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 1 – 29. 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 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
April 6: Walking Tours of Historic Florence – North Court & Seminary St. North Court & Seminary Streets 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.
April 13: Walking Tours of Historic Florence – Walnut Street Historic District. 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 Dr. 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.
The tour begins at the corner of Walnut St. & Hermitage Dr. at 10 a.m. Parking is available at the UNA Tennis Courts on Hermitage Drive. Tour Guide: Billy Warren
April 20: Walking Tours of Historic Florence – 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 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
April 27: Walking Tours of Historic Florence – University of North Alabama Campus – Long identified with education in Alabama, the history of the University of North Alabama contains both direct and indirect ties to institutions such as LaGrange College and Locust Dell Academy. From humble beginnings in rural Colbert County, UNA emerged as a leading teacher training college. In 1855, the education institution built its first building in Florence, Wesleyan Hall. The tour begins in front of Rogers Hall where we learn the early history of the University and then walk through the campus to view the Lion Habitat, Willingham Hall, Wesleyan, Bibb Graves and many other historic buildings. 10 a.m.
May 4: Walking Tours of Historic Florence – Forks of Cypress Plantation Site & 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. 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.
For more information, call the Tourism Office at 256-740-4141.
Media Release/Randa Hovater/Florence-Lauderdale Tourism
