Category Historical Tours

Tennessee · HISTORICAL TOURS

The 15 Best History Tours in Nashville and Memphis

37 tours

Tennessee history runs from thoroughbred farms and antebellum mansions to the Civil Rights movement and the studios that changed American music. These tours take it seriously without turning it into a lecture. Below: routes, running times, and which ones suit families rather than adults.

Murder & Mayhem Haunted History Walking Tour

Murder & Mayhem Haunted History Walking Tour - Price and Time: What $24.89 Buys You in Real Terms

1.Murder & Mayhem Haunted History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 404 reviews · 1 hour 35 minutes (approx.) · from $24Our pick

Chattanooga Murder & Mayhem is a 1h35 downtown ghost walk with dark true-story history, outside photo stops, and award-winning guides for $24.89.

“What a great time we had learning about the history & spirits of Chattanooga! The owner, Amy, did a great job communicating with us about the status of our tour, due to forecasted inclement weather. Despite the spooky weather, our guide, Jessica, maintained her ghostly composure and shared interesting stories & photos that captured our attention & stoked our curiosity. We learned alot of history about the buildings & the population. Come with a curious mind and an active imagination! Definitely wear comfy walking shoes & bring an umbrella in case of inclement weather.”

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Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour: Memphis Beyond Beale

Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour: Memphis Beyond Beale - Main Street to the Fourth Bluff Park story: Civil War Memphis in walking distance

2.Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour: Memphis Beyond Beale

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 394 reviews · from $32Top rated

Memphis Beyond Beale is a 2-3 hour downtown walking tour linking yellow fever, Civil War sites, the Peabody Ducks, and the Orpheum.

“Great Walking Tour, our guide Charlie was a wealth of knowledge about Memphis. We learned all about the Yellow Fever outbreak in the 1870’s, and how that influenced the development of downtown Memphis, and Beale Street. The tour was a good length, about 1-3/4 hourRead more”

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Memphis: Big Mojo Sun Studio + Music History 3-Hour Bus Tour

Memphis: Big Mojo Sun Studio + Music History 3-Hour Bus Tour - Meeting at Alfred’s On Beale: Starting Where the Night Starts

3.Big Mojo Sun Studio + Music History 3-Hour Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 325 reviews · 3 hours · from $65

High-energy Memphis music tour with a guided walk through Sun Studio, plus a live, sing-along bus ride past key landmarks for $65.

“This tour was excellent! Cecil was very informative, telling us about the history of music in Memphis. He also entertained us with his guitar playing skills. Princess, drove us around & is a worthy sidekick. It was fascinating to see where Elvis played his first live concert and Sun studios where so many of the great hits were recorded. I would highly recommend.”

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Nashville Unveiled: The History, Music, and Hacks Tour!

Nashville Unveiled: The History, Music, and Hacks Tour! - Why This Nashville Walking Tour Gets Your Day Off Right

4.Nashville Unveiled: The History, Music, and Hacks Tour!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $24

A 90-minute downtown Nashville walking tour mixing Ryman history, honky-tonk stops, and practical local tips, priced at $24.99.

“The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Nashville and spent the necessary time at each attraction to give you a good appreciation of its history. He was very friendly and spoke in a tone and volume that was easy to understand and hear.”

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Nashville’s Historic Electric Bike Tour

Nashville's Historic Electric Bike Tour - Downtown Nashville to Music Row: Start with the core of the sound

5.Nashville’s Historic Electric Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 189 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $69

Nashville by e-bike in about 2 hours, with helmet audio stories, quick stops at Music Row and Broadway, plus sports and music museums.

“Great way to see more of Nashville and learn some history. Our guide, Bea, was fantastic! Everyone in our group had fun!”

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2.5 Hours Essence of Memphis African American History Tour

2.5 Hours Essence of Memphis African American History Tour - Jacob Burkle’s home and the Underground Railroad thread

Memphis Haunted History Bus Tour

Memphis Haunted History Bus Tour - Meeting at 552 S Main St and using the 7:30 pm start to your advantage

7.Memphis Haunted History Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 170 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $32

Memphis Haunted History Bus Tour with live commentary, mansion stops, and Victorian Village sights. About 1.5 hours, $32.92 per person.

“Very poor and unorganized tour. Definitely the worst tour I'd ever been on. Guide didn't seem to really have a great grasp on information he was trying to convey. Bus driver got lost at one point and they had to Google where going next.”

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Nashville: Immersive E-Bike Tour of Music City’s History

Nashville: Immersive E-Bike Tour of Music City's History - Meeting point near Broadway, and why you should trust the sign

9.Immersive E-Bike Tour of Music City’s History

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 99 reviews · 2 hours · from $69

Pedal-assist e-bike ride through Nashville highlights and lesser-known corners, with guide-led audio at each stop for a smart 2-hour overview.

“This is a great tour. It was a fun way to see all the highlights in downtown Nashville. Try to do this your first day then you can get an overview of some places you can return to and explore further later in your trip.”

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Civil War History Tour – The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee

Civil War History Tour – The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee - Carter House: Real Evidence, Real Families, Real Close-Up

10.Civil War History Tour – The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 85 reviews · 7 hours · from $93

Visit the Carter, Lotz, and Carnton sites tied to the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. See bullet holes, cannon impacts, and Civil War stories.

“Our tour was fantastic! Julie our guide was phenomenal! Full of interesting facts that kept the short ride to Franklin interesting! We booked our tour for New Year’s Eve day, and the Lotz House ended up being closed (the tour company had verified it would be open so this was a surprise!) Fortunately Julie is also a guide for the tour of the stars homes, so she obtained permission to take us on a partial tour of homes after our group expressed interest in doing this!!! What a fantastic day!! I want to thank Julie for pivoting and doing a double tour that included history and showing us some beautiful…”

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National Medal of Honor Heritage Museum Admission Ticket in Chattanooga

National Medal of Honor Heritage Museum Admission Ticket in Chattanooga - The Theater Experience, Where Stories Start to Land

Memphis 2-Hour Historic Walking Tour: Beyond Beale

Memphis 2-Hour Historic Walking Tour: Beyond Beale - Starting at the Peabody Memphis: A Classic Meeting Point With Instant Character

12.Memphis 2-Hour Historic Walking Tour: Beyond Beale

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 68 reviews · 2 hours · from $32

A 2-hour Memphis walking tour beyond Beale Street, with Duck March at the Peabody, Civil War stops, and $32 value with a live guide.

“The tour was very informative. Kate was very nice. She has a not a lot of knowledge of the city. This completed our trip knowing all the history of Memphis highly recommended.”

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Legends of Music City Guided Historical Walking Tour

Legends of Music City Guided Historical Walking Tour - Ryman Auditorium: The Soundtrack of Nashville’s Biggest Name

Chattanooga Heritage Tour – Trolley Ride & Coker Museum

Chattanooga Heritage Tour – Trolley Ride & Coker Museum - Trolley Ride Logistics: Where to Meet and What the Timing Feels Like