Learn about Henderson’s history during the city’s Heritage Parade and Festival

In conjunction with the Henderson Heritage Parade and Festival, the city of Henderson is launching a self-guided Water Street Historic Walking Tour, which highlights Water Street throughout the years.

"The tour is written like a story," said Tiffany Reardon, project manager. "It is like you're taking a walk down memory lane. You're right there back in the beginning."

Starting Saturday, those interested in the tour can pick up information packets at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

According to Jason Rogers, a member of the Henderson Historical Society, members of the society and the city's redevelopment agency had been brainstorming ideas for more than a year.

"We wanted to be able to tie in the historically rich aspects of downtown with the small-town core values of the 1950s," Rogers said.

To showcase each core value, the agency broke up the tour into several stops, including recreation, patriotism, family and home, industry, business, government and education.

"Each spot brings back a uniqueness of downtown," Rogers said. "I am very appreciative of all aspects of the tour."

The tour is about a mile long and begins with background on Henderson and the development of Water Street during World War II.

While walking, the guide packet provides background on the designated area people are walking through and shows photos of which buildings used to be around compared with what is there today.

Rogers estimated that it will take people about 35 minutes to finish the tour.

The tour serves as a reminder to Henderson residents of how far the town has come since its inception, Rogers said.

"So the people and officials who might one day be running the city can see where we came from and use that as guidance," Rogers said.

Rogers said this is just phase one of what the project is supposed to be.

"It is our goal one day to have a functional, interactive monument," Rogers said.

Rogers said a second phase of the project could feature actual monuments that would reflect moments throughout Water Street's history.

"That just depends on funding," Rogers added.

In the meantime, people can enjoy the first phase of the tour along and other activities at the Heritage Parade and Festival, which is Saturday at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St.

The festivities are expected to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday with the mayor's breakfast, where Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen and members of the City Council serve breakfast on the convention center lawn.

The Henderson Heritage Parade is slated to begin at 10 a.m., traveling down Water Street from Ocean Avenue to Victory Road. The parade's theme is expected to be "Magnesium to Magnificent."

At 11 a.m., the Heritage Festival is slated to begin. Along with food vendors representing countries such as Korea, Mexico, India, China, Italy, Germany, Malaysia, Peru, Hawaii and Ireland, entertainment from various cultures ranging from hula and Polynesian dance to Moroccan and Spanish music is planned.

A classic car show is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. on Water Street between Basic Road and Atlantic Avenue.

After the festival, anyone still interested in the self-guided tour can pick up a map from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Henderson Convention Center. A downloadable version of the tour also is available at waterstreetdistrict.com.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.