(Photo) Moundville Archeological Park.

Piece 1: Moundville Archeological Park. Located about 20 minutes south of Tuscaloosa AL traveling down old state highway 69, Moundville Archaeological Park is managed by the University of Alabama and includes close to 30 ceremonial “mounds” constructed by the Mississippian Indians almost 800 years ago.

The brief video presentation at the park admission office provides a good historical overview.

A 1.4-mile paved roadway (originating and ending at the admission office) makes it easy to observe and enjoy some of the key features of the park by car, bicycle, or foot.

At about the midway point of the park road is the Jones Archeological Museum, which includes hundreds of artifacts and several impressive scene recreations of the Mississippian culture. The museum is a great educational experience, and the temperature-controlled facility offers a comfortable rest stop with access to refreshments and souvenirs.

For those interested in camping, a modern camp site with bathhouse is conveniently situated off the southern part of the park road as you make your way back toward the admission office/exit.

Greensboro Pie

Piece 2: Greensboro Pie (formerly Pie Lab). Continuing south down old state highway 69 from Moundville Archeological Park, Greensboro Pie (1005 Market Street-Greensboro AL) is a pleasant 30-minute drive.

Established in an old abandoned pool hall in 2009 by a group from Belfast, ME passionate about social change, Pie Lab was a bakery and pastry business created to meaningfully impact a disadvantaged Black Belt community.

Profits from Pie Lab were used to provide housing and temporary shelters in the area, and the business also provided culinary workforce training.

A happy byproduct of all this “social impact work” was some really delicious pie; which got the attention of several regional magazines and a food writer from the New York Times.

In our view, what really makes the pie in Greensboro so special is the crust. Our favorite flavors are the bourbon pecan and the chocolate chess, but all the pies are remarkably good and well worth the trip.

Although the founders of Pie Lab decided to leave the business in 2020, they sold their recipes to a new owner who operates in the same location under the name Greensboro Pie.

Eat a piece (or two) while you are there…and take home a whole pie for later. You’ll be glad you did!

Magnolia Grove in Greensboro, AL

Piece 3: Magnolia Grove historic site. A quick 5-minute trip from Greensboro Pie is Magnolia Grove, a beautifully maintained pre-Civil War home located at the intersection of Main Street and Hobson Street in Greensboro.

Owned by the Alabama Historical Commission, Magnolia Grove features many original furnishings and portraits of the Croom and Hobson Families.

The property includes other interesting structures and interpretive exhibits, and many large Magnolia trees.

One unique horticultural feature of Magnolia Grove are the Osage trees original owner Isaac Croom planted there in the 1840’s. These trees produce a large (softball-sized) inedible fruit called a hedge apple, and you will likely see several on the ground as you tour the front yard of the house.

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