At a plain, black Tuscumbia. At the tender age of 19 months, she was well pump in the small stricken with a severe illness which left her blind southern town of and deaf. Tuscumbia, Alabama, At the age of six, the half-wild, deaf and blind girl one of the world’s great was taken by her parents to see Dr. Alexander Graham miracles took place. It Bell. Because of this visit, Helen was united with her teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan on March 3, 1887. began one bright, spring After Helen’s miraculous breakthrough at the simple day in 1887. Puffy white well pump, she proved so gifted that she soon learned clouds floated overhead the finger-tip alphabet and shortly afterward to write. on a background of blue, In 1954, through the efforts of the Foundation Board By the end of August, in six short months, she knew while birds fluttered and the State of Alabama, Ivy Green was made a permanent shrine and 625 words. through oaks and maples and flowers burst forth from placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ivy Green is located By age 10, Helen had mastered Braille as well as the fertile soil in an array of colors - all unheard and the manual two miles off U.S. Hwys. 72 and 43 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. unseen by a pretty girl of seven. alphabet and • NASHVILLE Standing at the side of the totally blind and deaf even learned Hours MEMPHIS 129 mi. Monday-Saturday • 149 mi. to use the •HUNTSVILLE Helen Keller was a young woman, . 69 mi. typewriter. 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. • Miss Sullivan was steadily pumping cool water into TUSCUMBIA ATLANTA School groups welcome • 259 mi. By the time BIRMINGHAM one of the girl’s hands while repeatedly tapping out an • 112 mi. she was 16, Closed most holidays JACKSON alphabet code of five letters in the other - first slowly, 276 mi. Helen could then rapidly. The scene was repeated again and again as ADMISSION TO TO TO speak well Small admission MEMPHIS NASHVILLE CHATTANOOGA the young Helen painstakingly struggled to break her enough to go charged. Discounts Florence • 72 72 world of silence. to preparatory given for seniors and ALT • 59 TUSCUMBIA 20 72 Huntsville Suddenly the signals crossed Helen’s consciousness military personnel. Decatur• school and Group rates available with a meaning. She knew that “w-a-t-e-r” meant college. In 157 65 for 20 or more. Please visit •Cullman the cool something flowing over her hand. Darkness 1904, she was graduated ‘cum laude’ from Radcliffe our website for rates and began to melt from College. The teacher stayed with her through those updates. 20 TO ATLANTA her mind like so much years, interpreting lectures and class discussions to her. 59 •Birmingham GPS Coordinate 20 ice left out on that Helen Keller, the little girl, became one of 34° 44’ 16.86”N •Tuscaloosa sunny March day. By history’s remarkable women. She dedicated her life to 87° 42’ 22.42”W 85 nightfall, Helen had improving the conditions of the blind and deafblind • Montgomery around the world, lecturing in more than 25 countries learned 30 words. CONTACT on the five major continents. Wherever she appeared, 65 Helen Adams Helen Keller Birthplace 231 she brought new courage to millions of blind people. 300 North Commons, W. Keller was born a Her teacher, Anne Sullivan is remembered as “the Tuscumbia, AL 35674 healthy child on June Miracle Worker” for her lifetime dedication, patience (256) 383-4066 • Mobile 27, 1880, to Captain and love to a half-wild, southern child trapped in a helenkellerbirthplace.org Arthur H. and Kate world of darkness.

Alabama.travel Adams Keller of Cover Photo © 1948 Yousuf Karsh

Printed in U.S.A. 12-15/150M Located on a 640-acre tract in historic Tuscumbia, Ivy Green was built in 1820 (one Performed on an outdoor year after Alabama stage at Ivy Green, weekends in June through mid-July. A became a state) by nationally recognized production with authentic sets and David and Mary costumes. (256) 383-4066, or Fairfax Moore helenkellerbirthplace.org The homes and museum rooms are decorated Keller, grandparents with much of the original furniture of the Keller of Helen Keller. Ivy Green was placed on the National Register of family. Each is highlighted by hundreds of Miss The simple, white Historic Places. Keller’s personal mementos, books and gifts from clapboard home The main house is of Virginia cottage construction, is designed in her lifetime of travel and lectures in 25 countries for with four large rooms on the first floor bisected by a Four days of events typical Southern wide hall. Each room boasts an individual fireplace. the betterment of the world’s blind and deafblind. held in Tuscumbia to commemorate architecture. Having survived untouched through the Upstairs are three rooms connected by a hall. Of particular note is her the lifetime of ravages of the Civil War, Ivy Green is maintained to the town’s world The old “whistle path” carries the visitor to the complete library of Braille renowned native, the smallest detail in its original outdoor kitchen from the main home. Sprinkled books and her original Braille Helen Keller. The celebration includes a parade, stage entertainment, a fine art and state. Particular pride is taken around the estate are the Lion’s Club International typewriter. craft show, tours of historic sites, athletic events and more. Free admission. in the estate’s surrounding Memorial Fountain, the “Clearing” and herb gardens, The actual well pump www.helenkellerfestival.com buildings, well manicured the ice house and gift shop. where Helen’s spirit was set landscape and colorful Helen Keller’s birthplace cottage is situated east of free remains in its original In 2003, the Alabama state Quarter gardens. the main house and consists of a large room with a location, between the main was the 22nd to be released in the Since 1954, Helen lovely bay window and play room. Originally, the small U.S. Mint’s 50 State Quarters™ house and the birthplace Program. The design centers Keller’s birthplace has “annex” was an office for keeping the plantation books. around the slogan “Spirit of cottage. The entire estate is nestled under a cooling Courage” and features Helen Keller been a permanent After the death of his first wife in 1877, Captain reading a book in Braille. Keller’s name canopy of English boxwood (over 150 years old), shrine to the “miracle” Arthur H. Keller remarried and brought his wife, Kate is also reproduced in Braille. She is framed by Southern Longleaf Pine branches (Alabama’s magnolia, mimosa, and other trees, accented by roses, that occurred in Adams, home to Ivy Green. At that time, the office official state tree) and Camellias (Alabama’s official state flower). a blind and deaf, had been refurnished and fitted for them as a bridal honeysuckle, smilax and an abundance of English Ivy seven-year-old girl’s suite. Later, the cottage would serve as living quarters (for which the estate receives its name). life. At that time for Helen and her teacher, Anne Sullivan.