Tours meet at the museum steps at 10 a.m. each Saturday in April.
CULLMAN – Get ready to start walking and talking, Cullman!
Annual, statewide walking tours begin this Saturday, April 1. If you have attended these tours before you’ll know that they are a great learning tool for history buffs, people who love stories about where certain streets, bridges, crossroads or cemeteries got their names, or people who just love walking and looking at pretty gardens decked out in spring blooms. There is something for everyone on the five April Walking Tours.
Some 28 towns across Alabama will be on display during Saturday mornings in April as part of the Alabama Tourism Department's April Walking Tours.
Tour guides will lead the free tours through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns. The hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. on April 1,8, 15, 22 and 29.
Towns and starting places for the April Walking Tours are: Athens, Athens Visitor Center; Attalla, Gazebo at 4thSt.and 5th Ave.; Bayou La Batre, Mariner Park; Birmingham, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Courtland, Courtland Heritage Museum; Cullman, Cullman County Museum; Daleville, Chamber of Commerce; Decatur, Old State Bank Building; Elba, Chamber of Commerce; Enterprise, The Rawls Hotel; Eutaw, Prairie Avenue; Fairhope, Fairhope Welcome Center; Florence, various locations; Foley, Welcome Center. Huntsville, Confectionary Shop at Constitution Village (April 1 & 8 only); Livingston, McConnell Field on University of West Alabama campus; Madison, Madison Roundhouse (April 15 & 22 only); Mobile, Welcome Center at The History Museum of Mobile; Montgomery; Montgomery Area Visitor Center; Mooresville, Post Office; Moulton, Lawrence County Archives; Pell City, City Hall; Prattville, Prattaugan Museum; Selma, Selma-Dallas County Library; Sheffield, Sheffield Municipal Building; Shelby, Iron Works Park; Troy, Pike County Chamber of Commerce; Tuscumbia, ColdWater Bookstore.
The tours are being coordinated by Brian Jones with the Alabama Tourism Department.
“Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours. These Walking Tours are a great way to get out and enjoy the spring weather and find out about the history of our state. More than 32,000 people have participated in the walking tours since the beginning of the program 14 years ago, and they keep increasing in popularity every year,” Jones said.
“This year’s Walking Tour will be in the area around Third Avenue.” said Drew Green, museum historian and tour guide extraordinaire. “On this year’s tour we have several interesting stops. You’ll find out something unique the location of Carlton's Restaurant and its current owner have with Cullman history.”
Did you know that the corner of Third Avenue East and Highway 278 was once known as the “Busy Corner?” People often made a purchase on the mezzanine of the Griffin Store (the current Methodist activity center) and had it carried across the street before it was delivered to their home.
Learn about the original location of Cullman's oldest restaurant and why it got the name Busy Bee.
The new All-Steak has an interesting connection to historic architecture in Cullman and also a connection to a Broadway play.
The walks start each Saturday at 10 a.m. on the front steps of the Cullman County Museum.
“The tours are rain or shine events and the only reason they would be canceled is dangerous weather,” said Green. “The walk usually lasts around an hour.”
There will be frequent stops for people who need to sit down. “Each Saturday will have a different local historian as a leader, so come every week to learn more!” said Green.
“Every walk is different because the leaders and the participants bring unique insights each Saturday.”
More information about the April Walking Tours is available on the Alabama Tourism
Department website at www.alabama.travel.
Locally you may contact Drew Green at the Cullman County Museum for more information.
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