Queen City Stories is a celebration of historic Selma, Alabama’s past and present. Although Selma is a popular tourist destination, almost all of its past is ignored save for its role in the Civil Rights movement. To me, that is a disservice to the memory of men and women of the past, like Albert G. Parrish, Benjamin Sterling Turner, and Hattie Hooker Williams who devoted their lives to making the Queen City a leader in commerce and culture. I did not always appreciate the richness of Selma’s past: despite growing up in it, I never began learning its stories until I returned home from college in 2010. Since then, I have worked as a local history librarian and developed a deep appreciation for the good works wrought by those who have gone before.  The purpose of this website is to create, collect, and share stories of Selma ‘beyond the bridge’, as it were. Future postings will include formal short articles about people and places in Selma’s past, interesting photos, reflections, and other content as it suggests itself. Books that feature Selma will also be reviewed.  Historical articles are subject to updates and revision as the discovery of new information allows, and sources will be cited. This website is launching on December 22nd, 2023, as a work in progress.