Birmingham Ghost Walk: Hotels, Churches & Riots Tour

Walk the city's hidden violence and hear the stories buildings still hold

The Birmingham Ghost Walk is a guided tour through downtown Birmingham led by a live local guide, exploring haunted hotels, churches, and sites tied to the city's violent history and lingering hauntings. The walk lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and covers real stories of murder, riots, executions, and spirits — not scripted tales, but researched history grounded in the places you stand. The tour operates in all weather and is wheelchair accessible on mostly level or slight-incline sidewalks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore haunted Birmingham landmarks

• Begin tour at historic haunted shop
• Visit Clark Building and Tutwiler Hotel site
• Explore Cathedral of the Advent church
• See haunted hotel and hear ghost story
• Discuss seances at former boarding house
• Pause at D. O. Whilldin office
• Proceed to Redmont Hotel and hear hauntings
• View architectural haunted historic marvel
• Visit former Jefferson County Jail site

The Experience

What still haunts Birmingham? The tour starts in the shop itself, a historic haunted place with its own creepy history tied to one of the 13 artifacts from the guide's show. From there, the walk moves through downtown — past the Clark Building and the original Tutwiler Hotel location, then to the Cathedral of the Advent, a historic church with a hidden graveyard tucked behind it. Each stop is a real place with a real story: the little girl who knocks in a historic hotel, the seances held at a boarding house before it became something else, the Redmont Hotel and its documented hauntings. With a small group, there's a chance to step inside some buildings instead of just passing them.

The guide covers the Jefferson County Jail site, where county executions happened until 1925, and moves through an architectural marvel that carries its own weight. This is not a performance or a scripted show — it's a walk led by someone who has researched the city for over 15 years and knows which stories are too strange to be anything but true. The tour runs in all weather, so dress for the season. Sidewalks are mostly level or have slight inclines, and the route is wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• Professional live guide in English.
• access to haunted hotels, churches, and historic sites including the Cathedral of the Advent, Redmont Hotel, and the former Jefferson County Jail site.
• stories of murder, riots, executions, and documented hauntings tied to real Birmingham history.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by The Birmingham Historic Touring Company

Is this one for you?At 1.5 to 2 hours, the walk fits into a morning or afternoon without eating the whole day — long enough to move through downtown and hear the layered stories, short enough to leave room for other plans. If you want to understand Birmingham's violent past and the places where that history still echoes, a local guide who has researched the city for over 15 years will show you what the surface doesn't reveal.

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Top questions

What kind of stories does the Birmingham Ghost Walk actually tell?

The tour covers real history: murder, riots, executions, and documented hauntings tied to specific buildings. The guide shares researched accounts of spirits, secret tunnels, and the violent events that shaped the city — stories grounded in the places you visit, not fictional tales.

How long does the ghost walk take?

The tour runs 1.5 to 2 hours, moving through downtown Birmingham on foot and stopping at haunted hotels, churches, and historic sites along the way.

Can I go inside the buildings on the tour?

With a small group, there's a possibility of stepping inside some of the buildings, including the Redmont Hotel. Larger groups typically view the exteriors and hear the stories from the street.

Is the ghost walk wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Sidewalks are mostly level or have slight inclines, with curb ramps throughout the route. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.

What should I wear for the ghost walk?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately for the season. Bring layers or rain gear depending on the forecast, since you'll be walking outdoors for the full 1.5 to 2 hours.