Alabama Metal Art designed, built, and installed a complete interior sign package for Shelby County. The signs now fill the Shelby County Museum and Archives in Columbiana, AL. The project includes a custom metal Hall of Fame sign and large printed history panels. In addition, we printed a Historical Highlights photo display and laser-cut individual metal letters and powder-coated them in gold for each exhibit.
Every piece suits the museum’s historic setting. For example, warm gold metal finishes pair with a rich wood-grain backdrop. Meanwhile, crisp black-and-white portrait panels give the space a polished, gallery-quality feel. Together, these elements honor the people and places that shaped Shelby County.
Need a Custom Hall of Fame or History Wall?
Alabama Metal Art builds custom hall of fame signs, honoree walls, and printed history displays. For example, we serve county museums, courthouses, schools, universities, athletic facilities, and corporate lobbies. Above all, we build each display to celebrate your story and grow with it.
Custom Metal Hall of Fame Sign
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a large circular metal emblem on a dark walnut-finish feature wall. First, a gold ring frames the design with stencil-cut SHELBY COUNTY and ALABAMA lettering and star accents. Then, a solid metal silhouette of the county map fills the center. Because each piece sits off the wall on standoffs, the emblem casts soft shadows across the wood grain. As a result, the seal looks fully dimensional from every angle.
Below the emblem, individual gold metal letters spell out HALL OF FAME in a classic serif typeface. These letters also sit on standoffs to match the depth of the seal above.
Cornerstone Honorees History Wall
The Cornerstone Honorees wall features tall printed portrait panels for each inductee. Each panel shows a photo, name, three-word theme, short biography, and historical images. We printed the panels on durable ACM (aluminum composite material) for a sharp, rigid, long-lasting display. Finally, polished standoff caps add a clean finishing touch.
Above the panels, dimensional gold metal letters spell out CORNERSTONE HONOREES to anchor the wall.
A Custom Mounting System Built for Change
The Hall of Fame will change as the county inducts new honorees. For this reason, we fabricated a custom bronze-finish rail and hanger mounting system for the history wall. Each ACM panel hangs from a continuous rail with matching brackets. As a result, museum staff can easily remove, rearrange, or swap panels on their own. They don’t need to patch walls or call an installer. In addition, the rail keeps every panel perfectly aligned. Therefore, the county has a display that can evolve for years to come.
Click the link for more information on custom signs.
Historical Highlights Photo Display
In an adjoining room, gold metal letters read HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS above a row of printed photo panels. The panels feature historic and present-day scenes from across Shelby County. Each one rests on an angled metal ledge that tilts the image toward visitors. Consequently, the wall feels like a dynamic, gallery-style display.
Take a look inside the museum → Visit Shelby County Museum & Archives
Project Details
- Client: Shelby County, Alabama
- Location: Shelby County Museum and Archives, Columbiana, AL
- Sign Type: Custom metal Hall of Fame sign, dimensional metal letters, and large-format printed history signs
- Features: Gold cut metal county emblem, standoff serif letters, printed ACM panels, swappable rail mounting system, angled display ledges
- Applications: Museum exhibits, hall of fame walls, historical displays, and interior wayfinding
Bringing Shelby County's Story to Life
These installation photos show how each element works together as one cohesive exhibit. The metal Hall of Fame emblem, gold letters, and printed honoree panels share a common look. Ultimately, the Shelby County Museum and Archives now has a lasting, flexible display. It will celebrate the county’s leaders and history for generations of visitors.