2015 ~ Saturday, June 27, Helen Keller Festival Tuscumbia, Alabama

Today I went to the Car Show in Tuscumbia, where on display were a variety of antique cars, 
White & black Rally Sport Camaro, black Belair trimmed in white, several MGBs, Corvettes, trucks, and some motorcycles. There were Mustangs, Camaros, Chevrolets, & Fords. 

Car Show Mustangs 

Driving down Main St to park.

Volkswagen

The New Ford V8 Coupe Utility 

I took the hour-long walking tour, and our guide talked about Tuscumbia's founding. He spoke about the founding of the Railroad, the many hotels in Tuscumbia because of it, and the rivalry between Colbert County and Lauderdale County.

The Colbert County Reporter 

The Train Depot and Museum 

Why would people from Tuscumbia travel by train to Decatur to the bank and shop instead of going to Florence?
John Coffee a surveyor laid out the founding of Tuscumbia in a Commons. Tuscumbia was sold to the US Government by the Indians.
Our guide talked about the different churches on Dickson Street that started out on Main Street.

St John's Episcopal Church on Dickson Street 

Walking group 

House behind St John's Episcopal Church on Dickson Street 

Touring Bus 

Walking group

The street where the Cold Water Book Store is now was once Grain Row, and Main Street was once Mechanical Row.
This was the main shopping area of Tuscumbia in the early days.
He said the water flowing in Spring Park comes from an underground spring, and the area was once the hunting grounds for the Indians.

Met this adorable dog, and his owner had him sit and pose for me. So cute and lovable

Our tour ended at First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia, where everyone was invited inside to listen to a Helen Keller Festival Mini Concert featuring Dinie Stone, pianist, Blair Reinlie, oboist, & the great, great, great-nieces and nephews of Helen Keller. 

First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia 

First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia 1824-1904

Dinie Stone, pianist, Blair Reinlie, oboist, & the great, great, great-nieces and nephews of Helen Keller. 

Guitar player

The great, great, great-nieces of Helen Keller did a solo accompanied by a guitar.

Blair Reinlie oboist

Helen Keller, born June 27, 1880, died June 1, 1968. "Happy Birthday, Helen".
"Once I knew only darkness and stillness... my life was without past or future... but a little word from the finger of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living."
Helen Keller
Songs 
Over the rainbow, Etude, To a wild Rose, We gather, We praise, The Lord is in His Holy Temple, Surely The Presence of the Lord is in this place  In your arms Lord Jesus Christ, Children of the Heavenly Father, Down at the River we shall gather, Let us break bread together and remember you, Behold the lamb, Amazing Grace, I dream a dream, You raise me up, God Bless the USA, God Bless America.
Everyone joined in singing God Bless America.
After the concert, everyone was invited to light refreshments.

I stopped at the Tuscumbia Art Museum to view art by disabled students from Alabama and watercolor paintings from all over the USA. There were some exciting pieces on display. 
One of the volunteers came into the museum with a notebook about the art, and we discussed several pieces. 
Ate lunch at Ruby Tuesday with two new friends I met at the Art Museum. I was telling my husband about my day. He laughed and said, "Nothing you do surprises me."