FLORENCE– Local residents and area visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the historic sites of Florence by participating in the Walking Tours of Historic Florence April 4 through May 2, 2015.
Florence/Lauderdale Tourism will host the walking tours as a way to promote the historic sites, neighborhoods and unique architecture of Florence. Each tour will be guided by a local historian and will feature a different historic location each Saturday. The tours are free to the public and will begin at 10 a.m., lasting approximately one to one and a half hours.
April 4 – Florence City Cemetery
The tour of the Florence City Cemetery, established in 1818, features unique headstones and monuments adorned with burial and religious symbolism. The cemetery contains graves belonging to early settlers, two former governors in the O’Neal Family, along with other prominent community leaders and families. The tour begins at the Florence City Cemetery entrance at 10 a.m. 705 E. College Street next to the Animal or entrances on Tennessee Street.
Tour Guide: Harry Wallace
April 11 – Walnut Street Historic District
The Walnut Street Historic District boasts tree lined sidewalks, diverse architecture and elegant homes. Participants will walk by 29 beautifully restored homes that belonged to some of Florence’s prominent figures and originally composed the Walnut Street Historic District. These houses were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The tour will begin at 10 a.m. in the UNA Tennis Courts parking lot on Hermitage Drive, where parking will be available.
Tour Guide: Billy Warren
April 18 – Historic University of North Alabama Campus
The Historic University of North Alabama campus tour will feature iconic buildings such as Wesleyan Hall which pre-dates the Civil War and the Memorial Amphitheater which is a memorial to UNA students who served in the military during war. A tour of UNA’s campus would not be complete without stopping by to see the impressive habitat of the university’s lion mascots. Tour guides will be UNA history students.
April 25 – North Court and Seminary Streets
The North Court Street and Seminary Street tour will begin at 10 a.m. at Rogers Hall or Courtview on the UNA Campus. The tour will feature Rogers Hall (former home of Governor O’Neal), Coby Hall, Connor Place, The Robert Dean Martin Home, the Medical Arts Building, Pope’s Tavern and many other historic homes. Parking will be available on Court Street and at the UNA parking lot located at One Harrison Plaza.
Tour Guide: Billy Warren
May 2 – Forks of Cypress Plantation Site and Cemetery
The Forks of Cypress Plantation was one of the oldest Antebellum mansions in Alabama. It was built in 1822 by James Jackson, one of the first settlers in Lauderdale County and a friend of Andrew Jackson. Bring your lawn chairs for the beginning portion of the tour! The second part of the tour will be at the historic Jackson Cemetery. The tour will begin at 10 a.m, Directions to the site are as follows: take Cox Creek Pkwy. to Jackson Rd. and turn right (no traffic signal at intersection). Turn right at the dead end. Park along the road or enter the gate to park in the field leading to the columns.
Tour Guide: Harry Wallace
For more information call the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism at 256-740-4141, 1-888-FLO-TOUR or visit www.VisitFlorenceAL.com
