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Special to the Signal

After months of development, ALABAMA 200 announced on Friday, July 30 the release of the Alabama Bicentennial PastPort mobile app, which supports the Alabama Bicentennial PastPort, a printed guide to historic sites in each of Alabama’s 67 counties, including Lowndes.

According to the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, the technology links to Encyclopedia of Alabama entries where users can learn more about PastPort destinations. It also allows them to virtually visit the nearly 300 museums, landmarks and historic destinations listed in the book, as well as digitally stamp their PastPort. More sites will be added in the future.

The uniquely crafted educational piece is designed to share Alabama’s story through exploration, both virtual and actual. Bicentennial projects and initiatives like the PastPort will inspire a younger generation to learn about the great treasures of Alabama in an exciting way.

“The PastPort will appeal to all ages, but we especially wanted it to engage fourth graders because that’s when they are first introduced to Alabama history,” said Jay Lamar, Executive Director of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission. “It, along with lesson plans, can be downloaded into any Alabama classroom. But it is a great way to encourage people of all ages to get out and see Alabama.”

The Alabama Bicentennial PastPort project initiative was first launched in January 2018 at the Mercedes- Benz Visitors Center in Vance with the debut of the PastPort book. Since the launch, the Alabama Bicentennial Commission has been working to finalize a robust mobile app as a companion piece to the 174-page publication.

The application and original artwork were designed by Tatum Design in partnership with the developers MotionMobs of Birmingham. The project is supported by Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., Airbus, Verizon and Alabama NewsCenter.

Included among a complete list of PastPort Sites located in and near Lowndes County are:

Butler County
Greenville Railroad Depot, Greenville; Ritz Theatre, Greenville; and Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum, Georgiana

Crenshaw County
Highland Home College, Luverne; Luverne Public Library, Luverne; Brantley Hitching Post, Brantley; Brantley Public Library, Brantley; F.M. Douglass House, Luverne; and The Flowing Well, Glenwood

Dallas County
Kenan’s Mill, Orrville; Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma; Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, Selma; Ancient Africa, Enslavement, and Civil War Museum, Selma; National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, Selma; Old Depot Museum, Selma; Selma Interpretive Center, Selma; First Baptist Church, Selma; Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Selma; Sturdivant Hall Museum, Selma; and Smitherman Museum, Selma

Lowndes County
Holy Ground Battlefield Park, Lowndesboro; Viola Liuzzo Monument, Lowndesboro; Jonathan Daniels Memorial, Hayneville, and Lowndes Interpretive Center, Hayneville

Montgomery County
Alabama State Capitol*, Montgomery; Governor’s Mansion, Montgomery; W.A. Gayle Planetarium, Montgomery; Old Alabama Town, Montgomery; The City of St. Jude Interpretive Center and Garden, Montgomery; Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church & Parsonage Museum, Montgomery, Civil Rights Memorial Center, Montgomery; First White House of the Confederacy, Montgomery; Freedom Rides Museum in the Historic Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station, Montgomery; Hank Williams Museum, Montgomery; Museum of Alabama, Montgomery; Rosa Parks Museum and Children’s Wing*, Montgomery; and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, Montgomery.