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

Mon 23 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

Mon 23 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)

Elizabeth_W

Nov 2020

Highly recommend the tour. So much fun to see the lovely homes and architecture in Louisville. Debra our tour guide was fantastic!

Response from Host

Nov 2020

We're glad you enjoyed your time with Debra! Come back soon!

davidgI9210KB

Oct 2020

The tour was a fun and casual experience. Our tour guide, David, was not only informative, but also passionate about the history and architecture of the city. He even stopped the tour for a few minutes to let my girlfriend take a moment to sit when she wasn't feeling well. It would be great if a longer tour was an option to see more of old Louisville and hear more about the city's history, but as it is, the tour was well worth the money.

Response from Host

Oct 2020

Thanks for coming! It was a pleasure having you on both tours! Come back soon!

Lisa_P

Oct 2020

Debra was a tour guide with a very negative and angry attitude. Since David Dominé’s book and knowledge were mentioned in the tour description, I asked about him, thinking he might be a part of the local history. The tour guide responded angrily "he is not the only one that knows our history. I've done years of research too." Wow! Debra interrupted any questions. It felt like the whole tour was about her complaints. Complaints about how bad the traffic is now and how it destroys the old homes. Complaints about how the home owners don't know how to, or want to, take care of the old homes. Constant repeated complaints. She could have conveyed this information in an informative manner as part of the tour instead of making it the focus of the tour. What an absolute waste of our last day in this beautiful city.

Response from Host

Nov 2020

So sorry you didn't enjoy your tour with Debra; as you can see from previous reviews, she is one of the most popular guides. The next time you are back in town, please contact me directly and let me show you around in person, as my guest. I hope you enjoyed the next leg of your trip, to the Ark.

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

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