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

Thu 26 Sep

Other dates

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Starting at $25.00

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Thu 26 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)

Diane_B

Sep 2021

David was very knowledgeable and fascinating to listen to. I can’t wait to read his book on the Old Louisville murder and the one about hauntings. I highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host

Sep 2021

I had a great time with you and I'm so glad you enjoyed the tour! Thanks again for coming to Old Louisville!

V3073YVjimj

Sep 2021

David gave a great tour of Old Louisville and took us to places we wouldn't find on our own. He gave us a lot of interesting and fun history, with some of it reminding us of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil!" He showed us examples of the various styles of Victorian-era houses and some background on the people who built them and their contributions to the development of the city. It was fun hearing about the "Witches' Tree" and the tornado that struck the town soon after the tree was cut down to be fashioned into a maypole. We didn't know that one name for Louisville was "Glitter Ball City" because the glitter ball originated here and Louisville once built most of them, including the ones, for example, at Studio 54. We would have enjoyed spending more time with David and in Louisville. We had our (well-behaved) dog with us and it was nice to be able to have her along on the tour; David was very nice to her. In terms of the mechanics of the tour, David texted us instructions on where to park and meet and where to catch up with the group if we were running late, and that made things a lot easier. By the way, David Dominé is an established author and has a new book coming out 10/5/2021 based on some of the things that happened in a particular house in Old Louisville: "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City." We've pre-ordered it in hardcover. If you like seeing historic homes, learning history, and a good walk besides, this tour is recommended!

Response from Host

Sep 2021

Thanks so much for such a thorough and helpful review! It was my pleasure showing you around Old Louisville!

Ariana_M

Sep 2021

It was a great tour. We walked around old Louisville and discovered things we wouldn’t have found on our own!

Response from Host

Sep 2021

Thanks so much for joining us in Old Louisville! Safe travels and come back soon!

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

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