internationally renowned muralist, and Shoals resident, Scott Campbell, the mural features a portrayal of a young Sam Phillips, the Armstead Chapel in Florence, The Shoals music legacy, the Wilson Dam along with the vast fishery in Pickwick, Wilson and Wheeler lakes.

New audio segments, which were produced by Big River Broadcasting and voiced by Jerry Phillips, Halley Phillips and Rodney Hall, can be heard by scanning the QR code on a plaque on the east lawn of the Visitor Center. The segments delve deeper into the life of Sam Phillips, the music narrative which represents the multiple generations of Muscle Shoals music, and how the dam, through TVA, lifted the entire Shoals community with jobs and improved the quality of life for each resident and visitor.

The mural was funded through grants provided by agencies and organizations across Alabama. Visit The Shoals wishes to thank Cosby & Company, Northwest RC&D Council, Sweet Home Alabama (State Tourism Department), Senator Tim Melson, Representative Ben Harrison and the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

Angela Broyles, Project Manager for Visit The Shoals, wrote each grant and worked with Scott Campbell and each agency to ensure a timely delivery for the mural.

Broyles said, “This was one of the most rewarding projects to work on and to see strong collaboration across our state to create a masterpiece for our area.”

Rob Carnegie, president & CEO for Visit The Shoals, remarked why this mural was important as the first one created. “Each element is very foundational of The Shoals area and helps to provide context to many of the attractions and experiences in our quad-city region.”

Prints of the mural will be made available for sale in the Visitor Center gift shop. New lighting will soon be installed which will illuminate the mural in the evening hours. Across nine of our social media posts which include The Shoals Mural at McFarland Park, it has received an entirely organic reach of over 130,000, more than 4,500 likes, and over 470 shares.

For more information on The Shoals Mural, contact Angela Broyles at (256) 740-4141 or angela@theshoalsal.com.