Many unique places are located throughout Alabama just waiting to be discovered. One in particular is the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall. To learn all about this stone wall, including what makes it truly special, take a look below.
The Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall is located just off the Natchez Trace Parkway in Florence, Alabama. Measuring more than one mile, it's the longest unmortared wall in the U.S.
Tom Hendrix built this unique wall, which took more than 30 years, to honor his great-great-grandmother, Te-lah-nay. She was part of the Yuchi Indian Tribe that was forced off their land, which was located along the Tennessee River in the 1800s. She, along with her sister, Whana-le, were sent to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma during the movement that was later known as the Trail of Tears.
Because Te-lah-nay's journey back home was made one step at a time, Mr. Hendrix built his wall one stone at a time. His wall also has several high and low spots, which are also reflective of his great-great-grandmother's journey. The Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall is also the largest memorial built to honor a Native American Woman.
The streams and rivers in Oklahoma didn't sing to her like the Tennessee River back home (aka "The Singing River"), so she walked back to her home in Alabama. The journey took five years.
One of the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall's most popular features is its Prayer Circle. In this special spot, visitors are invited to sit and meditate. It's such a calm and peaceful place.
Another feature visitors quickly notice is the wall's many "faces." The stones that were used to build the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall come from more than 120 countries. Several of them resemble faces, which are both haunting and fascinating.
