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guided Downtown walking Tours
The Kittitas County Historical Museum is excited to offer guided walking tours in Downtown Ellensburg that share our local history, heritage, and culture!
Each guided walking tour is led by a local historian or specialist who is both well-versed in local history and eager to highlight the people and places that have made Ellensburg what it is today! The tour will highlight the stories behind the buildings, artwork, architecture, and people who have made Ellensburg what it is – and even few dark tales.
Our guided walking tours are definitely a delightful and one-of-a-kind experience for two persons, a family, or a group!
Enthralled group listening intently during one of our guided walking tours
Join Us for a Guided Downtown Walking Tour During the Summer!
Our local historians will guide attendees on a 90 minute walk along the streets of historic Downtown Ellensburg, where stories will be told about the Great Ellensburgh Fire of July 4, 1889 and the devastation it wrought, along with what was created from its ashes. Learn about the major players in Ellensburg’s history, including the well-known and those the history books often forget, and what roles they had to play in shaping our community into what it is today. Find out about what businesses have graced the community past and present (and possibly even a look toward the future), and much more! Questions are always welcome on this wonderful tour about town.
When is it?
Our guided History Walking Tour program is offered each summer! Dates will be announced soon for the 2025 season so be sure to check back!
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Local History: Attendees will discover how the Great Ellensburgh Fire of July 4, 1889 shaped our local community and what buildings arose from the ashes during this 60-minute or 90-minute walk-through Historic Downtown Ellensburg. Attendees will also find out how building architecture has changed over time, along with what buildings were lost. Depending on your tour guide and if time allows, stories may be shared about the businesses and individuals that occupied the buildings along with other tales about those who have helped to shape our community into what it is today.
Our Summer Guided History Walking Tour Program has concluded.
Thank you to our tour guide for his time and service, and to those who attended and made this year’s tours possible.
We’ll see everyone back in Summer 2025!
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Public Art: During this 60-minute walk through Downtown Ellensburg and its nearby neighborhoods, attendees will learn about the artists and the beautiful artwork that has been woven into the fabric of our community. Attendees will discover and explore the artwork – both big and small, whether as sculptures, paintings, historic and modern murals, and/or architecture, and how it all helps to make our community unique. Attendees will also hear about some interesting stories that are just hiding in plain sight. **Suspended**
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Haunted Legends: During this 90-minute walk in Downtown Ellensburg and neighboring streets, attendees will learn about some of Ellensburg’s darkest stories. Tour guides will share accounts of true crime, mysterious happenings, unusual incidents, and what has occurred but most do not know. In many cases, the locations and buildings included in this tour have been considered haunted but it is up to attendees to learn the truth and question for themselves if the truth is stranger than fiction. **Suspended**
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Specialized or Private Tour: If your group is interested in a specialized topic or private tour, we can definitely accommodate! Please contact us for more information. **Suspended**
Private tours may be arranged depending on tour guide availability. Please contact us to learn more!
If you are interested in scheduling a tour, please contact us to discuss options.
Please note that at this time many of our tours are currently suspended due to a lack of volunteer tour guides. If you are interested in being a volunteer, click here!
At this time many of our other guided walking tours are suspended due to a lack of volunteer tour guides.
If you are interested in being a volunteer for our guided walking tours, click here!
If you have questions about our guided tours, please check out our FAQs page here!
Disclaimer: Pre-Registration is Requested but not Required for free Guided Downtown Walking Tours; paid tours require payment to be made before attending the tour. Tours are limited to a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 25 people. Tours are subject to change and cancellation without prior notice. In the event of cancellation, paid tours will be refunded. Donations are greatly appreciated but not required for a free tour (and in the event of cancellation of a free tour, donations will not be refunded). If a tour is cancelled, there is no guarantee of the event being rescheduled. Tours are sidewalk-based and leave promptly at the scheduled time. Guests need to be prepared for all types of weather and should wear comfortable walking shoes. All tours are expected to be 60-90 minutes. If there are any questions, concerns, or issues with our Guided Downtown Walking Tours, please contact us.
