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70-Minute Guided Downtown Eureka Springs Walking Tour

70-Minute Guided Downtown Eureka Springs Walking Tour

Overview

The tour offers a chance to learn about the history of Downtown Eureka Springs - starting before the founding of the town, the people who have made history downtown, and the unique geography of three underground systems - caves and cliffs, the Mud Street rebuild, and the creek that runs under it all.

Walking through the entertainment and shopping district, you get a feel for life as it was, the art district it is now, and see the hidden treasures throughout. Told in stories and vignettes along the way, the tour is a treat for all ages.

You visit an intact underground storefront covered over in the making of the Underground. This is only open to visitors to our tour. This is not an adventure tour. The underground systems are explained, but only the underground storefront is visited.

City: Eureka Springs

Tue 24 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $17.50

Make a reservation

Tue 24 Dec

Starting at $17.50

Make a reservation

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What's Included

A researched historical tour featuring the cultural and geographic information of Downtown

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Guides required to regularly wash hands

What To Expect

Eureka Springs Historical Downtown

Discover the Behind the Scenes Secrets of Eureka Springs! Our underground Eureka Springs Tour will deliver a unique and entertaining view into the history and folklore of the most fascinating city in Arkansas. Dig deep into the origins of the magic healing waters and the sacred Indian springs. Learn about constructing the unique civil engineering miracle and the boomtown that defined us towards the end of the 19th Century. You will learn about many of the colorful characters that passed through Eureka Springs, including the famous temperance campaigner Carrie Nation, good and bad doctors like Alva Jackson and Norman Baker, the Starr gang bank robbers, and so on much more. Wear good walking shoes as you travel up and down through history, exploring all the quirky and creative nooks that make Eureka Springs so charming. This is your chance to see Eureka Springs in a way that even local residents haven't noticed and your only opportunity to explore underground at the famous bathhouse.

Basin Spring Park

Guests will walk above the Park to see the original location of the Basin Park Spring that was used for healing during the 1880's. They will also see where the Spring is now in the basin of the Park.

Eureka Springs Historical Downtown

Guests will walk up to the Flatiron Building and learn about the history of this iconic (and most photographed) location and the trick about it. Following that they walk up to where the first bank robbery using a vehicle was committed, stories about the three fires, and the history of the Prohibition Era in Downtown Eureka Springs. Venturing further down a secret set of steps that is also a platted street they learn about Carrie Nation who gave her last temperance speech before passing away in Kansas.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (92)

Traveler86753099990

Jul 2021

I highly recommend this tour! Leslie was so knowledgeable about the history, she was very funny and engaging, and she gave great recommendations for dinner at the end! Throughout the tour, Leslie pointed out a lot of free things to do. Although we didn’t have kids in our family group, we noticed the other kids on tour really enjoying it. Leslie joked with them and made things easy for them to understand. We loved learning about so many quirky characters from Eureka’s past. Leslie’s students are lucky to get to learn from her year round! We’ll definitely be taking the tour again on our next visit!

Response from Host

Jul 2021

Isn't she a keeper! We are so lucky to have her during the summer months and on Saturdays. She brings that special teacher sauce to the tour, for sure! And, you are right, our guides are experts in the history of Downtown Eureka Springs, but also ready with a recommendation or two to make your stay more enjoyable. Thanks for taking The Tour. - Main Street Eureka Springs Your ticket provides funding for the local Main Street 501c3 nonprofit to continue developing and preserving Downtown Eureka Springs.

Larry M

Jul 2021

Dave is a true historian and provided a very informative and entertaining tour. Highly recommend. Not too much walking.

Response from Host

Jul 2021

The guides work hard to provide accurate history - and have a whole lot of fun! Thanks for taking The Tour! - Main Street Eureka Springs Your ticket provides funding for the local Main Street 501c3 nonprofit to continue developing and preserving Downtown Eureka Springs.

Dave J

Jul 2021

PROs: Lots of history presented, David, our guide, was a good presenter and had a good balance of facts and humor. We didn't feel rushed. Most of the tour was in shady areas which is important in July. Affordable activityfor a couple. Cons: Not enough walking, too many steps, only underground portion was at the end of the tour. If you have physical ailments this may be a challenge for you.

Response from Host

Jul 2021

So glad that you appreciated our attempt to teach the history and keep you cool in July! Did you know that one of the town's monikers is the Stair Step Town... so many stairs! We tried to do a tour without them, but you just couldn't go anywhere. We just consider it the ultimate workout! Eat a great meal at any of our independently chef-owned restaurants and then take the tour and walk it all off! 👟👟 We really try to convey the history of the underground in Eureka Springs - it's definitely not a hard hat adventure tour! We appreciate you taking it and giving your feedback because it just helps us give better and better tours. - Main Street Eureka Springs Your ticket provides funding for the local Main Street 501c3 nonprofit to continue developing and preserving Downtown Eureka Springs.