Helen Keller's Birthplace in Tuscumbia
Ivy Green Pays Tribute to Helen Keller and The Miracle Worker
Jun 5, 2009
Long hailed as "America's First Lady of Courage," Helen Keller remains an inspiration to thousands. Her legacy as an advocate for people with disabilities began at Ivy Green, the Keller family home. In 1820, Keller's grandfather built Ivy Green on a 640-acre tract. The completely restored two-story main house is of Virginia cottage construction and boasts about 85 percent of the original furnishings.
Helen Keller's Cottage
A tad east of the white wood house, a small office initially accommodated the plantation books. Later, a dressing room and porch were added, making it ideal quarters for the boys of the family. After Keller's father brought his bride home, the cottage was refurbished for the newlyweds. Here, Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. A normal and bright toddler, she was 19 months old when she was felled by an illness that left her deaf and blind.
Many people recognize Helen Keller's name from William Gibson's play and subsequent fillm The Miracle Worker, which marks the arrival of teacher Annie Sullivan when Helen was seven years old. The story unfolds as the two live and struggle to communicate together in the cottage. The pinnacle occurs as Sullivan becomes a "miracle worker" by taking Helen to the water pump and teaching her how to spell and sound out the word water.
That plain-looking water pump is still there in its original location between the main house and cottage, while the cottage looks much like it did when Helen and Annie lived there.
Ivy Green's Gardens
Ivy Green lives up to its name with mounds of English ivy, surrounded by 150-year-old boxwood hedges, magnolias, oaks and mimosas, accented with fragrant honeysuckle and a rainbow of roses. In addition to the main house and cottage, visitors can see the outdoor kitchen, herb gardens, carriage house and gift shop. Strolling through the Lion's International Memorial Gardens gives an idea of how many lives Helen touched. Here are many gifts bestowed upon her from countries around the world.
Inside the main house, the museum room displays Helen's Braille books and typewriter, hundreds of personal mementos, books, gifts, photos, letters and other Keller family memorabilia, including items from Alexander Graham bell. Bell became a big part of Helen's life and remained so until he died. She even dedicated her autobiography to Bell who was responsible for choosing Annie Sullivan from the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston as Helen's teacher.
The Miracle Worker
At the back of the house, the outdoor theater is where the award-winning drama The Miracle Worker has been performed every summer for more than 40 years. Featuring authentic costumes and sets, productions usually run from early June to mid-July on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The annual Helen Keller Festival-near her birthday in late June-includes a parade, musical entertainment, juried art show, vintage car exhibit, food vendors, children's activities and various sports events.
Of course, Helen Keller's life did not stop at the water pump. With an IQ of 160, she went on to graduate from Radcliffe, learned several languages, wrote 13 books, helped standardize Braille, gave hundreds of lectures and organized committees to aid the disabled. Beginning with Grover Cleveland, she met every US President until her death in 1968.
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