THE HISTORY CENTER
Walking Tours
The History Center offers fun and informative walking tours March through October. Special walking tours may occasionally be scheduled, so keep an eye out for any announcements. Private walking tours are also available for your group or special occasion, click here for more information on private walking tours and historian presentations.
Tour Admission
$6.00 for History Center Members
$8.00 for General Public
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Please note: For the safety of guests and staff, walking tours will be postponed when the temperature or heat index is 100° or more, or if there is a heat advisory.
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Walking tours are sponsored by: Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
Skywalk Tour - North
March 10, 2026
10:30 a.m.
Learn about the history of downtown Cedar Rapids from the Skywalk. The North Route Skywalk tour looks at areas between 4th Avenue and 1st Avenue.
Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
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Meeting location: Second floor of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.
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Downtown Cedar Rapids
June 2, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Discover the oldest section of the city! This walking tour includes information on the development history of the evolving city center, its famous retail past as “Eastern Iowa’s Shopping Center”, railroads and streetcars, and the area known as Greene Square.
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​Tour Guide: Kyle Patrick
Meeting location: 3rd Ave Side of Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
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College District
June 23, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Enjoy a closer look at this incredibly historic neighborhood nestled between the campuses of Coe College and Mt. Mercy University in northeast Cedar Rapids. Discover the unusual history of the first name for this area.
The tour features an eclectic mix of residential, commercial and early industrial historic sites.
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Tour Guide: TBA
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Meeting location: THC Collections Annex, 716 Oakland Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
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Uptown Marion
August 18 2026
6:00 p.m.
Discover the rich history of Marion, Iowa, on a guided walk through its historic downtown. We’ll trace the evolution of transportation — from horse-drawn carriages and railroads to the rise of the automobile — and explore the architectural styles that define the city’s character. Along the way, we’ll highlight early businesses and influential residents whose vision and hard work helped shape Marion into the thriving community it is today.
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Tour Guide: TBA
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Meeting Location: Marion Public Library
Skywalk Tour - South
March 24, 2026
10:30 a.m.
Explore the South Route of the Downtown Cedar Rapids Skywalk system starting from the Cedar Rapids Public Library. This route focuses on viewing areas along Fourth and Fifth Avenue SE between the train tracks and the Cedar River from the special viewpoint of the skywalk system. This tour features sections of the Wholesale District as well as areas redeveloped over the past 35 years that are not seen on the North Route Skywalk Tour.
Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
Meeting location: Second floor of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Ellis Blvd
June 16, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Starting as a roadway to the private property of early Cedar Rapids pioneer Robert Ellis, Ellis Boulevard NW developed into an incredibly unique mixture of commercial and residential properties in the 2oth Century from E Avenue NW to Ellis Park. Learn about the special history of this section of the “Time Check” neighborhood and see how it has evolved following the devastating effects of the Flood of 2008.
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Tour Guide: TBA
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Meeting location: The Flamingo
1211 Ellis Blvd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 ​​​​​​​​​​
Mansion Hill/Auto Row
July 21, 2026
6:00 p.m.
This tour begins and ends at The History Center! Learn about the area originally known as “Mansion Hill” along Third, Second and First Avenues East. Get a closer look at the very few surviving19th century residences on the“Hill”.
Discover how this section of Cedar Rapids was transformed into “Automobile Row” following the routing of the Lincoln Highway as early as1913. See many of the restored “Auto Row” structures and get updates on how the area is changing with the expanding MedQuarter District.
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Tour Guide: Kyle Patrick
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Meeting location:
The History Center​​​​​​​