Visalia’s historic buildings throughout downtown are still in use today as the Main Street shopping and dining district continues to thrive. Follow along on the “Visalia: Then and Now” self-guided walking tour to learn how this city, formed in 1852, has become the Jewel of the Valley. From the restoration of the Art Deco Darling Hotel to the Palace Hotel built in 1876 that played a part in the creation of the National Park Service, there is much to discover in and around the historic town center. On this tour, visitors will see reminders of days when horses were the only mode of transportation, see the old jail house that is now a unique restaurant, and gaze up at the beautifully restored Fox Theatre, now an iconic landmark for the city.
This self-guided tour takes about one hour to complete; a little more if you decide to stop along the way to enjoy a bite to eat in the old jail, see an original locomotive light while enjoying a drink, or stroll through the shops in the old Palace Hotel.
View the brochure here or stop by the Visit Visalia office to pick up a printed guide.
With thanks to our local partners, The Kaweah Kollectors of the Questers International organization, and Terry Ommen, local historian and preserver of Visalia’s wild west beginnings to its current reign as the “Jewel of the Valley.”
For a free copy of "Visalia: Then & Now" brochure, please contact our office. You can also download a copy here: Visalia Then and Now: A Walk Through History.
For a more immersive experience, the Visalia Historic Walking Tour microsite is free by scanning the QR Code below or clicking on it. You can also download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Navigate through each historic site to see and hear Visalia's history come alive through video and narration.
Real history buffs will want to visit the "Annie R. Mitchell History Room" at the Visalia Branch of the Tulare County Library. Notably, the room's features "The Vault", a bank-type safe that is used to store rare, fragile, and one-of-a-kind items including books, newspapers, journals, manuscripts, personal papers and letter, early directories and slides. The history room is located on the second floor of the library, staffed by volunteers, and is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Visalia Branch Library is located at 200 W. Oak Street, Visalia. (559) 713-2727.
