In celebration of the debut of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood 50 years ago, Rollins College will honor its most famous alumnus with a self-guided campus walking tour of memorabilia.

Fred McFeely Rogers majored in music composition and graduated with distinction from Rollins College in 1951. He met his wife, fellow music student Sara Joanne Byrd, at Rollins as well. He was active at the College, serving on the chapel staff and as a member of the Community Service Club, the Student Music Guild, the French Club, the Welcoming Committee, the After Chapel Club, and the Alpha Phi Lambda fraternity. He also sang in the chapel and Bach choirs. After graduating, Rogers visited Rollins College frequently over the years and spent winter vacations in Winter Park. In 1996 the McFeely-Rogers Foundation established a music scholarship at Rollins College for aspiring musicians.

“The walking tour is our way of honoring the time that Fred Rogers spent on our campus as a student and the many ways he continues to influence the Rollins College community,” said Rollins President Grant Cornwell. “His messages of self-esteem, inclusiveness, and respect still resonate clearly in our community engagement endeavors and beyond.”

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood premiered on PBS on February 19, 1968, and continues to air across the country. In 1969 Rogers spoke at a hearing before the U.S. Senate and successfully secured funding for public television. Events are planned across the country to celebrate 50 years of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, including the unveiling of a U.S. postage stamp on March 23 and a documentary starring Tom Hanks. Fred Rogers passed away from cancer in 2003.

The tour begins at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, where you will pick up your map. Other stops on the tour include Tiedtke Concert Hall where a large portrait of Fred Rogers, painted by local artist Don Sondag, hangs proudly; the stone from his hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, which was placed on the Rollins Walk of Fame in front of his old dormitory Lyman Hall; a marble plaque by Strong Hall engraved with the words that inspired him (“Life is for Service”); and Olin Library Archives, where his sweater and sneakers are housed,a collection of books, his yearbook, personal letters, and photos are on view.

The free self-guided tour begins at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Tuesday-Friday, 10 am – 4 pm. Parking is available in the SunTrust parking garage on Lyman Avenue or in available public parking areas.

Questions can be directed to the Rollins College Office of Community Relations at 407-646-1520.