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
*$5.00 for History Center Members
*$7.00 for General Public
*Starting September 1st our rates will increase by $1.00
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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.
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Walking tours are sponsored by: Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
Douglas Co. 1919 Explosion Area & South Kingston Village
New Date: September 16, 2024
6:00 p.m.
On May 22, 1919 the Douglas & Co. Starch Works factory of Cedar Rapids exploded, causing the deaths of over 40 persons. This fascinating new walking tour looks at the immediate areas affected by this disaster 100 years later.
In addition, this tour includes the history of buildings and sites in the south end of the Kingston Village neighborhood. Highlights include the Mott and Chelsea buildings as well as the oldest surviving house from the old town of Kingston.
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Tour Guide: Kyle Patrick
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Meeting location: Jean Oxley Building, 935 2nd St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Living History Tour with
Bob Campagna
September 17, 2024
6:00 p.m.
NEW TOUR:
Use your camera (or cell phone) to explore, photograph what you see, and make a personalized living history poster collage of your walking journey. A 13x19” with a choice of poster templates will be made available for you to “fill in the blanks” with your images.
Professional photographer Bob Campagna will guide you in this creative endeavor. This program helps you learn with purpose, both as a historian and as an artist. You will learn camera functions as well as visual qualities to engage in this fun and informative activity.
Meeting location: The History Center 800 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
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Living History Tour with
Bob Campagna - Mt. Vernon
October 15, 2024
6:00 p.m.
NEW TOUR:
Use your camera (or cell phone) to explore, photograph what you see, and make a personalized living history poster collage of your walking journey. A 13x19” with a choice of poster templates will be made available for you to “fill in the blanks” with your images.
Professional photographer Bob Campagna will guide you in this creative endeavor. This program helps you learn with purpose, both as a historian and as an artist. You will learn camera functions as well as visual qualities to engage in this fun and informative activity.
Meeting location: Abbe Creek Gallery, 105 First St. NW, Mt. Vernon​
Creep the Alley 2
October 29, 2024
6:00 p.m.
It's so popular we do it twice! Same tour, different day.
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Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
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Meeting location: Town Centre Plaza, Third Avenue & Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Linwood Cemetery
September 10, 2024
6:00 p.m.
Experience the history of the oldest cemetery on the west side of Cedar Rapids. Highlights include visiting the final resting site of some of the infamous Cherry Sisters and a look at the memorial to many of the victims of the May 1919 Douglas Starch Works Explosion in Cedar Rapids. Participants are invited inside the funeral home for refreshments and a short presentation on the history of Murdoch Funeral Homes.
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Tour Guide: Kelly Hajek
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Meeting location: Linwood Cemetery, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
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Mt. Calvary Cemetery
September 24, 2024
6:00 p.m.
Founded in the 1850's. Mt. Calvary actually began along a wagon trail — a place of reverence where settlers buried loved ones lost along the way. Today Mt. Calvary is not only the community's largest Catholic cemetery, but also one of the oldest Catholic cemeteries in Cedar Rapids.
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Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
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Meeting location: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 375 32nd Street Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
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Creep the Alley 1
October 22, 2024
6:00 p.m.
Downtown alleys reveal a great deal of history about Cedar Rapids buildings and they can be a little spooky too! Come explore the dark side of downtown architecture with this unique historic alley tour.
Included are stories of how alleys function as service and utility access, how they provided secret entrances for Prohibition era businesses as well as clever retail store designs. There will be a few surprises along the tour as well! Please wear alley appropriate footwear.
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Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
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Meeting location: Town Centre Plaza, Third Avenue & Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401