The Washington County Historical Society is offering four walking tours of the St. George Historic District on Jan. 16 and 17, 2026, in conjunction with the dedication of the new St. George City Hall. Tickets for the tours can be found on Eventbrite. Spaces are limited.
All four tours are free and open to the public.
“Participants on each of the walking tours will gain insights into how these early pioneers lived and how they were able to build such fine homes and public buildings while living in a mostly barter-based economy,” said Loren Webb, Washington County Historical Society walking tour coordinator.
The tours are as follows:
Friday, Jan. 16, Pioneer Courthouse Block Tour, Tour guide Jim McArthur, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tour begins in the Pioneer Center for the Arts parking lot, 145 N. 100 East. Parking will be in the Pioneer Square parking lot (the parking lot for the Pioneer Courthouse and the DUP Museum). Buildings to be highlighted on this tour include the Pioneer Courthouse, which originally had three jail cells in the basement, along with county offices on the second floor and a courtroom/classroom on the third floor. The old J.C. Penney’s store and the first St. George fire station will be featured from the outside on this walking tour. Meet in front of the Pioneer Courthouse.
Friday, Jan. 16, Ancestor Square Block Tour, Tour guide Loren Webb, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tour will begin near the bicycle rack near Cafe FeelLove Coffee in Ancestor Square parking lot. Parking will be in the Ancestor Square parking lot, accessible off Main Street and 200 North. Among the historic homes that will be highlighted on this tour will be the Samuel Miles home, Brigham Young Winter Home, Edwin Woolley home, the Anthony W. Ivins home, the Gardner Club Building and the Sheriff Augustus Hardy home.
Saturday, Jan. 17, Town Square Block Tour, Tour guide Tom McArthur, 11:30 to 1 p.m. Tour will begin at the new St. George City Hall following the 11 a.m. dedication ceremony. This would require walking across Main Street on the new crosswalk between City Hall and the Town Square block. Parking will be in the LDS Tabernacle parking lot with backup parking in the new St. George City parking lot. Highlighted buildings on this tour include the LDS Tabernacle, the Dixie Academy Building (Children’s Museum) on the site of the original Dixie College campus, and the Woodward Building, one of the earliest public school buildings erected in downtown St. George.
Saturday, Jan. 17, Green Gate Village Block Tour, Tour guide Susan Crook, 1 to 2:30 p.m. The tour begins in the plaza between the Thomas Judd Store, 62 West Tabernacle, and the Orson Pratt/Joseph Bentley home. Participants will need to use the crossing walk next to Judd's Store or use the Main Street crossing walk. Some of the buildings to be featured on this tour include the old St. George Coop Store, the Wadsworth Building, the Bishop’s Storehouse, Judd’s Store, which is the oldest business in continuous use today in St. George, along with the Orson Pratt home, which was home to one of St. George’s earliest leaders.
Parking will be in the rear of the LDS Tabernacle parking lot.