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

Sat 28 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

Sat 28 Sep

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)

Anne_B

Apr 2022

Great tour despite the terrible weather. Really Interesting! Angelique was knowledgeable and shared a lot information about the buildings

Response from Host

Apr 2022

Thanks for braving the cold and joining Angelique in Old Louisville!

Susan_C

Apr 2022

Great facts about Old Louisville and it’s history. Loved seeing all the different architecture and sizes of homes.

Response from Host

Apr 2022

Thank you! We're glad you joined us in Old Louisville!

Kara_F

Apr 2022

We were 10 minutes past time of tour at 1 pm due to an accident on I-65. No one to be found to catch up to for tour, or no phone # to call guide to locate or vendor on tickets. Paid for 4 tickets that were not used, no refunds. I would hope any vendor would list a contact phone #, but no such luck!

Response from Host

Apr 2022

I just pulled up your paper ticket and in the upper right-hand corner, under our logo, you can clearly see our telephone number, as well as an email address, and our website address. On your mobile ticket, if you look below the barcode you will clearly see the following: Tour Specific Inquiries Louisville Historic Tours +15027182764 [email protected] I can provide screenshots of both of these. In addition, please see the email confirmation that was sent to you on March 29 at 8:46AM in which you were clearly given a TELEPHONE NUMBER. I can provide a screenshot of this as well. I just located your 3 separate reservations for 4 pp at 1PM on March 30 and this confirmation was sent to EACH separate booking. When you book one of our tours, you get an email confirmation with 1) a cell number to contact me directly if there are any issues; 2) your tour guide's name and cell number if it's not me; and 3) instructions on where to meet the group, should you arrive late. I led the tour myself that day and at 1:10PM we were still at the corner because we had another party arrive late. Even if you arrived 15-20 minutes late, you would have easily seen the 1PM group halfway down the block, as the first 15-20 minutes of the tour are always spent on the same block. Also, the day before the tour the respective tour guide reconfirms with a text to each individual party with last-minute details and his/her direct cell number for contact in the case of issues; this text also contains information on where to catch up with the group if you are late. I texted you the morning of MAR 30 to the number provided in your reservation: 931-220-45** Not only that, I just checked all our vendor websites, and a direct contact telephone number for Louisville Historic Tours is very visible and easy to find. A quick Google search of Louisville Historic Tours locates our main number very easily.

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

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