Delray Beach Historic Bus Tours April 23, 2010

The Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach are conducted by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History on the fourth Saturday of each month at 11am. The tours are a two-hour excursion that also includes history information about the Seminole Native American, African American, Bahamian, German and other White European settlers to Delray Beach, Florida. All tours also journey through about five historic districts and areas such as Bankers Row and Frog Alley. There are now a total of 10 historic sites that are alternately visited on a rotating schedule as a part of the bus tour experience. In addition to these tours being conducted on the fourth Saturday of each month, the tours are also available for private group tours and children school groups Since the inception of the monthly Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray in year 2004, the tours still have an annual economic impact in the City of Delray Beach, Florida. According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity guidelines provided by the Americans for the Arts organization, the economic impact of these history tours translates into dollars for the local community. Through documentation and demographic information obtained about the bus tours passengers, many them have chosen hotel stays in Delray Beach because of the bus tours, they eat and dine at local restaurants and patronize some of the stores. Some of those hotel stays have included the Colony Hotel, Marriott Hotel and Wright by the Sea. Some of the restaurants patronized are the Cookbook Cafe at the Delray Beach Library, City Oyster, Cafe Veri Amici, Dolce Amore, Donnies Place, and the Sundy House, to name a few. Since year 2004 when the monthly tours were introduced, there have been close to 5,000 passengers hosted on the tour. One of the historic sites that is visited for each tour is the 1936 Sandoway House which has seen an increase of visitation because of these tours. Also, many of the visitors from the Museums tours also purchase items in the Gift Shop at the Sandoway House which is another example of the economic benefits of Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach. NEW RATES effective January 2010 Due to the present economy which has effected sponsorships for the tour, effective January 2010, the new rates for the monthly bus tours are $15 per person for adults/senior citizens and free for children under age 18 (maximum five children free per family). Private group tours are also available. In order to guarantee a seat, pre-paid reservations made in advance of the tour date, are highly recommended. Payment is required for reservations. Seating is general. Reservations can be made with payment by phone or by mail. For information, call 561-243-2662 or send an e-mail: [email protected]. Also, visit the Museums website at www.DelrayBeachBusTours.org. Checks payable to the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History can be mailed to P.O. Box 6127; Delray Beach, FL 33482 To make cash or check payments in-person, on-site (must be no later than 24-hours prior to day of tour) visit the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History's facility at the Boynton Beach Mall in Boynton Beach, FL (near Sears) at 801 N. Congress Avenue. The check-in/boarding and parking location for the tours are at the new Downtown Delray Beach Public Library which is located at 100 W. Atlantic Avenue(do NOT send bus tour payments to this address). The Delray Beach Public Library began in 1913 by the Ladies Improvement Association and its history is incorporated as a part of the tour experience. The Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach have been voted for a second time, as the 2008 Best Tour of The Town by Gulfstream Media Group who are publishers of Boca Life Magazine, The Palm Beacher Magazine and Gold Coast Magazine. The first recognition from the Gulfstream Media Group for the Museums bus tours as being the Best was in year 2006. Some of the other prestigious national accolades that the Museums bus tour program has received include being rated the Best by the AAA Magazine Mid-America Home & Away edition (distributed from Ohio to Alaska); Guest Informant Magazine-Gold Coast edition; the Palm Beach Post, Sun-Sentinel, the Boca News and the Delray Forum, to name a few. The Museums bus tours also received an A+ rating by the San Antonio Press newspaper of San Antonio, Texas in a December 24, 2007 travel column. Year 2010 Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach, Florida. Fourth Saturday Dates (please arrive no later than 10:45am) Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11am Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 11am Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 11am Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 11am Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11am Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 11am Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 11am Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 11am Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 11am Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 11am Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 11am Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 11am (3rd Saturday due to Christmas being on the 4th Saturday in December) Some of the historic sites that are visited on a rotating schedule include the following: (Year denotes the year their 1st building was erected)1926 Colony Hotel 1936 Sandoway House 1950s Priscilla Hotel 1896 Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church 1897 St. Paul AME Church 1903 Cason Methodist Church 1904 (July) Trinity Lutheran Church 1904 (August) St. Paul's Episcopal Church 1911 St. Matthews Episcopal Church (current building used was built in 1929)1924 First Presbyterian Church