Historic Walking Tours
Visit The Shoals is happy to announce our annual Historic Walking Tours in Florence.
Free guided tours are offered each Saturday in April at 10:00 a.m. Self guided tour brochures are available from the Florence/Lauderdale Visitor Center. For more information, call 256-740-4141.
Check out the dates and locations below:
April 6, 2024- Walnut Street Historic District: Tour begins at corner of Hermitage Drive and Walnut Street at 10:00 a.m. This tour is led by Billy Warren. 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 in 1977. Parking available at tennis courts on Hermitage Drive.
April 13, 2024- Florence City Cemetery: Tour begins at 705 E. College Street, Florence, AL 35630 or entrances on Tennessee Street. 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. Tour begins at 10:00 a.m.
April 20, 2024- UNA Campus: Tour begins at the Harrison-Plaza Fountain near the lion habitat 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. A tour of UNA's campus would not be complete without stopping by to see the impressive habitat of the university's lion mascot.
April 27, 2024 - North Court & Seminary Streets: Tour begins at Rogers Hall, 1 Harrison Plaza, Florence, AL 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.
May 4, 2024- Forks of Cypress Walking Tour: Directions to the site are as follows: take Cox Creek Pkwy. to Jackson Road and turn right. ( no traffic signal at intersection) Go approximately 2 miles and you will see a historic marker which identifies the Forks of Cypress. Enter through the farm gate. Tour begins at 10:00 a.m. This tour is led by Harry Wallace.
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. Park along the road or enter the gate to park in the field leading to the columns.