American Press Travel News -November 5th,–Florence, AL.–Their are a several iconic people that have been honored for their excellence in achievements in their private and public life over the years. One such; Helen Keller stands tall and above the rest in many ways due to her special stifling, life altering circumstances, for instilling an amazingly powerful inspirational messages throughout the world. Its very hard for people to understand how a person without the powers of both sight and hearing can rise to the heights of greatness that Helen Keller was able to accomplish. Keller was born at Ivy Green in Tuscumbia, AL. Originally the Keller home was built on 640 acres in 1820. On June 27th, 1880 Keller was born a natural child with all her faculties. 19-months later, an illness left Keller deaf and blind. The now well known story of how Keller, with the strong assistance of Annie Sullivan her nurse, mentor and ultimately, her life-long friend defied adversity and became an author and an inspiration to the whole world. Helen Kellers first word uttered several years after being taught by Annie Sullivan was “water.” The City of Tuscumbia acquired the Birthplace of Helen Keller which is now situated on a 10-acre tract of land, in 1951. Helen graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904 with “teacher” by her side at all times. Helen was actively identified with The American Foundation for the Blind from 1924 until her death, June 1st 1968. Anne Sullivan Macy was Teacher and companion to Helen from 1887 until her death in 1936. After that, Polly Thompson who had been secretary since 1914 became her companion. Check out the “Miracle Worker” the play written by William Gibson. It is produced each summer on the grounds of Ivy Green. It is now the official outdoor drama of Alabama. I highly recommend you head for the the Helen Keller Festival which takes place annually the last weekend in June at Tuscumbia Spring Park and in downtown Tuscumbia. So many interesting things to see at Ivy Green such as the Gardens, the Gazebo, the Ice House, the main house, parlor, hall, dining room, cottage the Pump at which Helen learned that first word “water” is located behind the main house. Annie Sullivan wrote these later that historic night, “she has learned that everything has a name, and that the manual alphabet is the key to everything she wants to know.” Go: www.helenkellerbirthplace.org
