Our Roots
Henning's Founding and Historical Significance
The Town of Henning was established by Dr. D.M. Henning in 1873, the same year that Henning’s first sawmill, gristmill, and cotton gin opened. Merchants soon followed and opened general stores, a grocery store, and a drug store. The town became an important first train depot in Lauderdale County in the early 1870s and was incorporated in 1883. Henning is the birthplace of Alex Haley, the author of the 1976 book Roots: The Saga of an American Family. In 1978, Haley’s boyhood home in Henning was restored and opened to the public as a museum, and in 2010 the State constructed the Alex Haley Interpretive Center.
Choctaw Community in Henning
Two Choctaw families migrated to Lauderdale County from the Choctaw reservation near Philadelphia, Mississippi in 1952 in response to an advertised need for agricultural laborers. By 1990 approximately 150 Choctaw resided in the community. In 1992, the federal government entrusted 172 acres of land outside of Henning to the Choctaw for government housing. The land, near Hwy 51 and Graves Avenue, currently accommodates homes for Choctaw families and contains an administration building and community center.
Alex Haley Museum and Interpretive Center
An educational facility dedicated to the collection, reservation, interpretation, and exhibition of artifacts. The Museum’s comprehensive collections represent the life and achievements of the renowned author Alex Haley. Alex Haley, author of "Roots," offers perspective into the novel which became an enormously popular television miniseries. The museum promotes the understanding and appreciation of history by presenting a range of exhibitions, programs, and events for the community and the world. The Alex Haley Museum and Interpretive Center at https://www.alexhaleymuseum.org also hosts a variety of events for the community, including regular Genealogy sessions to assist community members in tracking their own family tree. For questions about upcoming events, or to schedule a tour, call the museum at (731) 738-2240, or email at: alexhaleymuseum@bellsouth.net.