YOUR TOWN ALABAMA NEEDS YOU!!! We're looking for examples of excellent gateways to Alabama communities. Does your community have an outstanding example of a gateway? Or, maybe you've seen a bad example. Send us either good or bad examples! 
Cultural Elements continued
ELEMENTS
ARCHITECTURE
Look for the method or style of building, the type of material used, the time period a structure was built, or find out if the architect was famous!
ART
Look for art museums or galleries, performing centers, artists at work, murals, sculptures, and grassroots art. Think music, theatre, fine art, literature, and dance.
COMMERCE
Find out about businesses past and present. What is the main business that the town was formed around? Look for business trends and note the drama of rural economy. What are your specialty shops?
CUISINE
Look for ethnic or specialty food or the style of cooking and the manner in which it is prepared. Look for unique or long-standing cafes or restaurants, local food events and festivals.
CUSTOMS
Look for ethnic or long-standing community practices; and local or ethnic events.
GEOGRAPHY
Note anything to do with nature including natural landmarks, hiking trails, physiographic regions, lakes, birds, wildlife, arboretums, trees, wildflowers, and grasses.
HISTORY
Note the points-of-interest, significant events, and people that influenced the history in an area.
PEOPLE
Note the ethnic make-up of a town and the population. Find the people who helped make history as well as discovering the present-day characters.
From: RURAL CULTURE ELEMENTS | Kansas Sampler Foundation www.kansassampler.org
