Athens Bicentennial                     #AthensAL200

The Athens Bicentennial Bash Video by John David Crowe

  1. Athens Bicentennial Bash Video Nov 2018

Athens Bicentennial Bash slideshow

Athens Bicentennial Events and Programs

The City of Athens and State of Alabama Bicentennial will be celebrated over three years from 2017 to 2019.
  • Starting June 19, 2018, on Tuesdays 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays 2-4 p.m. - Donnell House - Chosen as one of only three prestigious PastPort sites in Limestone County, in conjunction with the the state-wide celebration of Alabama's 200th anniversary of statehood. Open for special tours. For more information or to request special tour times, call (239) 249-2211.
  • Now through Jan. 18, 2019, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., a traveling exhibit, “The Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama,” is on display in the Limestone County Archives exhibits space. The exhibit and companion book track the history of the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama from the earliest people who lived in the area through European settlement, the Civil War, Muscle Shoals nitrate facilities and the Tennessee Valley Authority to the present.
  • June 2010, date to be announced soon - Commemorating the first utility building in Athens and partnering with TVA for electricity

About our bicentennial

The City of Athens turned 200 on Nov. 19, 2018. The city is joining the statewide three-year bicentennial which runs from 2017 to 2019.

The City of Athens is working with the Limestone County, Ala., Bicentennial Committee to plan events, educational programs and more. Detailed information about events and programs are included on this page as they are developed. 
Julian Newman Elementary

Julian Newman Elementary in Athens won the 2017 classroom contest held by Alabama 200

Athens ROCKS

A continuous bicentennial art event that has grown in popularity is Athens ROCKS, created by High Cotton Arts artist Roberta Ress in March 2017, and supported by the Athens Arts League.

Children and adults paint rocks and hide them in public places around Athens. 

Since the statewide 2017 theme is "Explore Our Places," this project encourages local citizens to "explore Athens" to find rocks, take a selfie and post here on the Athens ROCKS page and re-hide the rock. 

Educational Program Available

Schools, civic groups, etc. can request an educational program for the Bicentennial through Limestone County Archives. The program is called "From Chickasaws to Cyclones: The History of Limestone County, AL."

Discover the stories that encompass our community history from Limestone County's days as Chickasaw country to the present. The program includes a PowerPoint presentation of historic photos from Athens and Limestone County such as events, landmarks, leaders, and historic school and community photos.

This is a free program. For more information or to schedule a presentation, call Archivist Rebekah Davis at 256-233-6404 or email her at Rebekah.Davis@limestonecounty-al.gov.