Downtown walking tours begin Saturday
Published 10:57 am Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Special tours highlighting the historical significance of downtown will be held during the month of April with the first slated for Saturday morning.
The Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Alabama Tourism Department, is joining cities across the state in highlighting their downtowns through these walking tours. The tours will be held each Saturday of April except for April 9 when the city hosts Rooster Day activities.
Those who wish to participate in the tours are asked to meet in front of Rooster Hall at 10 a.m. While walk-ups are welcome, chamber officials said participants might to call their office at 289-0270 to let them know they will attend.
“We will provide water and laminated maps of what downtown looked like in the 1940s. Those on the tour will can follow along,” said DACC Executive Director Ashley Coplin.
Coplin said while each of the tours planned during April will focus on some of the same areas and structures, different guides would offer something different each time.
“We try to share stories from people who have lived here a long time, which makes it more personal. Different people offer different perspectives,” Coplin said.
Among the highlights of the tour is the history of Rooster Hall and City Hall, the Rosenbush Building that is now home to the Marengo County Historical and Archive Museum, Robertson Bank, and the Mustard Seed.
Demopolis hosted the walking tours last spring, but Coplin encourages last year’s participants to come again.
“We welcome anyone who has participated before or who may know interesting things about our downtown to join us and share their stories,” she said.
There is no charge to participate in the walking tours.