Unless noted otherwise, all tours take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and depart from (and return to) the parking lot
across from Kelleher’s Irish Pub and Eatery (619 SW Water Street). Bus tours cost $20 per person and reservations are required.
Visit 309tix.com to reserve a spot.
For more info & to purchase tickets: https://peoriahistoricalsociety.org/history-bus-tours/
Saturday, June 7 Roll Out the Barrel
Saturday, June 14 It Happened in the Heights*
Saturday, June 21 Peoria’s Whiskey Barons (includes visit to Pettengill-Morron House)
Saturday, June 28 Mid-Century Modern Architecture
Saturday, July 5 Notable Peoria Women
Saturday, July 12 World’s Most Beautiful Drive*
Saturday, July 19 Lincoln, Abolitionists, and the Civil War
Saturday, July 26 West Peoria and the Uplands
Saturday, August 2 Warehouse Renaissance
Saturday, August 9 World’s Most Beautiful Drive*
Saturday, August 16 The Parks of Peoria
Saturday, August 23 Naughty to Nice
Saturday, August 30 Roots of the River City
Saturday, September 6 Roll Out the Barrel
Saturday, September 13 Historic Springdale*
Saturday, September 20 Grand Victorian (Randolph, Roanoke, Glen Oak) (includes visit to Flanagan House)
Saturday, September 27 Theaters of Peoria
Saturday, October 4 West Peoria and the Uplands
Saturday, October 11 Haunted Peoria
Saturday, October 18 Haunted Peoria**
Saturday, October 25 Haunted Peoria**
* Departs from Peoria Heights City Hall parking lot (4901 N. Prospect) at 10 a.m.
** Departs from Kelleher’s parking lot at 3 p.m. and returns at 5 p.m.
Peoria Historical Society is happy to offer custom and private tours for corporate groups, annual meetings, family reunions, and more.
For more than 30 years, PHS bus tours have enabled participants to enjoy “history on the move” with knowledgeable guides providing historical facts and engaging stories behind some of Peoria’s most noteworthy sites. We offer 20+ tours, including “Roots of the River City,” which offers an overview of local history from Native American times to present day. “Historic Springdale Cemetery” explores the oldest chartered cemetery in Illinois and shares stories of famous Peorians buried there. “Roll Out the Barrel” tours the Warehouse District with a focus on the prosperous days when Peoria was known as the “Whiskey Capital of the World.”
“Notable Peoria Women” looks at some local women who made indelible marks in the fields of education, business, and medicine. “Naughty to Nice” recalls the city during Prohibition days, the Roaring 1920s, and the 1930s, when the city’s reputation involved crime, gangsters, and gambling. And “Haunted Peoria” shares a collection of eerie appearances and spooky sightings that have puzzled Peorians for decades.
Abe Lincoln
Learn about Lincoln’s many visits to Peoria, the Civil War camps located here and the veterans’ final resting places in Springdale Cemetery. Hear stories about Peoria’s abolitionist movement and view the GAR Hall, built in 1909.
Roll Out the Barrel Tour
Peoria once featured a riverfront lined with breweries and distilleries. Taxes collected ranked it as the Whiskey Capital of the World.
From 1850 to Prohibition, the volume of whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Peoria led to great fortunes being made and the birth of equally prosperous secondary industries. Discover why Peoria was the perfect place for all of these industries to be developed.
Naughty to Nice Tour
This tour traces triumphs through time from the 1920’s to the present. Tales of gambling and mobsters, including the site of Peoria’s most notorious crime – the Bernie Shelton murder, provide a fascinating look into this era. Also, discover why Peoria has won the prestigious All-America City Award four times.
Note: This tour is not appropriate for children.
Warehouse Renaissance Tour
Once a dusty collection of aging warehouses, the Warehouse District is now changing rapidly. New residential units, restaurants and retail make this area vibrant. The early history of the area and the factors that led to new development will be shared.
Roots of the River City Tour
The Native Americans, the French, the whiskey and earthmoving capital of the world and the grand mansions – the River City Tour has it all. You will view the stately homes along High Street, Moss Avenue, Glen Oak, and Grandview Drive. Enjoy the beautiful view of the Illinois River during this tour.
Haunted Peoria Tour
Explore the darker side of Peoria! Discover the stories behind the ghostly appearances that have startled and puzzled Peorians through the years. Curses, graves, legends and spooky sightings abound.
Historic Springdale Tour
Historic Springdale Cemetery has many fascinating stories. Explore the oldest chartered cemetery in the state of Illinois and enjoy the beautiful park-like setting as you hear stories of those who have their final resting place there.
World’s Most Beautiful Drive Tour
This tour will focus on the history of the beautiful and gracious homes of Grandview Drive. In addition, we will look at some of the LeTourneau all-steel homes located in Peoria Heights. The history of transportation industries and the former Pabst Brewery in this small community are also addressed.
Notable Peoria Women Tour
Peoria has a rich history of fascinating women who have made their mark on the city and the world. You will learn about three Peoria women inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, as well as discovering other women who impacted education, business, medicine, and the lives of those less fortunate.
West Peoria and the Uplands
View the oldest planned neighborhood in Peoria and learn more about West Bluff cemeteries, the Western Avenue Greenway Project and the proud residents of this area.
