Walking Tours
Explore downtown Ithaca in a new, old, way.
“King Alcohol Ends Reign”
Ithaca’s Prohibition History Walking Tour
Tour Overview
In the early 1900s, Ithaca, NY earned some colorful nicknames: “Sodom,” “Sin City,” and “Rum Town, USA.” Long before national Prohibition took hold, Ithacans were already battling over booze, morality, and modernity.
“King Alcohol Ends Reign” is a 10-block walking tour through downtown Ithaca that traces the city’s spirited (and often surprising) history with Prohibition. Led by trained docents from The History Center, this 60–70 minute experience takes you to the actual sites of speakeasies, dry raids, church protests, saloons, and reform rallies—uncovering how Ithaca became one of the first cities in New York State to go dry.
Through historic images, newspaper headlines, and stories of resistance and reform, you’ll see the city in a whole new light. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, you’ll never look at downtown Ithaca the same way again.
Tour Details
Duration: 60–70 minutes
Distance: ~10 blocks (moderate walking)
Audience: Adults, college students, history lovers, tourists, and curious locals
What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water, curiosity
Weather Note: Rain or shine! In the event of severe weather, tours may be rescheduled.
Upcoming Tours
Beginning in June
“King Alcohol Ends Reign” Ithaca’s Prohibition History Walking Tour
About This Event
Once known by nicknames like “Sin City,” Ithaca, NY had a reputation that made national headlines—and it took on Prohibition long before the rest of the country. Over a year before the 18th Amendment took effect, Ithaca had already banned alcohol, sparking a local culture war that reshaped its neighborhoods, businesses, and social life.
Join us for a 60–70 minute walking tour through downtown Ithaca as we uncover the early 20th-century struggle between temperance advocates and those who pushed back. You'll visit key sites tied to saloons, reformers, hidden resistance, and the shifting identity of a college town at war with itself.
Perfect for adults, students, visitors, and locals alike—this 10-block journey brings history out of the archives and onto the streets.
Comfortable shoes encouraged. Curiosity required.
“King Alcohol Ends Reign” Ithaca’s Prohibition History Walking Tour
About This Event
Once known by nicknames like “Sin City,” Ithaca, NY had a reputation that made national headlines—and it took on Prohibition long before the rest of the country. Over a year before the 18th Amendment took effect, Ithaca had already banned alcohol, sparking a local culture war that reshaped its neighborhoods, businesses, and social life.
Join us for a 60–70 minute walking tour through downtown Ithaca as we uncover the early 20th-century struggle between temperance advocates and those who pushed back. You'll visit key sites tied to saloons, reformers, hidden resistance, and the shifting identity of a college town at war with itself.
Perfect for adults, students, visitors, and locals alike—this 10-block journey brings history out of the archives and onto the streets.
Comfortable shoes encouraged. Curiosity required.
“King Alcohol Ends Reign” Ithaca’s Prohibition History Walking Tour
About This Event
Once known by nicknames like “Sin City,” Ithaca, NY had a reputation that made national headlines—and it took on Prohibition long before the rest of the country. Over a year before the 18th Amendment took effect, Ithaca had already banned alcohol, sparking a local culture war that reshaped its neighborhoods, businesses, and social life.
Join us for a 60–70 minute walking tour through downtown Ithaca as we uncover the early 20th-century struggle between temperance advocates and those who pushed back. You'll visit key sites tied to saloons, reformers, hidden resistance, and the shifting identity of a college town at war with itself.
Perfect for adults, students, visitors, and locals alike—this 10-block journey brings history out of the archives and onto the streets.
Comfortable shoes encouraged. Curiosity required.