The Downtown Durham Historian-Guided Tour runs 2 to 3 p.m. Saturdays, next on Nov. 7, from the Lucky Strike water tower. Tickets are $15, booked online.

The Downtown Durham History Walking Tour is a one-hour walk led by a local historian, 2 to 3 p.m. every Saturday, next on Saturday, Nov. 7, starting under the Lucky Strike water tower at the American Tobacco Campus. Tickets are $15 and must be booked online with Triangle Walking Tours.

Last checked 2026-11-07.

Upcoming dates

Triangle Walking Tours’ booking calendar lists these Saturdays; the organizer lists dates through Jan. 30, 2027.

  • Sat. Nov. 7, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Nov. 14, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Nov. 21, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Nov. 28, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Dec. 5, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Dec. 12, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Dec. 19, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Dec. 26, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Jan. 2, 2027, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Jan. 9, 2027, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Jan. 16, 2027, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Jan. 23, 2027, 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Sat. Jan. 30, 2027, 2 to 3 p.m.

Where it is and parking

The tour meets under the water tower at the American Tobacco Campus, 330 Blackwell St., the company’s tour locations page says. The walk then covers downtown’s historic Tobacco and Five Points districts.

The campus has three parking decks. Parking there is generally free on weekends unless the Durham Bulls or another event is on, according to our American Tobacco Campus guide, which lists the deck addresses. City garages and street meters downtown are free from 7 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday, except during special events (getting around Durham).

Tickets and cost

  • $15 a person, paid online when you book.
  • Every tour must be booked ahead. The company asks people not to turn up without a booking.
  • Online booking closes an hour before the start.
  • Private and group tours are arranged through the company’s custom tours page.

What to know

From the company’s policies page:

  • Refunds: tickets are non-refundable, but contact the company at least three hours before the start and it will move you to another date. No-shows and late arrivals are not refunded, and the guide cannot help latecomers catch up once the tour has started.
  • Weather: tours run rain or shine. If one is canceled, you get an email and a new date.
  • What to bring: the whole tour is outdoors, so bring water, an umbrella or coat as needed and visible clothing.
  • Photos: photos are welcome; videos are for personal use only.
  • Lost? Email trianglewalkingtour@gmail.com if you cannot find the start.

What the guide covers, in the company’s words: Durham’s role in the industrialization of the South, the tobacco factories that built the city and its “hidden stories and lost buildings.”

The same company runs an African American history and Black Wall Street tour at 4 p.m. and a Durham Ghost Walk at 8 p.m. on the same Saturdays. For more on the buildings themselves, see our history and landmarks guide.

Dates and venues as listed on the Experience Downtown Durham, North Carolina calendar and confirmed on the organizer’s site.

Frequently asked questions

When is the downtown Durham walking tour?

Triangle Walking Tours runs its Downtown Durham History Walking Tour from 2 to 3 p.m. every Saturday. Its booking calendar lists dates through Jan. 30, 2027.

Where does the Durham history walking tour start?

Under the Lucky Strike water tower at the American Tobacco Campus, 330 Blackwell St.

How much is the downtown Durham walking tour?

$15 a person, paid when you book online. Tickets are non-refundable, but the company will move you to another date if you contact it at least three hours before the tour.

Do Durham walking tours run in the rain?

Yes. Triangle Walking Tours says its tours run rain or shine and are not refunded for weather; if it does cancel a tour, it emails you and reschedules.