~The Grounds~

Seeing the grounds of Helen Keller's birthplace was so neat!  I can't imagine this little girl running around and not being able to see all that I saw in just moments. 

The actual water pump where Helen learned her first word, w-a-t-e-r.

The cooks room and kitchen. 

The cooks room.

This is the ice house.  They would bring in chunks of ice and keep it cool by covering it with saw dust.

This is inside where they stored the ice.

This is the backside of the place where Helen Keller was actually born.

Inside the house.

The actual bed Helen was born in and the cradle they put her in.  Helen's grandparents lived in the main house.  Her parents stayed in this home to have some privacy and that is why she was born in this house.

My sweet girls posing.

The side view of the cooks house.

The dinner bell.

The Lion's Club was moved by Helen Keller and have donated many things to this place in honor or her.

Annie would place Helen up in this tree while she would teach her.  One day Helen could smell a storm coming.  I'm not sure if she got stuck during the storm or if someone came and got her..  The story was a little confusing.   The know the tree is at least 200 years old.  Can you imagine where the branches would have been when she was climbing around in the tree.

I had so much fun reading and learning as much as I could about Helen Keller and her life.  I'm anxious to read even more.  She inspires to me work harder, especially with my kids.  She was a fascinating woman and I'm so thankful we had the opportunity to visit her birthplace.

~Helen Keller's Birthplace~

I was thrilled to be able to go see Helen Keller's birthday place in Tuscumbia Alabama.  We were in Muscle Shoals for a church conference, which is only about 10 minutes away, so we have been reading about Helen this week and then went to visit this special place.

Her home.

The house to the left, is where she was actually born, which is next door to the main house.  She also stayed there with Anne Sullivan for a few weeks in order for her teacher to keep her away from her families influence so that she could get her under control.  The tree and the area of grass circled by the bushes is what they called Helen's play pen.

The trunk room.

The trunk room.

Daddy is pulling Grace back through the bars she managed to squeeze through and actually run around inside Helen's room.

Helen and Annie's room upstairs in the main house.  This is actually the desk she used and a religious book in braille that is sitting on top of the desk.

Helen and Annie's room in the main house.

Helen and Annie's room in the main house.

The family room.

These picture are Helen's great great grandparents who came from England.

The family room.

The family room.

The dining room.

A picture signed by Helen, Anne Sullivan and Polly.

The boot closet.  The men would come in and leave their dirty boots in this closet until they were cleaned or until they left the house.

This was their actual China.

This was their actual silver and it is the oldest thing in the house.  It dates over 200 years old and was brought over from England.

A record of baptisms. Helen Keller's name is underlined along with her parent's name, her birth date and the day she was baptized, July 20, 1881

Helen's father's binder that was used in his printing business for the Tuscumbian Tribune in 1870.

The Presbyterian Church where Helen Keller was baptized and her family worshiped.  The building was built in 18 27 out of hand made brick.  It is considered the oldest house of worship in continuous service in Alabama.  The original slave gallery is still there, which is now used as a balcony. 

 

This was the last thing Helen wrote at her last visit to her birth place.

~Grace in all her Glory~

Grace is truly indescribable.  She is feisty, loud, strong, passionate, determined, crazy, daring, fearless....all wrapped up with so much love.