A National Historic Site, the Exchange District features an exceptional collection of heritage buildings built between 1880 and 1920—all tucked away within a small 20-block area. Nicknamed the “Chicago of the North”, the neighbourhood features massive stone and brick warehouses, elegant terracotta-clad buildings, narrow angled streets as well as cobblestone paths and alleyways.
On our guided walking tours, knowledgeable and dynamic tour guides examine legends of power, corruption and heroism all while you enjoy an exceptional collection of architecture. A must-see for visitors and locals!
Exchange District Walking Tours
Cost: $10 per person, $8 for students (with student ID), and $6 for under 18s.
We meet at the Exchange District BIZ office located at 492 Main Street. Tours are dog-friendly!
For all tour-related questions and queries, please email tours@exchangedistrict.org.
History of the Exchange District
Tour Length: 1.5 hours. Shorter tours available upon request
Walk the cobblestone streets and experience the vibrant, bustling history of the Exchange District. Learn about Newspaper Row, turn-of-the-century banks and the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. Get to know the famous and unsung characters who made Winnipeg the city it is today.
Death and Debauchery
Tour Length: 1 hour.
Take a walk on the wild side and explore the dark secrets that made Winnipeg the ‘Wickedest City in the Dominion.’ Get a glimpse into a different side of Winnipeg’s history with a legal red light district, corrupt mayors, murder most foul, and the largest unsolved robbery in Western Canadian history.
Strike! The Walking Tour
Tour Length: 1.5 hours.
The 1919 Winnipeg General Strike was the longest and largest labour conflict in North America and had a major national impact on the labour movement. Learn about the plight of the strikers from the citywide halt of production to the firing of the police force and the tragic events of Bloody Saturday.
Historic Architecture: Bank Halls to Brutalism
Tour Length: 1.5 hours
Explore the vibrant history and stunning architecture of the Exchange District, a roadmap of Winnipeg’s early growth and architectural styles. See examples of brick and mortar warehouses from the 1890s, marvellous terracotta skyscrapers of Winnipeg’s 1910 boom period, as well as brutalist and international-style complexes in Winnipeg’s modernist quarter.
We maintain an extensive back-catalogue of previously offered tours, which include focuses on philanthropy, women’s rights activism, punk rock and counter-cultural movements, and theatre and film. Please let us know if you are interested in any of these topics and our guides can adapt current tours to include them.