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
$8.00 for History Center Members
$10.00 for General Public
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.
Walking tours are sponsored by: Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
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.
Tour Guide: Kyle Patrick
Meeting location: The History Center
800 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids
Linwood Cemetery
October 13, 2026
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 May1919 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.
Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
Meeting location: Parking Lot
520 Wilson Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, Ia 52404
Creep the Alley 2
October 27, 2026
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!
Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
Meeting location: Town Centre Plaza, Third Avenue & Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Skywalk Tour - South
Date TBA
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
Uptown Marion
September 8, 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.
Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
Meeting Location: Marion Public Library
1101 6th Ave, Marion, IA 52302
Creep the Alley 1
October 20, 2026
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!
Tour Guide: Jenny Thielman
Meeting location: Town Centre Plaza, Third Avenue & Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Skywalk Tour - North
Date TBA
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
Meeting location: Second floor of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.
Redlining Virtual Tour
Self-Guided Virtual Tour
Redlining was never just about housing.
It influenced:
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Where businesses invested
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Which schools received resources
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Who could build wealth through homeownership
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How neighborhoods developed, or were left behind
Even after redlining was outlawed in 1968, its effects didn’t disappear. Many of the same neighborhoods continue to face disparities tied to decisions made nearly a century ago.