Austin Downtown History: Vibrant Storytelling Walking Tour

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: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Dumont’s Down Low Bar - Located in what was once a lively vice district, this tour begins with the origin story of Austin, exploring the old west mentality that established the largest red light district in the southwest. Note: Entry is not included.
  • O. Henry Home & Museum - Renowned short story writer O. Henry resided in Austin before…
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 cowboys to condominiums, take a walk through the story of Austin, beginning and ending in what was once a roaring red light district in Austin’s earlier years. Along the way, we’ll explore the rich history of Austin and discover how it became the vibrant and dynamic city it is today, with emphasis on the eccentric and heroic Austinites who shaped…

Location
Halcyon
West 4th Street
Downtown Austin outside Halcyon Coffeehouse @ 4th Street & Lavaca. You may use the restroom inside Halcyon without making a purchase if you tell them you are with the walking tour.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(188 Ratings)
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L4073pjjoelg
Nov 9, 2025
Austin's history tour worthwhile - It was informative and enjoyable. I learned a bunch about Austin's past. The 2 hours went quickly. The guide really was good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard_l
Nov 7, 2025
Walking tour of Austin - Low intensity walking on flat surfaces on city sidewalks. Many breaks for explanations. Bathroom break about 2/3s of the way Guide gave a fantastic overview of Austin’s history and highlights , and great info on the history of 6th street
Review provided by Viator
Nicolehm6537xt
Nov 7, 2025
A great couple of hours - Our guide was very engaging and knowledgeable. Have walked the city a lot this week but this really helped me understand how the city developed and the story of places I had previously passed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ya_l
Nov 7, 2025
Excellent experience - Great walking tour. It saves me so much time to tour the downtown by myself. Emily is friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Highly recommend if you have a couple of spare hours while you visiting Austin.
Review provided by Viator
Terrie_o
Nov 5, 2025
It was a fascinating walk... - It was a fascinating walk and talk and Emily our guide was very informative and helpful. I would highly recommend the tour
Review provided by Viator
Cheryl_l
Nov 4, 2025
Very informative and fun!... - Very informative and fun! We got a good all around view of a place we never been before and knew little about….and left knowing it better than we expected!
Review provided by Viator
996carriet
Oct 29, 2025
Great Tour to Get Familiar with Austin's History - We had a great tour last week with Emily. She has such an abundance of knowledge, is a great story teller, and made sure that we had a deeper understanding of the history of Austin. Her headset made it very easy to hear her speaking so, she kept the group organized and engaged. It's a great tour for those who want to get familiar with the downtown area and Austin's history. Thanks so much Emily!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_g
Oct 26, 2025
A fun way to learn about the history of Austin - Experience the history of Austin and it’s beautiful buildings the city fathers were smart enough to save
Review provided by Viator
Mark_l
Oct 25, 2025
Excellent tour. Well worth it. - Emily presented a detailed history of Austin and Texas in general as we’re walked through old Austin. Emily had a wealth of knowledge and presented it in an interesting way. Highly recommended tour.
Review provided by Viator
Dan_b
Oct 24, 2025
Emily was excellent. She... - Emily was excellent. She had lots of knowledge and some fun stories too! She also had good recommendations for local things to do including restaurants.
Review provided by Viator
From $31
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).