Helen Keller's Birthplace and Home

Known as Ivy Green, Helen Keller's birthplace and childhood home is visited by tourists from around the world who come to see the home, gardens and museum of America's first lady of courage. The home was built in 1820 on the family's estate by her grandfather David Keller. The family continued to live in the home, conduct a farm, and welcome Helen into the world on June 27, 1880. Helen became both blind and deaf following an illness when she was 18 months old. Annie Sullivan came to Tuscumbia from Boston to be her teacher when Helen was age 7. Sullivan took her back to the Perkins Institute for the Deaf and Blind where she was attended. Throughout Miss Keller's life, she was an advocate for the blind and deaf-blind and led the Lions Club in their mission for sight. The home contains original furnishings from the Keller family as well as many items and artifacts from Helen Keller's life. The interior of the main house, the birthplace cottage, the kitchen located behind the main house, plus the beautifully kept gardens are included on the tour, as is a stop at the famous well pump where Helen Keller first learned to speak her first word, w-a-t-e-r. While there, visit the side yard where gifts from around the world are displayed. You can listen to a recorded speech that Helen gave to the Lion's Club as she asked for their help in teaching the blind and deaf. Tour time is about 1-1.5 hours.