Salida Walking Tours - Small Group History Tours (2026)
Small-group walking tours focused on historic downtown and local history.
Conversational pace with time for questions.
Led by Steve Chapman — author of six books on Salida history.
Tour Schedule - Summer 2026
Tour Description
Salida Outlaws, Whores & History Tour
Step into Salida’s Untamed Past
Walk through the parts of town where blood, booze, and crime shaped daily life. Hear the story of the murder of Salida’s marshal and an 1883 shootout that left three dead. In the early years, 27 saloons lined downtown—and for a time, there was no real law at all.
Explore Salida’s Most Notorious Districts
Visit the former red-light district and surrounding streets where brothels operated and conflicts played out. Sit on the steps of one of the longest-running brothels in America and hear the story of the colorful owner who kept it running until 1950.
Relive the Fires of 1886 and 1888
Stand at the sites affected by the major fires that reshaped downtown. The tour covers what was lost, what was rebuilt, and how those events still shape the layout and structures today.
$35 per person
Small groups. Limited capacity.
What to Expect - Salida Walking Tours 2026
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Small groups. Fixed schedule. No additional dates will be added.
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90 minutes (12 blocks, easy walking pace)
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Meets on the F Street Bridge near the red caboose
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Prepare for weather (hats, sunscreen, water)
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Ghost tours unavailable
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Service dogs only
Benefiting Local Non-Profit Organizations
10% of all sales donated locally