FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Wendi Lewis, Marketing and Public Relations Manager  

wendi.lewis@ahc.alabama.gov, 334-230-2680

September 23, 2021

Cemetery Walking Tour at Old Cahawba set for Oct. 2

(Montgomery, AL) Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, a historic site operated by The Alabama Historical Commission, will be hosting a Cemetery Walking Tour on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

The mysterious antiquity of Old Cahawba’s cemeteries reveals the richly layered history surrounding this celebrated ghost town. The one-hour guided tour of the New Cemetery, established in 1851, will explore the personal accounts of some of those who lived here before joining its community of perpetual residents.

Personal sagas will include William Curtis, patriarch of a prominent family who was the first documented case of temporary insanity in the state, and Augustus Hatcher Jackson, whose dreams for his future were brought to an abrupt end by the Civil War. Participants will learn why his grave is marked by two stones.

Tickets are $8 each and available at the Old Cahawba Visitor Center. The tour is allotted for a maximum of 15 participants. Interested parties are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance of the event. Tickets may be purchased by calling 334-872-8058. Old Cahawba accepts all major credit cards. On the day of the event, participants will meet at the Visitor Center, rain or shine.

Old Cahawba lies at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers, and from 1819 to 1826 it served as Alabama’s first capital. From downtown Selma, take Highway 22 (Dallas Avenue) west 8.6 miles. Cross over the Cahaba River and turn left onto County Road 9 and follow this 3.3 miles until it dead ends. Turn left onto County Road 2 and follow this 1.5 miles until you see the Visitor Center on the right. Visitor Center Address: 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville, AL 36767.

To learn more about Old Cahawba, or the Alabama Historical Commission, please visit www.ahc.alabama.gov.

About Old Cahawba

Old Cahawba lies at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers, and from 1819 to 1826 it served as Alabama’s first capital. Today, the Alabama Historical Commission owns and operates this significant archaeological site.

About the Alabama Historical Commission

Located in historic downtown Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission is the state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to protect, preserve and interpret Alabama’s historic places. AHC works to accomplish its mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and promotion of state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and, statewide programs to assist people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation activities. For a complete list of programs and properties owned and operated by the AHC, hours of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov  

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