The Historic Home Tour
History, Culture, & Architecture
Absorb the beauty of architecture & history as we tour historic homes of Grand Rapids. Prestigious homes from mid-1800s to early 1900s are meticulously restored in the legally protected Heritage Hill. These designs reflect the individuality of their pioneer owners, who built each one to their own unique tastes. Among its 1,300 homes dating from 1843, more than 60 architectural styles show in its Richardsonian Romanesque stone arches, Juliette balconies on Eastlake Victorians, Greek Revival, Prairie and what’s considered the most authentic Frank Lloyd Wright designed building in existence. Inquire now(opens in a new tab) to arrange your walking, driving or Virtual Historic Home Tour.
Highlights
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Overview
What You'll Do & See
Driving or walking along the streets, Heritage Hill Historic Homes in Grand Rapids is a trip back in time. As each home is often the combination of different styles, you immediately enjoy the unique character carved into the details of these much loved homes. About to be wiped out by the wrecking ball in the 1970s, these homes were saved at the last minute to become one of the “Best Old House Neighborhoods” in the nation. This is the place to take the pictures you’ll want to share!
The Details
Price
Varies upon tour
Departure Time
Varies upon tour
Meeting Point
Varies upon tour
Availability
Mon-Sun, year-round
Duration
1-4 Hours
Group Size
Min. 4 – max. 55 people
Included
1 professional tour guide
Not Included
Transportation
What to Bring
- Walking shoes
- Sunscreen
- Dress for the weather (layers in winter)
Participation Requirements
- Guests should be comfortable with walking 2 miles.
- This tour is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know if you have mobility issues or anything else that would help us make sure you have fun!
- Pet friendly. Your pet must be controlled with a leash or carrier, able to stay quiet during the tour, and comfortable around downtown activity, including horses. Please let us know if you’d like your pet to come.
About Your Guide
Certified tourism ambassador guide
As Heritage Hill Historic Home district is very large, you can see the most by vehicle, which we can do as a “Step-on Guide for Bus Tours, Corporate Groups(opens in a new tab)” in a tour bus or your personal vehicle. Walking tours are also available to see the historic home district, which focus on specific areas of the neighborhood. Story content can include ghost stories and scandals, if you’d like. Please Contact Us(opens in a new tab) to learn more.
FAQs
There are some homes in Heritage Hill where Tours Around Michigan can pre-arrange to tour inside. The two most common stops are a 1909 Prairie designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, another is a mid-1860s Italianate home built by one of Grand Rapids’ Mayors. Each of these homes have different things to appreciate and some areas are only accessible by stairs. If a guest cannot climb stairs, they can still enjoy a good portion of the homes, but some arrangements may be necessary ahead of time. The homes where we can arrange tours may also require some creative arrangements planned for larger groups. In some cases, any additional donation to the home is also expected with a tour group.
Most tours run 1.5 hours, but can be done in less time, if needed. Heritage Hill is one of the largest historic home districts in the nation, so we can also tour for hours, if you’d like, especially if it includes a stop to tour a specific home.
Yes. If time allows in Heritage Hill, we can stop in the historic district to grab some quick pictures in front of a gorgeous mansion (The Castle is a popular one). We can also have longer stops to walk around and see Heritage Hill from a different perspective. And, of course, if a tour inside an historic home is pre-arranged, we can Step-Off and Step-On again during the tour.
