Since the city of Livermore's beginnings in 1869, the center of town has been the area bounded by L Street on the west, Railroad Avenue on the north, McLeod Street to the east and Fourth Street on the south.

The area was initially occupied by agricultural oriented commerce such as a flour mill, hay and grain warehouses, small stores and hotels. After the turn of the century, the look of the downtown core changed to more of what we would consider traditional today; offering banks, small businesses and shops, and the occasional pub or saloon. But while the business composition changed, the buildings often remained and beneath many of their modernized cosmetic facades exist the bones of an 1870 era building.

The late Gary Drummond, who was a vital part of the Livermore Heritage Guild from1975 to 2001, realized the unique character of our town and created the downtown walking tours. Originally conceived as a supplement to the Livermore school curriculum, they were (and still are) offered to all third grade classes.

Gary soon saw these tours as a way to ensure that even the newest citizens of Livermore would know the stories behind these wonderful old buildings and the Livermore Heritage Guild is pleased to continue Gary's mission, offering these tours to the public.

The Guild offers a docent narrated, one-mile leisurely walking tour, sharing stories of the past and photos of the buildings as they looked long ago. We invite you to take a stroll into Livermore's history!

Over 30 third-grade classrooms particpated in Spring 2022. These same walking tours for adults have not yet been scheduled since the pandemic.