Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
On Friday, January 19, 2024, the Bankhead House & Heritage Center hosted a reception to launch its newest exhibit celebrating Walker County’s bicentennial. Guests enjoyed refreshments while mingling with other locals while learning about the county’s rich history throughout the decades.
This exhibit is a culmination of the efforts put forth by citizens of Walker County and Exhibition Committee members dedicated to preserving Walker County’s successes, challenges, and livelihood. With displays ranging from a woman’s ‘widow’s weeds’ mourning dress to photos of the years past Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, this new exhibit shows that each person’s life experiences, both great and small, have led Walker County to its current state of thriving businesses, unique individuals, and overall sense of community.
“We borrow items from the community to make our exhibits possible, so our mission is to involve as many people as we can. I’m always surprised by what people have in their homes and offer to us to use; we’ve been very lucky through our volunteers and resources to find items to display,” said Mimi Hudson, Executive Director of the Bankhead House and Heritage Center.
There is something to interest everyone, with displays featuring vintage textiles, fashion, mining equipment, railroad history, Indian artifacts, sports, and tales of unique individuals from Walker County’s earlier years. The exhibit committee put forth effort to seek out these items and build an exhibit that truly captures Walker County over the last 200 hundred years.
Paul Kennedy, President of the Walker Area Community Foundation, spoke to commemorate the exhibit’s launch and announce current projects to preserve the county’s history.
“This is the Walker Area Community Foundation and Bankhead House & Heritage Center’s homage to the 200th birthday of Walker County. We want to thank the Exhibition Committee – Carl Goforth, Brenda Beard, Pat & Helen Morrison – as well as Barbara Medders and Mimi Hudson,” says Kennedy. “I think they have accomplished a great celebration of Walker County’s bicentennial with some neat artifacts and exhibition materials, but this exhibition is just the beginning of the story.”
Kennedy announced the Walker County Commission’s efforts to celebrate Cordova’s bicentennial and the United States of America’s 250th birthday through some projects upcoming in 2024.
This special Walker County Bicentennial exhibit will run until July 26th, 2024. Be sure to stop by the Bankhead House & Heritage Center and seize the chance to celebrate Walker County’s bicentennial by taking a walk through its history. WL
Admission to the exhibit is free.
Group and School Tours: Please call ahead to schedule an appointment.
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | The third Saturday of each month 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
800 7th Street West
Jasper, AL 35501
(205) 265-2023
www.BHandHC.org
