Old Louisville Walking Tour Recommended by The New York Times! @ 4th and Ormsby in Louisville booking from $25.00

Old Louisville Walking Tour Recommended by The New York Times! @ 4th and Ormsby

Overview

March through November, daily; limited dates in the off-season!

Our tours include more than St. James Court. We see twice as much as other neighborhood walking tours, visiting Ormsby Avenue, Park Avenue cottages, Floral Terrace, the Witches' Tree, and Millionaires Row. Bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and titans of tobacco settled here in the 1800s. Today, impressive Victorian mansions and quirky residents have earned national attention for Old Louisville.

Author David Dominé often guides groups himself. The New York Times recommends his tours as a MUST during a visitor's "36 Hours in Louisville." Learn more in A DARK ROOM IN GLITTER BALL CITY, David's next book—out in October 2021!

Narrated walks depart from the transitional edge of the neighborhood. If you love old houses, this is the tour for you! If you do not like an up-and-coming neighborhood with a diverse racial make up, please stay home. If you can't go 90 minutes without a bathroom, this is not for you!

City: Louisville

Tue 24 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

Tue 24 Dec

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Certified Guide

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
FYI The starting point is in a transitional area where you might encounter panhandlers, homeless people, and people who don't look like you.
Not recommended for visitors with mobility issues
MUST BE ABLE TO WALK 90 MINUTES WITHOUT A BATHROOM BREAK!
Regular temperature checks for staff
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
In keeping with local and CDC guidelines, we are keeping our groups small and encourage the use of masks. This tour is entirely out-of-doors and we maintain proper social distances at all times.

What To Expect

The Witches' Tree

A gnarled tree rose up on the spot where a tree cherished by local witches once stood. When the city chopped down the original tree, townsfolk incurred the wrath of the crones, who sent a tornado to destroy the city in revenge. Visitors often leave offerings on the twisted trunk to make amends.

Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle)

This is a walking tour and we do not enter any structures, as most of the houses in Old Louisville are private residences. We do stop in front of the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, and you can arrange with them to tour the mansion for a fee.

The Filson Historical Society

Built in 1905, the Ferguson Mansion once counted as the grandest home in the city. A splendid example of Beaux Arts architecture, it today is headquarters for the Filson Historical Society. Visits can be arranged separately.

Central Park

Just like its famous cousin in New York City, Louisville's Central Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. With 14 acres of native tree species and shaded walkways, this four-square-block space counts as the green heart of the neighborhood. It's also where Shakespeare in the Park takes place each summer, since 1961, making it the nation's oldest free outdoor Shakespeare event.

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Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (365)

janenb

Apr 2020

If you would really like the “inside scoop” on the haunts and the history of Old Louisville, then this is the tour to take! David Domine has literally written multiple books about the tours he guides. Our ladies group had plenty of questions, and he cheerfully provided answers. We did two tours with him, and got more bang for our buck than anywhere else. He walks at a pleasant pace, is easy to hear, and a font of knowledge and history. I absolutely recommend these tours, and consider them a “do not miss” while visiting Louisville.

Response from Host

Apr 2020

Thanks for the nice review! Glad you enjoyed it!

kysuze

Apr 2020

David Domine's Architectural tours truly are like a trip back in time. You will feel transported and you will meet virtually all the many people of the past who inhabited these beautiful old houses. You will leave, feeling connected to them and to the neighborhood, which is unique and magical. Then after an Architectural tour, return in the evening for a Ghost tour. The Ghost tours are so much fun, and are a great way to celebrate the month of October especially. David's descriptions will have you seeing the ghosts, and you will never forget them...Suzanne Hurst, Old Louisville resident since 1995.

Response from Host

Apr 2020

Thanks! Look forward to seeing you soon again in Old Louisville!

Jardinami

Apr 2020

Both tours are amazing! David Domine our tour guide was so informative and friendly! The daytime tour revealed a plethora of architecture information of this charming neighborhood! The nighttime ghost tour was spine tingling and historical! How wonderful it was to be guided by an author of ghost stories!

Response from Host

Apr 2020

Thank you so much! We look forward to seeing you back in Old Louisville soon!

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Old Louisville Walking Tour Recommended by The New York Times! @ 4th and Ormsby

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