Helen Keller’s Birthplace, Ivy Green, Tuscumbia, Alabama/ The Miracle Worker

Helen was born here in 1880, in her family home built by her grandfather, David Keller. It originally had over 300 acres. She contracted what most doctors now think was Scarlet Fever when she was 19 months old. It left her blind and deaf. Family urged the Kellers to place Helen in an institution, as was the customary practice in that day. They never did. Helen was indulged and some would say, spoiled.
It was with the help of inventor Alexander Graham Bell and others from the Boston Perkins School for the blind that Anne Sullivan came into Helen’s life, and she never left.
This where it all happened- Ivy Green. It sits on what is left of the original property-ten acres, in Tuscumbia. Alabama. Most of the furnishings are original, as well as Helen’s clothing and personal objects. Also original is the water pump, where a miracle happened- Anne was able to make a breakthrough with Helen by signing “WATER” into Anne’s hand while pumping water into her other hand.
Please visit the birthplace if you are in the area! The tour guides are amazing! It’s located at 300 Commons St. W, Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674. They are open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 am to 4 pm.

[@lolamedley8172]

This is such a lovely video! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@RagtopHistorian]

Thanks so much! Her story is so inspiring!

[@LeanneGirbav]

Great video! You definitely have a new subscriber😊Hard to find videos like this that are informative yet right to the point. Much appreciated!

[@RagtopHistorian]

Thank you so very much for the kind comment and for subscribing! I am so happy you enjoyed it!

[@maryg.249]

What a lovely place to visit. For some reason I always thought Helen was from the state of PA or NY! Ha showing my ignorance! Thank you for bringing us along on your adventure. I always love them. You do an excellent job. Mary

[@RagtopHistorian]

Thanks, as always, Mary! She travelled so much as she grew older and she spent most of her time away from Alabama, but she did comeback to Ivy Green. One fact I didn’t include in the video was that some of her family, I think it was a niece, lived at Ivy Green until the 1960’s.

[@maryg.249]

@@RagtopHistorian wow that is so cool to think that some of the family still lived there.

[@RagtopHistorian]

Most everything in the hime and the cottage are original! It’s wonderfully preserved.

[@perijetton9275]

Real near Muscle Shoals. So much history in that area.

[@RagtopHistorian]

So much! We loved exploring there! The heat was pretty bad, but we still enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!