Walk Ashland Walking Tours

Tour Ashland On Foot

PRIVATE WALKING TOURS CAN BE ARRANGED FOR YOUR FAMILY, GROUP OR EVENT AT ANY TIME OF YEAR. 

 

I will start to list tours on the “Book Now” calendar in the month of May. However, you can be eligible for FREE walking tours in March and April 2025 if you sign up for my email Newsletter on the website home page. I will announce my FREE walking tours in my Monday and Thursday email Newsletters.

Exploring history and art in a new town (or your own town) is fun, meaningful and memorable. Have a new, richer experience of Ashland as you learn about Ashland’s history, art and neighborhoods.

Ashland was founded in 1852 as an agricultural and mill town, but the citizens were committed to culture and education from the early years. Learn what led to Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Southern Oregon University and more.

You can choose from guided walks that focus on history, art, specific neighborhoods – or all of the above! In October I will feature my Haunted Ashland tour all month. Explore Ashland with a guide and feel the difference.

See a brief introduction to each of the scheduled walking tours below.

Hi Peter, just wanted to reiterate how much I enjoyed your history of OSF tour today. Your enthusiasm for your subject is contagious, and what an asset your research is to the enjoyment of this beautiful, interesting city!
Donna Sanders, March 31, 2024
Thank you for your walking tour. It was fabulous. I have lived in Ashland for nearly 50 years and I learned more from your walk than I had ever known about this town.
M Smith

Ready to go on a Tour?


Here’s what to do next.

  1. Click the Book Now button for Walking Tour details and reservations.
  2. Scroll down to choose your preferred Walking Tour. On the calendar page, tour dates are shown in bold. Click on the date you want. Then click on the time at the bottom of the page. That will take you to the sign-up page.
  3. Please register and pay for only one person at a time.
  4. Pay through the simple, secure payment portal.
  5. You will receive an email confirmation and reminder for your Walking Tour.
Peter leading a walking tour.
Peter leading a walking tour. Photo by Richard Simonds

Here is a brief introduction to each of

my current walking tours.

    1. History tour: Plaza & the Founding of Ashland
    2. History tour: Impact of the Railroad on Ashland
    3. History+Art tour: Plaza to Ashland Library and back
    4. History+Art tour: Painted utility boxes in Railroad District
    5. Public Art tour: Downtown public art (6 artworks)
    6. Public Art tour: Bandersnatch trail (3 artworks)
    7. Art tour: Fordyce Street neighborhood (12 artworks)
    8. History tour: Shakespeare in Ashland from 1887 to 1939
    9. Art tour: Art (and more) at North Mountain Park (14 artworks)
    10. Haunted Ashland tour: Downtown and Railroad District
    11. History tour: Ashland’s cultural journey from 1850s pioneers to Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Haunted Ashland tour: Downtown

Description: Learn about haunted Ashland houses, hotels and restaurants, plus ghosts at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. These are not just old stories from books. Most of my stories are first-hand experiences learned from the people who encountered the spirits. Many historic photos are included. You might find yourself amazed, laughing, shaking your head in wonder, questioning your assumptions – or, if you are like one of my friends, communicating with the spirits during the tour.

Time of walk: 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Distance of walk: approximately 1 mile. Mostly flat route, paved walking surface with some uneven pavement.

Cost is $20 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 10 people.

Route: Fourth Street to Oak Street to Plaza to OSF Elizabethan Theater to East Main Street.

Meeting spot: Meet by the Peerless Hotel at 243 Fourth Street. The tour will end at the “Street Scene” sculpture by the corner of East Main Street and Pioneer Street.

History tour: Plaza & the Founding of Ashland  

Description: Learn about the founding of Ashland and early Ashland history – people, buildings, stories of triumph and tragedy, and more. Primarily on the Plaza, the walk will also go into Lithia Park and along Winburn Way. See Ashland photos from 100 to 160 years ago.

Time of walk: Approximately 1.5 hours.

Distance of walk: approximately 1 mile. Flat route, mostly paved walking surface with some uneven pavement. A short distance of the walk is on a dirt or wood chips path in Lithia Park.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 12 people.

Route: Plaza, Lithia Park, Winburn Way, back to Plaza.

Meeting spot: Meet at Lithia Park entrance at south end of Plaza.

History tour: Impact of the Railroad on Ashland

Description: Learn about the impact of the railroad on Ashland in the late 1800s and through the 1900s. You will explore historic A Street and Fourth Street in the Railroad District. Hear stories about Ashland’s Chinese community from 1880 to 1930, why Ashland police fed free dinners to hobos in the early 1900s, and much more.

Time of walk: 1.5 to 2 hours

Distance of walk: approximately 1.3 miles. Mostly flat, paved surface, with some uneven pavement.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 12 people.

Route: Railroad Park, A Street, Fourth Street, A Street back to Railroad Park.

Meeting spot: Meet at Golden Connections sculpture in Railroad Park.

History+Art tour: Plaza to Ashland Library and back

Description: In this guided walk through downtown Ashland, you will learn the history of Ashland Springs Hotel, the Hotel Oregon (which was torn down in 1961), the Ashland library from its humble beginning in 1879, Teddy the Elk at the Ashland Elks Lodge, and much more. There will be a brief introduction to eight Ashland public artworks.

Time of walk: Approximately 1.5 hours.

Distance of walk: approximately 1 mile. Flat route on sidewalks, with some uneven pavement.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 10 people.

Route: North end of Plaza, East Main Street, Ashland Carnegie Library, Third Street, return to Plaza along Lithia Way.

Meeting spot: Meet at the flagpole in the Plaza.

History tour: Shakespeare in Ashland from 1887 to 1939

Description: Learn about Shakespeare plays that were performed in Ashland in the late 1800s and early 1900s, decades before Angus Bowmer founded the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). You will also hear my favorite OSF story from the early years of the Festival. You will see historic photos going back to the early 1900s.

Meeting spot: Meet on “the bricks” near the entrance to the Elizabethan Theater.

Time of walk: Approximately 1.5 hours.

Distance of walk: Less than 1 mile. Paved walking surface with several steps and some uneven pavement.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 12 people.

Route: From the Elizabethan Theatre area to Lithia Park to East Main Street and back.

Art tour: Art (and more) at North Mountain Park

Description: North Mountain Park is filled with art, flowers, water, trees, playing fields and more. You will learn about 15 artworks in the park: their meaning, how they were made, and stories about the artists. You will learn about the Nature Center’s commitment to education and community involvement. We will look briefly at the lush pollinator gardens and wild areas.

Time of walk: approximately 1.5 hours

Meeting spot: Meet in front of the Nature Center at North Mountain Park.

Time of walk: Approximately 1.5 hours.

History+Art tour: Painted utility boxes in Railroad District

Description: During this tour, we will visit eight painted utility boxes (all part of Ashland’s public art collection) and explore Ashland history through nine stories. Most of our tour will be walking through Ashland’s historic Railroad District.

Time of walk: approximately 1.5 hours

Distance of walk: approximately 1.2 miles. Flat route, mostly paved walking surface with some uneven pavement.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 12 people.

Route: Second Street, Lithia Way, Oak Street, A Street, Third Street, C Street, back to Lithia Way and Second Street.

Meeting spot: Meet in front of U.S. Bank near corner of East Main St and Second St.

Public Art tour: Downtown public art (six artworks)

Description: We will see the artworks Pioneer Mike, “We Are Here,” Rio Amistad, Fall Splendor, Inorganic Compound and Las Calles de Guanajuato. I will give a brief introduction to Native Americans of the Rogue Valley, the founding of Ashland, early Ashland history, and our sister city relationship with Guanajuato.

Time of walk: approximately 1.5 hours

Distance of walk: approximately 1 mile. Mostly on sidewalks. We will walk down one stairway, and walk a very short distance on a level dirt path.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 12 people.

Route: Plaza to North Main Street, south on Granite Street, down Calle Guanajuato stairway, along Calle Guanajuato to the Guanajuato mural.

Meeting spot: Meet at the Pioneer Mike statue in Ashland Plaza.

Public Art tour: Bandersnatch trail

Description: On the Bandersnatch trail art tour we will view three public art pieces: Elevation, Pacific Fisher and Water is Life. You will learn about the artists, how the artworks were created and how the art relates to Ashland’s watershed.

Time of walk: approximately 1 hour

Distance of walk: approximately 0.5 miles. We will be walking on dirt trails. From Pacific Fisher to Water is Life is a somewhat steep uphill and back downhill climb.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free.

Route: From Glenview Drive parking area along Waterline trail, then up Bandersnatch trail, then back to the starting spot.

Meeting spot: Trail head by parking area on Glenview Drive. Take Granite Street south. At 0.1 miles past point where Granite Street becomes dirt road, turn left on Glenview Drive. You will see two parking areas a little past 0.1 miles on Glenview Drive.

Neighborhood Art tour: Fordyce Street neighborhood

Description: As we walk through the Fordyce Street neighborhood, we will see a dozen colorful, uplifting murals and mosaics. You will learn about the local artists and how they created the artworks.

Time of walk: Approximately 1.5 hours.

Distance of walk: 1 mile. Flat route, mostly paved walking surface with some uneven pavement, short distance on dirt path.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 12 people.

Route: East Main Street, through Evergreen Park, Mill Pond Road, Fordyce Street, Orchid Street, Rose Lane, Fordyce Street, Evergreen Lane, through Evergreen Park, back to East Main Street.

Meeting spot: Corner of East Main Street and Wightman Street, on the sidewalk in front of the new National Guard Armory

History tour: Ashland’s cultural journey from 1850s pioneers to

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Description: Learn about the cultural and economic influences that transformed Ashland from an isolated pioneer community into a destination for lovers of creativity and culture. The early settlers were mostly practical, adventurous and entrepreneurial Midwesterners. From this humble beginning emerged an energetic community, a college, a City Band, the Chautauqua summer programs, health resorts, an Opera House, a vibrant park system, and eventually a world renowned theater. Many historic photos included.

Time of walk: approximately 1.5 hours.

Distance of walk: Less than 1 mile. Mostly flat route, paved walking surface with some uneven pavement.

Cost is $15 per person, with children 10 years and younger free. Normally a maximum of 12 people.

Route: Lithia Park entrance, Lower Duck Pond, Bill Patton Garden, East Main Street, OSF “bricks” by Elizabethan Theatre.

Meeting spot: Meet by the Lithia Park sign at park entrance, south end of the Plaza. The tour will end at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival “bricks” by the Allen Elizabethan Theatre.

The group loved the history and your tour truly gave them a sense of place and appreciation for the town they then explored all week. Thanks again for your participation and sharing your vast knowledge of Ashland!

Not Ready to Schedule a Tour?

If you can’t schedule a Walking Tour now, grab this free PDF download today. It’s filled with quirky Ashland stories and photos that will bring a smile to your face.