Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley will offer free history walking tours throughout April. These tours will guide residents and visitors through the city's downtown historic district, showcasing over 100 years of local history. Stops include a historic train depot and the site of Baldwin County's very first hospital.

The walks will be held on April 4, 11, 18, and 25. Each tour starts at 10 a.m. at the Foley Welcome Center, located at the intersection of Alabama 59 and U.S. 98. Tours last about an hour and cover roughly five city blocks. There is no charge to participate.

Local community members will lead the walks each week. The Foley tours are part of a larger series organized by the Alabama Department of Tourism. More than 30 Alabama communities will participate this year. Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold simultaneous statewide walking tours.

The starting point for the Foley tours has a rich history of its own. The Welcome Center building was the Foley Public Library from 1927 to 1984. It was expanded and remodeled in 1962. Later, the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce used it before it became the city's Welcome Center in 2013.

The L&N Railroad Depot is located just next to the Welcome Center. It was constructed in 1909 to replace an earlier station from 1905 that had burned down in 1908. For over 60 years, the depot served as a busy hub of commerce and travel in South Baldwin County. The restored depot now functions as a city museum. It is a main stop on the tour and offers visitors a close-up view of the city's early development and trade along the railroad.

The tours will also pass by several other historic landmarks in the downtown area. These include Centennial Plaza, the Holk Building, the Magnolia Hotel, and the Foley Hotel building. Walkers will also see the Foley Bakery building and the Holmes Medical Museum.

The Holmes Medical Museum is located on the site of Baldwin County's first hospital. It offers visitors a glimpse into what healthcare was like in the region during the early 1900s. It is among several stops that highlight how much Foley has grown and evolved over the past century.

The tours are free and open to anyone who wants to attend. No registration is required to take part. People who want additional information about the Foley walking tours can call 251-943-1200.