Journey of Love

HelenKeller's birthplace

The price of admission (then fifty cents), an Alabama English teacher's challenge to students and a ticket stub to be shown as proof that the assignment had been completed led to a 52 year journey of love at the Helen Keller Museum.

Executive Director Sue Pilkilton stands by a statue of Helen Keller at the museum.

Sue Pilkilton is currently the Executive Director of the Helen Keller Museum in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Her interest in the museum began as a student when the class was studying"The Miracle Worker." In a recent interview, she recalled , "the teacher told us if we visited the Helen Keller birthplace and bring back your ticket stub, I'll give you an extra 100 points." Describing the instructor as "a very hard English teacher," whom she wanted to please,. Pilkilton went to tour the home adding that she didn't even know if she needed those extra hundred points but "I fell in love - it was just like a spirit, it was soothing- I fell in love with it (the birthplace) and the story."

That summer brought on another surprise. Pilkilton's father, who was a friend of the city clerk was asked at that time if his daughter might be interested in a summer job. According to Pilkilton says when her father told her the job at the opportunity would be at the Helen Keller Museum gift shop. Pilkilton's reaction was one of joy, "Oh my goodness, I thought I hit the lottery or Christmas had come early. I was so excited!"

One thing led to another and her gift shop job led to her becoming a docent, later an Administrative Assistant and in 1981 she became the Executive Director of the Helen Keller birthplace and museum.

Pilkilton is also proud to be part of a board that continues to share Helen Keller's Legacy. In Helen Keller's words, " Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."

This is done in many ways at Helen Keller's birthplace (Ivy Green) and museum. Beyond the tours and the gift shop years there has been an addition called " Camp Courage."

Although Covid -19 shut down the camp for 2 years, 2022 was the year they were able to bring it back. Admitting that she could not put on all the events at Camp Courage by herself, she credits so many who have helped her out throughout the years from the board,to volunteers, to businnesses and the University of North Alabama.

Mary Carton is a volunteer photographer and provided some photos of the return or Camp Courage, 2022.

Campers and University of North Alabama students gather together at the Camp Courage cabin.

According to Pilkilton, Camp Courage started in 2013 and "This camp is totally FREE to Campers and Parents-They stay in the hotel with the campers but campers are without parents during the day! We offer the parents a seminar on Friday morning, lunch, and then we give them tickets to all of the attractions to enjoy while we are with the Campers. (2) We had 12 campers this year and parents UNA(University of North Alabama)-students (8) We had 6 deaf blind-4 2-blind/deaf(4) We send information to schools and they sent to parents (5) The Camp is open to all States-This year we had them from AL (Alabama), TN (Tennessee), Ms (Mississippi), GA (Georgia)."

As Carton continues her connection with Pilkilton and photographs the variety of events put on during the stay at the camp, she doesn't consider the children as having any handicap at all. Instead, what she sees year after year is that,"The campers are just amazing. The University of North Alabama students do a wonderful job one on one with the campers. They have as much fun as the campers and I think it's a great learning experience for them. I watch the campers go from a shy child on the first day to outgoing and are saddened to see Camp Courage come to an end."

Included in the campers events are a play (Scene from The Miracle worker, parties, cake decorating, a luau, dancing, a trip to a farm an Easter egg hung and an awards ceremony are just a few of the events.

Camp Courage begins with a scene from 'The Miracle Worker' in which Annie Sullivan arrives at Helen's home and meets Helen for the first time.

Another scene from The Miracle Worker in which Helen learns the word water as Annie Sullivan looks on.

Campers get busy decorating their cupcakes

Dancing at Luau

Throughout this museum, touching is allowed.

Prehistoric Mound

Easter Egg Hunt

For more information on Camp Courage and or the upcoming Helen Keller Festival

(June 23-26th) featuring the group Jefferson Starship, contact the Helen Keller Museum

and Birthplace in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

300 North Commons Street, West Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674 Tel. (256) 383-4066