Historic Old Louisville Walking Tour

The Historic Old Louisville Walking Tour is a guided tour of the largest contiguous collection of Victorian Mansions in the United States! Designed by a prominent local architect and historian, this tour focuses on the history and architecture of this nationally recognized historic preservation district. The tour begins and ends in Central Park's comfortable, temperature-controlled, Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Visitors Center. Every ticket purchase supports the nonprofit Old Louisville Neighborhood Council, which protects this historic district of Victorian mansions and its streetscapes. Thank you for supporting Historic Preservation! Persons under 17 are free when accompanied by family.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Pass by

   Tours meet in the Historic Old Louisville Visitors Center in the heart of Central Park. This elegant mission-style pavilion was designed by the Frederick Law Olmsted firm in 1905. After checking in, guests can relax in air conditioned comfort while enjoying an expansive view of the 17 acre grounds. There is a private restroom inside the Visitors Center. Bottled water and hand fans are complimentary.

2. 2

   Central Park

   5 min

   Originally a DuPont family estate, Central Park is one of 17 parks in Louisville designed by the renowned Frederick Law Olmsted firm. As the tour strolls the path towards St. James Court, you’ll be taken back in time to the 1880s, when the property served as the carnival grounds for the Southern Exposition. This spectacular event was the largest display of electric light ever seen at the time, and led to the creation of Louisville’s first suburban neighborhoods.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   10 min

   Designed in the 1890s as an exclusive suburb for Louisville’s wealthy elite, St. James Court is the eclectic centerpiece of Historic Old Louisville. Along the way, you’ll admire the stunning Richardsonian Romanesque ‘castle’ of Theophilus Conrad, see Venus rising from the sea in the iconic St. James Court fountain, and learn the colorful history of the ‘Pink Palace’ which overlooks the court.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   15 min

   After strolling stately St. James, the tour heads into the pedestrian-only neighborhood of Belgravia Court. Lit by flickering gas lamps and often described as ‘enchanting’ by visitors, Belgravia Court features a dazzling array of homes designed to suit the fanciful tastes of the 1890s, whimsically modified by the residents who saved the neighborhood from destruction in the 20th century.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   15 min

   Belgravia Court leads to 4th street, where you’ll marvel at an ensemble of five elaborate mansions built for a Victorian jeweler, see the spot where President Chester Arthur opened the Southern Exposition in 1893, and learn the history of the immaculately restored “Mayor’s Mansion” on the corner of 4th and Magnolia, which boasts a special connection to Muhammad Ali.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   30 min

   From 4th street, the tour proceeds up Magnolia Avenue to 3rd street, which was known as the “Millionaire’s Row” of Victorian Louisville. Renowned for its ornate displays of Gilded Age opulence, the enormous mansions of 3rd street were designed to astound and impress. As you stroll along the spacious boulevard beneath the shade of a historic urban canopy, delighting in the eye-catching details, you’ll quickly understand why Louisville was deemed a ‘city of beautiful homes’ in the 19th century.

7. 7

   Central Park

   10 min

   The tour concludes with a final stroll down 4th street, where you’ll pass a number of Old Louisville’s most elegant bed and breakfasts, including the Louisville Bourbon Inn; This 8,8000 square foot mansion has been voted the best bed and breakfast in America onTripadvisor for two years in a row. As the tour concludes in Central Park, you’ll learn more about the Olmsted Firm’s work in Louisville. After the tour, the Visitors Center makes the perfect place to plan the rest of your day in Louisville.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.