Florence, Ala. - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) presented $75,000 to the Children's Museum of the Shoals today.  Cramer secured this funding in the FY 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act for a Native American exhibit study.

The Children's Museum plans to open an exhibit that will tell the story of Te-lah-nay.  Te-lah-nay was a young Native American girl who took the Trail of Tears from Lauderdale County to Oklahoma.  Soon after, she returned to North Alabama, remarkably, walking home alone.

"The Children's Museum of the Shoals is a fun, hands-on and interactive museum where children can learn about our area's history," said Cramer.  "It is definitely a place where both children and parents can have a great time.  I'm glad that Te-lah-nay's story was chosen to educate future generations of children in our area about the history, traditions, and life of the Native American people from our area."

The Children's Museum of the Shoals is a discovery museum for young people and their families, providing exhibits and programs designed to encourage visitors to learn by doing, imagine, and to create.  The museum opened in August of 2001 in a historic house located in Deibert Park.