Rooster’s Dogs & Burgers surrounded by hundreds of boats attending a strange boat-in only concert in Northern Mississippi

Rooster's Dogs & Burgers surrounded by hundreds of boats attending…

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Shantyboat out of place at the Grand Harbor on Pickwick Lake

Shantyboat out of place at the grand Harbor on Pickwick…

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Shantyboat in high seas on the Tennessee River [VIDEO]

Shantyboat in high seas on the Tennessee River

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The Alabama countryside is green and lush and textured

The Alabama countryside is green and lush and textured

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Dr. Adrian Nankivell excellent ships mate on a morning johnboat run

Dr. Adrian Nankivell excellent ships mate on a morning johnboat…

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Hazel got scalded when an enormous yacht knocked a pot of boiling water off the stove

Hazel got scalded when an enormous yacht came by close…

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A Butch Anthony joins Jesus in the Jeremiah Daniels Executive Washroom Gallery

A Butch Anthony joins Jesus in the Jeremiah Daniels Executive…

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Captured by pirates!

Captured by pirates! Mark and Rachel board the shantyboat and…

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Tori Bailey of WZZA Soul Radio

We very nearly interviewed Tori Bailey, possibly the busiest person…

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Alabama WHNT: California man lives on a ‘Shanty Boat’ documenting Florence residents

It’s one of the oddest sights you might see on…

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Anita Cobb knows her family history going back before emancipation

Interview with Anita Cobb, who knows her detailed family history…

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Robert Francil, 4th generation fisherman

Interview with Robert Francil, 4th generation Florence commercial fisherman

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Sunset on the Tennessee River

Sunset on the Tennessee River

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Adrian fishes totally legally on the Tennessee River near Florence

Adrian fishes totally legally on the Tennessee River near Florence

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In case it wasn’t clear I’m in the South

In case it wasn't clear I'm in the South

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Looking for a used mandolin

Hey Florence friends: Adrian is looking for a used mandolin…

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Emma Lee Dean-Dykes Troup, openly trans woman in small town Alabama

Interview with Emma Lee Dean-Dyke Troup, openly trans woman in…

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Bob Perry, Chickasaw elder and Annie Perry, knowledgable about the history of the area

Interview with Bob & Annie Perry at Tuscumbia Landing. Bob…

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An interview with artist Butch Anthony literally sitting in Cypress Creek [AUDIO]

An interview with artist Butch Anthony literally sitting in Cypress…

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Butch takes us to the Secret Tuesday Florence Flea Market

Butch takes us to the Secret Tuesday Florence Flea Market

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The Annie out of Lake Wheeler comes to visit us

The Annie out of Lake Wheeler comes to visit us…

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Robert Francil known locally as the fish guy

Robert Francil known locally as the fish guy. The sign…

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Most brilliant idea ever. A used bookstore at the Florence public library

Most brilliant idea ever. A used bookstore at the Florence…

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Shantyboat Dotty near the Old Railroad Bridge in Florence AL

Shantyboat Dotty near the Old Railroad Bridge in Florence AL.…

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Wes Modes at Secret History gallery talk

Wes Modes at Secret History gallery talk. Photo by @christi.britten

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Full house at the Kennedy Douglass Center for the Secret History gallery talk

Full house at the Kennedy Douglass Center for the Secret…

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Kathryn Boyd Rice, 94, regaled us with stories of life in Sheffield AL

Kathryn Boyd Rice, 94, regaled us with stories of life…

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Shanty books at Florence exhibition

Shanty books at Florence exhibition

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One of the last mom and pop stores

After World War II around 1955, my dad got a…

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Sure, but what’s the question?

Sure, but what's the question?

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Visitors at the shantyboat open house

Visitors at the shantyboat open house

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The modesty of southerners: Women hide behind their tablets and phones whenever the shantyboat goes by

The modesty of southerners: Women hide behind their tablets and…

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New ships mate Age and I celebrate his arrival with a shot of Dr Thunders peachy fire whiskey

New ships mate Age and I celebrate his arrival with…

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Susan Stewart’s grandpa was chief clerk on a packet boat around 1910

Susan Stewart's grandpa was chief clerk on a packet boat…

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Secret History shantyboat open house at Florence Harbor Marina

Secret History shantyboat open house at Florence Harbor Marina

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Secret History at the Florence Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts this weekend

Secret History at the Florence Kennedy Douglass Center for the…

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In a land of mostly dry fountains, Florence got it going on

In a land where the previous generations' civic hardscaping have…

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Join us for a Secret History exhibition at Kennedy Douglass…

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Family Shantyboat Photos

One of the many folks we met in Florence Alabama…

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Times Daily: Telling secrets: California artist gathers river stories from a shanty

Times Daily By Monica Collier For four days, Friday through…

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Zach and Natalie visit us from Huntsville

Zach and Natalie visit us from Huntsville

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Care package from home!

Care package from back home! Thanks, Benzy @communistlesbiandiscoparty

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Old things in the Alabama countryside

Old things in the Alabama countryside

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The Boxcar Cafe in Sheffield. Lots of old history here

The Boxcar Cafe in Sheffield. Lots of old history here

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Welcomed by a whole brood of curious kids in Florence

Welcomed by a whole brood of curious kids in Florence

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Arrived in Florence Alabama

Arrived in Florence Alabama

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Shantyboat Flyby [VIDEO]

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Tennessee River trash pouring out of the mouth of Sweetwater Creek

Tennessee River covered in trash ironically pouring out of the…

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The most curious lock crew we’ve ever encountered at Wilson Lock

The most curious lock crew we've ever encountered at Wilson…

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Tiny tiny shantyboat 93 feet down at the bottom of Wilson Lock and Dam

Tiny tiny shantyboat 93 feet down at the bottom of…

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Florence Courier-Journal: The River’s Life and People

A rustic recreated 1940s shanty boat, a daring river voyage,…

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Wheeler Dam auxiliary lock

Wheeler Dam auxiliary lock

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Lockmaster at Wheeler Dam checking out project postcard

Lockmaster at Wheeler Dam checking out project postcard

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Shantyboat Dotty at sunrise

Shantyboat Dotty at sunrise

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Cara introduced me to the concept of Meat and Two

Cara introduced me to the concept of Meat and 2.…

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When we boated up a creek to this little town, you’ll never believe what happened.

We boated up a creek as close to a nearby…

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Crossing the expanse of Tennessee River lakes often feels endless

Crossing the expanse of Tennessee River lakes often feels endless

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Waiting for the crowds to subside, cocktail hour and dominos with Jeremiah

Waiting for the crowds to subside, cocktail hour and dominos…

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A Morning with Zachary Nelson [AUDIO]

We ran into Zach Nelson while we were docked at…

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In the far away land of Alabama there are electrical outlets in public places

In the far away land of Alabama there are electrical…

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Shantyboat at Brickyard Landing Marina

Shantyboat at Brickyard Landing Marina

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We thought we might fit under the train bridge at Decatur AL [VIDEO]

Train bridge Decatur AL. We thought at first we might…

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Passing the time with the song game on the way to Decatur

Passing the time with the song game on the way…

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Do you know people in Decatur AL we should talk to?

Do you know people in Decatur AL we should talk…

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Cocktail hour! Next on the Shantyboat Guys! [VIDEO]

Cocktail hour! Next on the Shantyboat Guys with @dudicusmaximus

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Thanks to Ditto Landing for hosting us in Huntsville

Thanks to Ditto Landing for hosting us in Huntsville, especially…

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@dudicusmaximus finally noticed the shantyboat head dedication. Three years with the project

@dudicusmaximus finally noticed the shantyboat head dedication. Three years with…

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Apparently we were in USA Today (Thanks Joan Raspo)

Apparently we were in USA Today (Thanks Joan Raspo)

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WAFF Huntsville: Shanty floating down the TN seeking hidden histories of river people [VIDEO]

Get close enough to the Tennessee river, you can hear…

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Here’s @gooddoghazel perched on the side of a cliff at Painted Bluff

Here's @gooddoghazel perched on the side of a cliff at…

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Sonnie Hereford, Civil Rights Pioneer

We were fortunate to be able to talk to Sonnie…

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Chef Forest Wilson and daughter Yasmin who run a vegan & veggie food truck at Lowe Mill in Huntsville

Chef Forest Wilson and daughter Yasmin who run a vegan…

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World War 2 ammunition bunkers and 50s Cold War fallout shelters on Redstone Arsenal

World War 2 ammunition bunkers and 50s Cold War fallout…

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Secret History interviewers interviewed

Secret History interviewers interviewed

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@gooddoghazel is NASAs new spokesmodel. With Saturn V rocket

@gooddoghazel is NASAs new spokesmodel. With Saturn V rocket

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Beautiful Indian Creek in Triana Alabama heavily polluted with DDT from the Redstone Arsenal

Beautiful Indian Creek in Triana Alabama heavily polluted with DDT…

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Nathaniel Chisolm of E&N Good Home Cooking in Triana. His wife Emma is the E in E&N

Nathaniel Chisolm of E&N Good Home Cooking in Triana. His…

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An Interview with the Arsenal Archaeologist

I had the opportunity to interview Ben Hoksbergen, archaeologist for…

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WVLT Knoxville: Shanty boat tours America’s rivers via Knoxville [VIDEO]

It's a hot summer day on Knoxville's Volunteer Landing and…

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In Huntsville? Stop by the Secret History Open House on the shantyboat at Ditto Landing. See the boat, tell us your story, play the banjo. We’ll be here until 7pm

In Huntsville? Stop by the Secret History Open House on…

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Hazel dog hero shot. @gooddoghazel

Hazel dog hero shot. @gooddoghazel

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Most epically scenic interview ever with archeologist Ben Hoksbergen perched on the side of Painted Bluff

Most epically scenic interview ever with archeologist Ben Hoksbergen perched…

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@gooddoghazel near Hobbs Island on Ben Hoksbergen’s boat on our archaeology tour

@gooddoghazel near Hobbs Island on Ben Hoksbergen's boat on our…

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Visitor Nate playing banjo during the shantyboat open house

Visitor Nate playing banjo during the shantyboat open house

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Join us for a Shantyboat Open House! Tue & Wed 3-7pm Ditto Landing Huntsville

Join us for a Shantyboat Open House! Tue & Wed…

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Shantyboat band photo

Shantyboat band photo

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Jeremiah arrives to relieve Ships Mate Cara

Jeremiah arrives to relieve Ships Mate Cara

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5th Ave School, first integrated public school in Alabama in 1963. Now honored with a brand new medical tower

5th Ave School, first integrated public school in Alabama in…

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Site of the Huntsville slave cemetery now honored with medical offices. Last used in 1870. Euphemistically known as “Georgia” in the Black community

Site of the Huntsville slave cemetery now honored with medical…

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UK DailyMail: Could you live on a ‘shantyboat’? Artist calls this tiny homemade floating shack home as he journeys around the Tennessee River

A homemade 'shanty boat' is currently floating down the Tennessee…

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Doris Turner – What does the river mean to you? [VIDEO]

Excerpt from interview with Dorris Turner in Guntersville, Alabama along…

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Have a beater car we can borrow for a few days in Huntsville? Downtown is literally 10’miles from the river

Have a beater car we can borrow for a few…

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Shantyboat arrives in Huntsville Alabama

Shantyboat arrives in Huntsville Alabama

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Cara pilots on a hazy afternoon through high bluffs

Cara pilots on a hazy afternoon through high bluffs

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Guntersville lock behind us after a 35 foot drop

Guntersville lock behind us after a 35 foot drop

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@gooddoghazel outstanding in her field

@gooddoghazel outstanding in her field

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Secret History is front page in the Guntersville Gleam

Secret History is front page in the Guntersville Gleam

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TVA bans new floating homes, but allows existing homes to stay

Since the 1950s, floating homes on the water have been…

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Doris Turner talked to us about her daddy who was a captain on the Guntersville and Huntsville steamboats hauling railroad cars 22 miles to Hobbs Island

Dorris Turner talked to us about her daddy who was…

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Pete Sparks and Larry Smith, both Guntersville historians, told us about the TVA impounding of Lake Guntersvilke, the Civil War and the Cherokee removals

Pete Sparks and Larry Smith, both Guntersville historians, told us…

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