Selma’s first Pilgrimage was in 1976, a highlight in the celebration of America’s

Bicentennial Year. Even then it seemed strange that this town, rich in architectural styles and historic buildings, steeped in tradition and enthusiastically aware of its deep-south heritage, should be a Johnny-come-lately to the world of Pilgrimage.

Upon reflection, however, one understands that here in the Black Belt, we did not recognize the aesthetic and material value of our old houses and structures until long after World War II, in keeping with numerous other communities in the South. As we were growing up in old houses, most of us never gave a thought to the high ceilings, decorative woodwork, Christian doors of solid wood, beaded paneling and plastered walls common to them.

The chairs we sat on, the beds on which we slept, the chests in which we kept our clothing, the tables we set at mealtime were just furniture mostly handed down from our grandmothers. We grew up in the post-World War I and Great Depression days when there was no money for new furniture and long, low ranch-style dwellings.

I, along with others of my generation am fond of saying that poverty saved Selma’s historic riverfront, its downtown buildings and most of its old houses. There is truth in that statement. We had no choice in the matter then, but we have now.

And that is the reason our local Pilgrimage began, to create an awareness of the beauty of our homes and to use that awareness to garner those nice, clean and green tourism dollars.

From the 10 houses deemed worthy of inclusion in the Historic Preservation Society’s first Pilgrimage, the number has grown almost unbelievably.

This year, the package ticket offered tours of four houses, three museums, Kenan’s Mill, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Performing Arts Center, Heritage Village, an antique car show, a grist mill, an art show, an antique car show, an antiques show,

an evening in a handsome neo-classical mansion and a ghost tour of a National Trust cemetery, where

a Pilgrimage feature added a few years previously as a “plus” has become one of the most popular and crowd-pleasing events.

The old Live Oak tours began at twilight on Friday and Saturday in one of the South’s most beautiful and historic cemeteries. Presentations of those honored brought laughter, tears and awareness that these were truly “our people.”

The recent 40th Anniversary Bridge Crossing Jubilee, the 30th annual Historic Selma Pilgrimage, the soon to be presented Reenactment of the Battle of Selma are only a few of the continuing events that attract visitors to Selma, where those nice clean and green tourist dollars add to our economy.

For those of you who have not yet participated in Pilgrimage, there is still time. Hours today are from 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.