Our collections

Thousands of details. One shared story.

We preserve photographs, documents, family-history resources and objects that help Etowah County recognize its people and places.

Photo archive

Our collection includes more than 15,000 digitized local historical photographs, along with original images that document homes, schools, businesses, public spaces, families and everyday life across Etowah County.

Looking for a particular image?Send us names, locations, dates and any details you already know. Even a partial clue can help narrow the search.

Research library

Our library brings together local histories, reference works, yearbooks, newspapers, census information and other materials useful for understanding the county’s communities.

Genealogy resources

Family files, cemetery information and local records can help connect names across generations. We encourage researchers to begin with known names, dates and places.

Museum exhibits

Our museum displays objects and interpretive materials that bring local and Native American history into a shared physical space. Exhibits help visitors move from a single artifact to the larger story around it.

Commercial buildings on Broad Street in Gadsden
Broad Street, Gadsden · 2010Carol M. Highsmith · Library of Congress · Public domain