Showing posts with label 10Best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10Best. Show all posts

Monday, June 1, 2015

May Tourism Highlights

May is not nearly as busy as April in terms of events; however, we still have hundreds of tourists coming to Selma to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and visit our many historic sites.  It is also the beginning of the summer family reunion season and wedding season, so we are constantly fulfilling information requests.

We had our first planning meeting for the Selma Museum Tours and it is going to be an even better event than last year.  Last year, we partnered with our local museums to offer visitors the opportunity to tour 7 sites for only 7 dollars!  This year, we have 10 sites for 10 dollars.  More information will be released as plans are finalized, but go ahead and save the date for the Selma Museum Tours on August 7 and 8, 2015.

In a previous blog post, I encouraged readers to vote for the Edmund Pettus Bridge for Best Historic Southern Attraction.  This national landmark was nominated by USA Today for this 10Best Readers' Choice Award.  Voting closed on May 25 and winners were announced at the end of the week - the Edmund Pettus Bridge was ranked 4th!  Out of the 20 nominations, only the top 10 are chosen for this recognition and we came in 4th, which isn't too bad when you think of how many historic attractions there are in all of the southern states.  We are proud to have been nominated and thrilled to be listed in the top 10!

A large portion of my time this month was devoted to finalizing our Audio Tour project.  After coordinating with each site and placing flags in all 75 locations for the posts to be installed, I then had to give all of the signs to Public Works for them to drill holes in each sign.  After the holes are finished, we will begin installing posts at all 75 sites and we will have an unveiling to officially announce the completion of the project.  Stay tuned for a blog post later this month about the Audio Tours!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Edmund Pettus Bridge - USA Today Nomination

We have great news!
Photo from the Alabama Tourism Department
The Edmund Pettus Bridge has been nominated for Best Historic Southern Attraction by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.  It is truly an honor just to be nominated.  Think about it.  Out of all of the Southern states, only 20 attractions were nominated for this title.  Out of the 20 nominations, only three attractions were chosen from Alabama.  All three attractions are civil rights sites, but only one has become a symbol of the bravery and sacrifice of the foot soldiers.  Don't get me wrong, each of these sites are significant historic attractions.  But were any others just visited by the President of the United States and his family, former President and First Lady, and over 100,000 other people?  Were any of the other sites broadcast GLOBALLY?

The Edmund Pettus Bridge will be 75 years old this year and the opening celebration was May 24-26, 1940.  The last day to vote for this category is May 25 - coincidence?

Our most famous Selma attraction should no doubt win the title of Best Historic Southern Attraction, but we need YOUR help!  Please follow this link and vote everyday until May 25.  Share with your family, friends, and the media.  We need you!