Take A Walk On The Historic Side….Florence Spring Walking Tours Begin April 5th

FLORENCE– Local residents will have an opportunity to “Take a Walk on the Historic Side” by participating in the annual Walking Tours of Historic Florence April 5 through May 3, 2014.

Florence/Lauderdale Tourism hosts the walking tours as a way to promote our historic sites, neighborhoods and unique architecture. A tour of a different historic location will be featured each Saturday and will be guided by local historians. The tours begin at 10:00 a.m., are free to the public and will last approximately one to one and a half hours.

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 begins at Forks of Cypress 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

The North Court Street and Seminary Street tour will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Roger’s Hall or Courtview on the UNA campus. It features Rogers Hall, Coby Hall, the Governor O’Neal Home, Connor Place, Wakefield, the Robert Dean Martin Home, the Medical Arts Building, Pope’s Tavern, two Sears & Roebuck houses and many other homes. The tour begins at Roger’s Hall, the North end of Court Street at 10 a.m. Parking available on Court Street and at the UNA parking lot located at One Harrison Plaza.

Tour Guide: Billy Warren.

The Historic University of North Alabama campus tour will begin at 10 a.m. at Harrison Plaza on the UNA campus. The tour will feature iconic buildings, some from the Civil War era. And of course, one of the stops will be to see the university’s lion mascots’ impressive habitat.

 

Tour Guides will be UNA history students.

The Walnut Street Historic District boasts tree lined sidewalks, diverse architecture and elegant homes. The tour will begin in the UNA Tennis Courts parking lot on Hermitage Drive. Walk by 29 beautifully restored houses that originally comprised the Walnut Street Historic District and were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Parking is available at the UNA Tennis Courts on Hermitage Drive.

Tour Guide: Billy Warren

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 Florence City Cemetery entrance at 10 a.m. 705 E. College Street next to the Animal Shelter or entrances on Tennessee Street.

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.