By: Gabriela, Dameshia, J.R, Terrilynn
Noccalula Falls is a beautiful 90-foot waterfall at the western end of Lookout Mountain in Gadsden, Alabama.
The unusual name of the waterfall is part of a popular Alabama legend that has been repeated for generations. As the story goes, Noccalula was the daughter of a Cherokee chief who lived with his people near the spectacular falls.
The young woman had fallen in love with a warrior from her own tribe. He was a brave man, but did not possess the worldly goods of many of his rivals. Noccalula's father, contrary to his daughter's wishes, viewed the man as a poor match for his well-placed daughter and instead arranged for her to marry the wealthy chief of a powerful rival tribe. He also ordered her true love expelled from the village. The young woman was heartbroken.
On the day of her wedding people gathered in the village for a great feast. Noccalula was dressed in her wedding finery but in a quiet moment she slipped away and walked to the edge of the swiftly running away. Before anyone could stop her, she leaped from the top and ended her life in the swirling water and mist below.
His daughter's suicide awakened her father to the harshness of his actions and in his remorse he decreed that the waterfall would always be known for his daughter. It is called Noccalula Falls to this day and legend holds that the ghost of the young Cherokee woman can still be seen at times, walking among the mists and looking for her long lost true love.
It is difficult to say today what the truth of the legend might be, but it is a colorful part of the folktail of Alabama.
Another name for Noccalula Fall’s is Black Creek Falls. It is named Noccalula because the Indian chief, Noccalula’s father named it after his daughter because Noccalula jumped the falls and committed suicide.