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 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

Tue 24 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)

Shirley_C

Apr 2021

We enjoyed our walking tour. It was a blast and we would do it again. It was nice to see the historic homes.

Response from Host

Apr 2021

Thanks for coming! Hope to see you again in Old Louisville soon.

Matt T

Apr 2021

Tour took about two hours to complete and was through the Historic Old Louisville neighborhoods. The weather was perfect during our tour and since it was late spring everything was starting to bloom and it was gorgeous. Our tour guide was average...not funny, not engaging, and a bit pompous. Also, there are no bathrooms. You simply meet the tour guide on the street and go. I would recommend the Historic Walking Tour run through the visitor's center. You'll have access to bathrooms and the money goes back to the community you are touring.

Response from Host

Aug 2021

We heard back from other participants on the tour and your insistence on finding a bathroom midpoint (even though it was made clear NUMEROUS times before you arrived that there would be NO RESTROOM facilities) ruined it for them and was hugely inconsiderate to the other tour-goers and the tour guide. We refunded their tickets. Yes, we encourage you and people like you to book a tour with our competition next time.

David_R

Apr 2021

This was our second tour with Old Louisville Walking Tours and David as our guide. Old Louisville is truly a treasure among historic neighborhoods in America. David’s knowledge and ability to bring history to life and make it fun and entertaining at the same time is second to none. I would recommend either of his tours (historic or ghost) to anyone looking for a fun new way to explore Louisville.

Response from Host

Apr 2021

Thanks so much! We're glad you came back!

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

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