Join us for the 49th Annual Historic Selma Tour of Homes!

The Selma Dallas County Historic Preservation Society (SDCHPS) is proud to showcase our beautiful city once again

Experience the remarkable resilience and creativity of Selma on this year’s Tour of Homes.  Each featured home was impacted by the January 2023 tornado and has since undergone stunning restoration. Explore their transformations while admiring unique artwork, cherished family heirlooms, and beautiful furnishings.  Many homes this year highlight the homeowner’s own artwork alongside their personal art collections, making this tour a celebration of artistry and renewal.

Beginning Friday evening, March 14, the SDCHPS will host a welcoming Gala Event at the King-Welch Mansion, formerly known as “Henderson House,” with doors opening at 6 PM. The evening will welcome award-winning photographer, Chip Cooper. Mr. Cooper dedicates his efforts to capturing and defining the essence of the South through his photography.  He is the former Director of Photography for the University of Alabama and is now Artist-in-Residence in the Honors College.  His works were published in Antique Monthly, Antiques and Fine Art Magazine, Alabama Heritage, Veranda and Southern Accents.  Some of Cooper’s photography books include:  Alabama Memories, Silent in the Land & Common Threads, Crimson the University of Alabama, Charlie the Tin Man Lucas, and Hunting the Southern Tradition. Mr. Cooper will speak at 6:30PM in the Parlor followed by refreshments, hors d’ oeuvres, and desserts.

Entertainment will be provided by the Selma Boys duo featuring Selma natives, Rick Carter and Richard Tabor.

The SDCHPS Tour continues Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM with an unforgettable journey through history, art, and restoration. Tourists may begin exploring Selma’s history at the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum, opening at 9 AM and serving as Ticket Headquarters. Visit six charming and colorful Fair Oaks Square homes, tour Byrdland Home and Gallery, marvel at the Front Porch tour and stories at the Smith-Quarles home, discover magnificent Sturdivant Hall, and view the Quilt Display at Miss Minnie Sue’s Cottage—complete with a refreshing glass of lemonade. Take a short drive out of town to The Oaks, a stately home perched on a ridge with a striking six-column front porch. Although both the house and grounds sustained significant damage during the 2023 tornado, the new owners have meticulously restored this architectural treasure to its former splendor. They are excited to welcome you and share the beauty of this historic gem.

End your day with the enchanting Cemetery Tour, starting at 4 PM, with the final tour beginning at 5:45 PM, at the historic Old Live Oak Cemetery on Dallas Avenue. Stroll along the beautiful pathways surrounded by history as some of Selma’s finest storytellers bring the past to life with captivating tales among the monuments and graves. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the stories that shaped Selma’s rich heritage! Click the photo below to download the 2025 brochure.