FLORENCE-Mark your calendars for our upcoming historic walking tour series throughout the month of April and in early May.
Tour begins at 705 E. College Street, Florence, AL 35630 or entrances on Tennessee Street at 10:00 a.m. This tour is led by Harry Wallace
The tour of the Florence City Cemetery, established in 1818, features many unique headstones and famous grave sites among the rolling hills and towering trees. Florence City Cemetery contains graves belonging to early settlers, two former governors in the O’Neal family, along with other prominent community leaders and families.
*All tour dates are subject to change due to weather. Visit this event page on the morning of the scheduled tour for any weather related updates. Pets are not allowed on the historic walking tours.*
All tours in this series are FREE and open to the public! Registration is not required.
- Florence City Cemetery – April 4, 10am – 11:30am
Tour begins at 705 E. College Street, Florence, AL 35630 or entrances on Tennessee Street at 10:00 a.m. This tour is led by Harry Wallace
The tour of the Florence City Cemetery, established in 1818, features many unique headstones and famous grave sites among the rolling hills and towering trees. Florence City Cemetery contains graves belonging to early settlers, two former governors in the O’Neal family, along with other prominent community leaders and families.
- Walnut St – April 11, 10am – 11:30am
Tour begins at corner of Hermitage Drive and Walnut Street at 10:00 a.m. Parking is available at the tennis courts on Hermitage Drive. This tour is led by Billy Warren.
The Walnut Street Historic District boasts tree lined sidewalks, diverse architecture and elegant homes. Walk by 29 beautifully restored houses that originally comprised the Walnut Street Historic District and were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
- Forks of Cypress – April 18, 10am – 11:30am
The Forks of Cypress was a cotton plantation and Greek revival plantation house in Florence, Alabama. It was designed by
architect William Nichols for James Jackson and his wife, Sally Moore Jackson. Construction was completed in 1830.
It was the only Greek revival house in Alabama to feature a two-story colonnade around the entire house, composed of twenty-four Ionic columns. The name was derived from the fact that Big Cypress Creek and Little Cypress Creek border the plantation and converge near the site of the main house.
Although the main house was destroyed by fire in 1966, the site was listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on April 14, 1992 and the National Register of Historic Places on October 10, 1997. (Info courtesy of the Alabama Historical Commission)
Bring your lawn chairs for the beginning portion of the tour. This tour is led by Harry Wallace.
Location: Forks of Cypress, Florence, AL (Take Cox Creek Pkwy. to Jackson Road (no traffic signal at intersection). Go approximately 2 miles and you will see a historic marker which identifies the Forks of Cypress. Park along the road or enter the gate to park in the field leading to the columns.)
- UNA Campus – April 25, 10am – 11:30am
Tour begins at the Harrison-Plaza Fountain at 10:00 am.
This tour is led by Billy Warren.
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.
- North Court & Seminary St – May 2, 10am – 11:30am
Tour begins at Rogers Hall, 500 N Court St, Florence, AL 35630 at 10:00 a.m. This tour is led by Billy Warren.
The North Court Street and Seminary Street Tour will feature 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.
Media Release/Florence Tourism
