Walking Tour Options
Our most popular tours are offered as public tours most months. See one that interests you? Scroll down to learn more about it. Want to know see our calendar of tours? Select the “Book a Tour” button.
The Old Fourth Ward and the Beltline: Work, Home and Civil Rights Roots
A Transportation City: Atlanta and Aviation
Ponce City Market and the Beltline: Exploring Atlanta History
Women in Downtown Atlanta: Hearing their Stories
Special Tours
Available for groups and on our calendar occasionally. (If you are interested, contact us and we will be sure to let you know when we offer it.) See more details below.
Mid Century Women in Midtown Atlanta
Come One, Come All: A History of Atlanta Parades
Seeing the 20th Century: Grand Spaces and Atlanta in Post Civil Rights
Decatur Courthouse: What Do Those Monuments Mean Anyway?
Our Most Popular Tours
Ponce City Market and the Beltline: Exploring Atlanta History
In 1926 Atlantans were stunned by the largest building most had ever seen. Sears had come to their city, bringing with it retail, status and a sense of a brighter future. Come with us as we consider 130 years of shopping, playing and relaxing around Ponce and the nearby Beltline.
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Along the Beltline and in the old Sears building we can share stories about how Atlanta has grown. Great vistas from the bridges of the Beltline offer reminders of the past. The ways folks have fun has changed in the last hundred years and we will spend 90 minutes to two hours thinking those changes. Ponce City Market offers wide choices for a bite to eat before or after the walk. Bring your memories of the Sears catalog and neighborhood baseball games, if you have them!
We’ll meet on the North Avenue side of Ponce City Market and you will get detailed directions when you register. If using public transportation, you’ll access from the number 2 bus route.
Mid Century Women in Midtown Atlanta
The mid 20th century brought change to Atlanta and to the lives of the women who lived and worked here. As we explore Midtown we will share stories of the experiences of the women who called this area home. Join us as we explore the neighborhood, women’s stories and the impact they have on our world today. Our walk will take us on Peachtree from Ponce de Leon Avenue to Colony Square, with a side trip to the neighborhood nearby.
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We’ll cover a little more than in a mile in less than two hours, thinking about the changing work, personal and social lives of Atlanta women.
Location: We will meet at the corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue. This is just a block from North Avenue Marta station if you are using public transportation. Note that this is our only walk where we don’t take you back to our start. Your options to get back to our starting point are to take the train, an uber/lyft or walk. It’s less than a mile, so it won’t take long and easily accessible to a Marta station at either end.
A Transportation City: Atlanta and Aviation
What’s wealthy, self-sustaining and the economic engine of the Southeast? If you guessed Hartsfield Jackson International Airport you would be correct. As commercial aviation begins to celebrate a century of passenger travel, come with us to explore the people and aircraft who made air travel possible in a guided tour of the Delta Flight Museum.
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During the tour, we will discuss the outrageous things early aviators did as they experimented with flight and the ever-present interest in making money with this new technology. We will find out who Atlanta’s “Father of Aviation” is and what he did to gain that title. We will consider the airlines that made the airport their home and the airport’s impact on the surrounding areas. We will talk about the planes themselves and how new designs and technology brought the possibility of air travel to a larger audience. We will tour the interior of the B747 and a B767. And in between, we will talk about how pilots became captains and stewardesses became flight attendants. We have included the price of museum entrance in the ticket price.
Location: We’ll meet under the wing of the B747 at the Delta Flight Museum and you will get detailed directions when you register. Your tour guide will have your tickets. Know that you will be required to show a form of ID to enter the museum parking.
Women in Downtown Atlanta: Hearing Their Stories
Walking around downtown, surrounded by the incredible buildings designed and built by men, it might be challenging to imagine women in the city. Join us for a downtown walking tour downtown to learn about a century of women at work and stories of women leaders rarely that are not often told. We’ll find ourselves in historic locations you might not know about, and tell stories about women you should know about.
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Interested in life in Atlanta for women? Join us for a walk through downtown, thinking about how women experienced the same city around the turn of the 20th century. Atlanta grew rapidly in the years after 1890 and life for women was changing as well. We will consider the ways women impacted their community and tell the stories of some dynamic women who changed the city. Hear the stories of black women who were caring for their families and communities - and their untold roles contributing to the Civil RIghts Movement. Learn about the kind of jobs white women found to help support their families or to fulfill their ambitions. And how women made a place for themselves in politics before they could even vote. played a role in politics before they could vote.
Location: We’ll meet near the downtown location of the Atlanta Public Library and you will get detailed directions when you register. This tour has easy access from Marta Station at Peachtree Center.
Special Tours
The Old Fourth Ward and the Beltline: Work, Homes and Civil Rights Roots
Today the Beltline is a destination for walkers headed for a nice meal, but walkers in 1900 were typically headed for jobs. Explore the neighborhood next to the Eastside Beltline with us and learn about the long history of workers seeking new lives and civil rights.
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We’ll cover a little more than in a mile in about two hours, telling stories of past residents of this lively neighborhood. We will talk about how railroads spurred housing nearby and the way new technology drove out established businesses. We’ll see where MLK’s father went to school and learn the long history of folks from this area leading efforts to change lives. Learn about the import of the concrete water tower that rises above the area and about the modern art that adorns it today. Discover why workers called “spidermen” were essential to the cotton industry. Think about what “affordable housing” looked like in 1900 and how residential areas transitioned from “salt and pepper” segregation to rigid segregation. As we end, you’ll be close to many great restaurants to pause for a bite to eat and think about what you’ve seen.
Location: We will meet on Edgewood Avenue, on the western edge of the Old Fourth Ward and you will get detailed directions when you register. If using public transportation, our starting point is a 15 minute walk from the Inman Park Marta Station.
Seeing the 20th Century: Grand Spaces and Atlanta in Post Civil Rights
Let’s explore Atlanta history and downtown. From Peachtree Street to “sky bridges” and in great public spaces, we will consider how hospitality has shaped our city and see the changing ways we have welcomed visitors. Focusing on the years after 1968, we’ll consider the changes that followed the Civil Rights movement.
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A revolution in hotel design started in Atlanta in the 1960s. With striking atriums, sky bridges and more, this is a fun way to explore downtown and is accessible in all kinds of weather. We’ll explore dramatic interiors and think about the social changes these spaces reflect. This is a downtown walk that offers opportunities for groups to gather after a walk for a meal or a drink.
Location: We’ll meet near the downtown location of the Atlanta Public Library and you will get detailed directions when you register. This tour has easy access from Marta Station at Peachtree Center. For private groups, we can start from any downtown Atlanta hotel.
Decatur Courthouse: What Do Those Monuments Mean Anyway?
We all save relics of the past. For families, their history is saved in an attic. As a community, these relics sometimes become monuments in local parks. Join us in Decatur to explore the courthouse lawn and think about monument making in the US..
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We will consider how different kinds of monuments were created and the changing pattern of monument creation over the last 100 years. We’ll spend about 90 minutes exploring Decatur Square and consider the layers of meaning in the assortment of relics you can find there. From Civil Rights to honored public servants to reminders of ancient lives, we can see it all at Decatur Square!
Location: We will meet at the courthouse in downtown Decatur and you will get detailed directions when you register. If using public transportation, stopping at the Decatur Marta station will put you at the right place.
Come One, Come All: A History of Atlanta Parades
What do parades tell us about history? Join us for a walking tour to see how parades reveal Atlantan’s hopes for the future. We’ll tell you about parades of long ago and celebrate the beloved parades of today: DragonCon and Atlanta Pride
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Americans have always been enamored with tomorrow. Its promise of progress and a better life has teased and enthralled us. Atlantans are no different. Parades have offered us a way to peek at the future. Our tour will begin when public gatherings were being strictly controlled, and public spaces had to be reimagined. We will then go back to the early 20th century and follow a portion of the route P.T. Barnum and his circus took. We will talk of Grover Cleveland and a time when mules ruled the streets. We will finish with a walk down Peachtree Street and a look at two of Atlanta’s favorite parades: DragonCon and Atlanta Pride.
Location: We’ll meet downtown near the First Congregational Church and you will get detailed directions when you register. This tour has easy access from Marta Station at Peachtree Center.
Looking for more details?
We think Atlanta is both lovely and fascinating; we look forward to seeing the city with you. Here are some basic logistics for all our tours, to help you know what to expect on all our tours. Or email us at info@HistoryAfootaAtlanta.com with any questions.
Cost?
Tours are $25 per person and are recommended for people 18 and over. For guests with a disability, caregivers and support professionals are welcome to join at no cost.
Want to see a calendar schedule?
In our booking page, you’ll see a calendar with the dates of planned walks. Just click “Book a Tour” in the menu at the top right hand corner to see the calendar option. Know that we can offer private tours starting at $125. Contact us at info@HistoryAfootAtlanta.com for details.
Distance and what to wear?
Walks last 1 to 2 hours, depending on the location. Most walks are city walks, so please wear comfortable shoes. We won’t be walking fast and will cover only a little more than a mile.
Weather policy?
Tours proceed rain or shine so please come ready for a walk and the weather. If rain is possible, bring an umbrella or rain coat. If sunny, you may want to bring water or a hat. When possible, we will find shady spots to stop and chat but you are in the Sunny South!
Accessibility needs?
All our tours can accommodate wheelchairs and other accessibility needs. Please let us know if you have any accommodations that would make our time more enjoyable for you. For example, limited sight, difficulty hearing or mobility challenges. We want to welcome everyone on our history tours for a great experience.
Options for a tour with a special group for you?
As historians in love with our city, History Afoot Atlanta tours exist to inform and enlighten groups in unexpected and fun ways. We’ve provided firms, family groups, local organizations and university groups with a chance to enhance connections through one to two hour walks telling stories about Atlanta. Private tours can be arranged for a weekday or weekend, day or evening. We have hosted domestic and international visitors and love sharing Atlanta’s unique neighborhoods and the diverse fabric of our city.
Bring your intellectual curiosity as we tell unexpected stories of Atlanta and its neighborhoods. Contact us at info@HistoryAfootAtlanta.com to learn how we can create a terrific event for your group.
Cancellation policy?
Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by email at info@historyafootatlanta.com to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.
