Any Room at the Inn?
This is a multi-stage puzzle which will take you to two of Tuscaloosa’s historical sites.
Stage One begins at a classic Greek revival mansion built in 1834 by James Dearing, a steamboat captain and member of the Alabama Legislature. The mansion was sold in 1838 to Arthur Bagby, who served as governor of Alabama for three years during the 20-year period that Tuscaloosa was the state capital. Thus, it became known as the Governor’s Mansion.
STAGE ONE - The cache is not hidden at the following posted coordinates of: N 33º 12.731, W 87º 33.622.
At the historical marker located at the posted coordinates, use the following clues to find the location for the next stage of the puzzle. You are solving for A, B, C, and D in the coordinates N 33o 12.AB6, W 87o 34.CD6 by using the following clues:
A = On the historical marker, the last digit of the year the house was built.
B = Number of columns on the front of the house, plus 3.
C = Last digit of the year the house was presented to the University of Alabama.
D = Number of words on the last line of major text on the historical marker.
Based on the clue values, go to the indicated new coordinates to solve the next set of clues.
STAGE TWO - You’re now standing outside one of Tuscaloosa’s outstanding museums, which was built by William Dunton in 1827 as a tavern and hotel on the stagecoach route that passed through Tuscaloosa. It served as the temporary home and meeting place of governors, legislators, and countless people traveling to the city. The museum is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 1:30 until 2:30. Admission is free and there is ample free parking.
The organization which manages the museum has given written permission for this property to be used in this puzzle.
At the new location, you are solving for A, B, C, and D in the coordinates N 33o 12.AB7, W 87o 34.CD3 by using the following clues to locate the hidden cache:
A = Last digit of the year the structure was moved to its present location, minus 2.
B = Sum of the four digits of the year in which the structure was built, minus 9.
C = Number of windows along the upstairs balcony.
D = Number of letters in the name of the street of the structure’s original location, minus 1.
Please sign and date the logbook. Please do not leave the cache on the ground; instead, leave it in its elevated hiding place.