POPE’S TAVERN MUSEUM
Pope’s Tavern is a historical structure located in Florence, Alabama. Constructed as a home in the early 1830’s and situated along the Jackson Military Road, the building is now a historical museum, centering around Antebellum and Civil War life in Florence.
Located in downtown Florence, Pope’s Tavern serves as a space to explore the early history of the city of Florence and Lauderdale County through educational programming, public discourse, and community engagement.
Programs at the museum include historical talks, films, and workshops centered on early Florence history. The Museum aims to become a downtown institution, known for creative, historical events and gatherings focused on understanding the past and the present.
In October of 2021, the Museum opened a permanent exhibit, Slavery and Cotton in the Shoals, featuring a textile art map by Valerie S. Goodwin.
Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm
$5 for adults, $2 for students
(256) 760-6439
Group 1: ages 9-12, 9:00-11:30 am
Group 2: ages 13-18, 1:00-3:30 pm
Applications will be available at
Pope’s Tavern Museum,
the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts,
and online starting April 15th, 2024.
Check out this podcast episode from Lily Flagg’s Signal, Interview: The Pope’s Tavern Crew, featuring Brian Murphy and Daniel Rhodes discussing Archeology at Pope’s Tavern.
Episode description: "What is Pope's Tavern and why does it have an active archaeological dig? I'm glad you asked! Join me in my chat with Brian Murphy, director of Florence (Alabama) Arts and Museums, and Daniel Rhodes, Pope's Tavern archaeologist and host of the Archaeology After Dark podcast, as we discuss the marketing power of a name and legends, the things learned from a hole in the ground, the importance of digging through historical trash, and ways that you can get involved in public archaeology and stopping looters in North Alabama." (38 minutes)
Find Lily Flagg’s Signal episodes online here.
Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern
Slavery in the Shoals Exhibit
Lessons & Field Trips
Pope’s Tavern Collection
Pope’s Tavern Outdoor Redesign
We are proud and grateful to announce that we have received a grant from the Alabama Historical Commission to create a new design for the outdoor space at Pope’s Tavern. The new design will allow us to:
Connect the Museum to our new exhibit
Interpret the exterior exhibits
Envision outdoor classroom and presentation space
Enhance accessibility
Stay tuned as we start to imagine a better community space at Pope’s Tavern.