🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 2017 May 18, Events leading up to the Shoals Front Porch Storytelling Festival

Two buses were waiting at the Florence Visitor Center for passengers to board. One bus takes a group of people on a Historical Tour (guide Billy Warren), and the other bus takes a Music Tour (guide Walt Aldridge).
A couple from Toronto, Canada, a couple from Louisiana, a woman from Tuscaloosa, our driver, our guide Billy Warren, and I boarded the bus for the historic tour.
We visited the Florence Indian Mound and Museum, the Rosenbaum House, rode by WC Handy's Home, and visited the Ivy Green Home of Helen Keller.

Our first stop was the newly built Indian Mound Museum. We were led into the sitting area where we listened to the curator tell the history of the museum and mound, starting with the Paleo Indians, Transitional, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, and ending with the Native American age.e

Late Archaic Period

Middle Archaic Period

Early Archaic Period 

Once again, we loaded onto the bus. Our next stop was the Rosenbaum House, where we were met by a curator who shared the history of the Rosenbaum Family and how FranLloydyd Wright ended up building the home for the newly married couple.

We rode by the WC  Handy Home, not stopping while Billy told the history of WC Handy.
As we crossed the O'Neal Bridge, Billy Warren mentioned that the bridge was named after two governors from Florence (father and son).
Billy was asked about the Train Bridge and why it went only halfway across the river. Billy said that the lift part of the bridge was sold to a company in St Louis, Missouri.

Our last stop was Ivy Green, the home of Helen Keller. As we approached the house, we could see a large group of schoolchildren.

Ivy Green and Several Groups of School Children 

The pump where Helen Keller said "Water" marks the beginning of her education. 

The curator came outside and gave us a little history of the Keller family.
One story the curator told us was about Annie Sullivan.
Helen locked Miss Sullivan in the key room, and she hid the Key.
Mr. Keller had to get a ladder for Miss Sullivan to climb out a window.
What had she gotten herself into?

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This young man said, "Is this the statue that is in Washington, DC?" I said, "No, it was one of Helen's, Keyding by the pump."Key

The Key used to lock Miss Sullivan in her room.

Ivy Green as we were leaving (notice no school Children)

Once again, we loaded into the bus and rode back to the Visitor Center. Since it was such a small group, we got to know a little about one another.

I grabbed a bite of lunch at Jack's (kids' chicken fingers, green beans, Rice Krispies bite-sized snack, and iced tea.
At 2  P.M., I watched the Katherine Tucker Windham Tucker Life video at the Florence Library (sitting next to my friends). The woman from Tuscaloos was on the bus tour.

From 3:30–4:15 P.M., at Florence Library, I listened to Dolores Hydock's talks about "It Could Happen! Stories of Hope and Possibility.
Funny, sweet stories of hope, possibilities, and the little things in life that make hope possible.

Stopped to talk to my writing friends before heading home.
At Rick's Barbecue, I bought some pulled pork, Cole Slaw, iced tea, and Texas toast for supper.

Had a wonderful day, made a few new friends, visited several museums, watched a video about a great storyteller, and listened to one with my friends.