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Walking Tours

Library-led walking tours are offered from May through October on a wide variety of topics about the history of Hudson. All walking tours are weather dependent. Registration begins 1 month prior to each walking tour date. Space is limited to 30 people. All tours meet at the entrance to the library.  Remember to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. See the events calendar for the full schedule and registration information.

Information about walking tours is detailed below as well as information brochures for self-guided tours.

  • Architectural History
    See why Hudson streets and buildings are said to define the image of the Western Reserve.
  • Disasters of Hudson
    Explore the sites of accidents and calamity in Hudson’s history.
  • Hudson during the Civil War
    Join us as we explore the places and people of Hudson involved in our nation’s Civil War-from John Brown to the homes of many of the men who fought.
  • Kit Homes
    Walk by some of Hudson’s 20th century collection of homes ordered as kits through the catalogs of Sears Roebuck and other manufacturers of home materials.
  • Scandals of Hudson
    Explore the notorious corners of Hudson once whispered about in scandal and gossip.
  • Spooky Hudson
    Seek out the legends, folk tales and ghost stories of Hudson’s dearly departed.
  • Underground Railroad (Self-Guided brochure) (Virtual Walking Tour)
    Stroll past the homes and sites that played a significant part in the anti-slavery movement of pre-Civil War Hudson.
  • History of Hudson Tour (Self-Guided brochure)
    Explore historic downtown Hudson and learn about the rich history behind some of the city’s most memorable landmarks.

VIRTUAL WALKING TOURS

History comes alive with the Hudson Library & Historical Society’s virtual walking tours of historic Hudson. Each self-guided tour incorporates the carefully researched content from the library’s popular in-person walking tours enhanced with a rich multimedia experience including digitized historic photographs and documents sourced from original material from the library’s archives.

Walk or drive these mobile-friendly tours, accessible via Android or Apple phones. Or, experience the tours from your computer without leaving home! The walking tours are built using STQRY, the award-winning digital storytelling platform used by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian and the National Parks Service.

Download the Historic Hudson Tours app on:

AVAILABLE VIRTUAL TOURS:

THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN HUDSON

Hudson, once called the “citadel of abolitionism,” was an active stop on the Underground Railroad and was the childhood home of abolitionist John Brown. Features 16 stops (and 9 bonus stops) at key sites that played a part in the anti-slavery movement in the town. Hudson Library archivist Gwen Mayer narrates this immersive tour featuring enhanced content, photographs of notable citizens and homes, key documents and archival papers and more.