From Mussel Shoals to Muscle Shoals: Interpreting the History of Power Generation on the Tennessee River

This essay explores how Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area (MSNHA) interprets the energy history of the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama. Additionally, it considers how MSNHA—and other national heritage areas across the country—can help guide the interpretation of the human history and environmental consequences of power generation, while also helping apply the lessons learned from past power projects to future endeavors.