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Austin Downtown History: Vibrant Storytelling Walking Tour
5.0
85 Ratings
Austin
Discover the vibrant history of Austin on a storytelling walking tour. From cowboys to condos, explore the city's transformation and learn about the eccentric Austinites who shaped its story.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Oilcan Harry’s - In what was once a bustling vice district, we will begin with the origin story of the city of Austin and talk about the Western mentality that built the biggest red light district in the southwest.
- O. Henry Home & Museum - Famous short story author O. Henry lived here in Austin before he made it big. Outside his home, we will dig up a few questionable tales of his time here in Austin.
- Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig Museum - How did the last survivor of the Alamo end up in Austin? We’ll discover this and more outside the home she lived in on 5th St.
- 6th Street - Learn the historic and current significance of Austin’s most famous street.
- The Driskill - We’ll get to go inside this one! Built in 1886 and sometimes called “the people’s hotel”, the Driskill is teeming with historical tales of greed, politics, vice, music, celebrities, and more.
What's Included
- Expert local guide
- Insightful commentary on local culture
- Entry fees to all attractions included
- Complimentary refreshments and snacks
- Comfortable transportation throughout the tour
- Special access to exclusive areas
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
From ranch hands to high-rises, stroll through Austin’s history starting and concluding in what used to be a bustling pleasure quarter during Austin’s youth. En route, we’ll delve into Austin’s diverse past and uncover how it evolved into the lively and progressive city it stands as now. We’ll venture into stunning historic structures and gain knowledge about the unique and gallant Austinites who molded Austin’s narrative. This excursion provides a vibrant image through narration.
- Places to sit at each stop are not provided.
- This walking tour covers 1.1 miles.
Location
Halcyon
West 4th Street
Downtown Austin outside Halcyon Coffeehouse @ 4th Street & Lavaca.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(85 Ratings)
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Robert_d
Jun 22, 2024
Learned alot - Learning Austin history. Seeing different areas of downtown Austin. Very informative. Recommend this tour with Emily.
Review provided by Viator
B4127woivanf
Jun 16, 2024
Interesting tour - Emily was very friendly and considerate with the weather with stops for cooling down. She also seems very knowledgeable of the history facts she narrated.
I definitely recommend for first timers in Austin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cheryl_l
Jun 9, 2024
A hit with History - Emily was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of Austin and the neighborhoods and buildings we visited. She was personable, receptive, patient with all our questions, and engaging. We highly recommend this tour and Emily in part!! Well worth the money (despite the heat!).
Review provided by Viator
Colton_h
Jun 8, 2024
Good into to Austin - Emily was great. She is very interested in Austin history and does a great job sharing it. It was fun to see the night life coming alive too as we got closer to dark and the City activities were getting going.
Review provided by Viator
Rodmen
Jun 7, 2024
Professional and customer oriented - Very thorough. Her tour info has a common thread which she has developed through her investigation. I came away with a better understanding of the events and people that created present day Austin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Msharma65
Jun 6, 2024
Very informative Austin tour! - We had an amazing historical tour of Austin, Emily was great and knew a lot about Austin’s path history! It ended up being more of a personal tour for my husband, and I so I really appreciated that she didn’t cancel the tour because it was just the two of us.
I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debbe_n
Jun 5, 2024
Informative and fun. - Emily was a wonderful guide. We enjoyed walking through the city and learning things about Austin we didn’t know. Lots of recommendations makes us wish we were here longer to see it all!
Review provided by Viator
Elyse2772
May 29, 2024
Lovely walking tour - A lovely walking tour of the downtown area. It was great to see historic buildings and hear stories of early residents of the city. Emily was very friendly and imparts her love of history very well!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patrickmn8694xk
May 24, 2024
Worth the time. - Loved it. Our guide was very informative and she knew all the inside stories of the inner city of Austin. There’s a lot more to Austin than popular Texas history. This walking tour will reveal many of those wonderful inside stories. I highly recommend recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peter
May 16, 2024
A different view of Austin. - Emily is a very knowledgeable & enthusiastic guide & did a great job even though there were only 3 on the tour & it took place in a monsoon !!
We would definitely recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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