Perfect for the history buff or those who simply enjoy a good old-fashioned story, Snohomish Walks offers an adventure for everyone. Stroll through charming downtown and learn about the characters who wandered these streets over a hundred years ago. Pay a visit to beautiful historic homes and discover who made a life within their walls, or dust off your yearbook and walk the halls of Snohomish High School, revisiting stories of alums.
While the era may be gone, the tales of those who called Snohomish home live on and largely shape what life is like today. Lace up your best pair of sneakers and join historian and Snohomish Walks founder, Taylor Russell, on a stroll into the past on one of Snohomish’s walking tours.
The Beginnings of Snohomish Walks
Family outings that sparked curiosity grew into a love of sharing history and, in time, evolved into a business. Raised by parents who loved history, Taylor remembers long-narrated road trips with frequent stops at museums along the way. During her high school years at Snohomish High School, Taylor loved learning from her history teachers and spent her free time wandering the streets of Snohomish snapping photos of historic homes.
After graduation, Taylor went on to college to become a history teacher, but life pivoted, and she ended up pursuing a career as a chef. Like so many others, life pivoted once again during the COVID lockdowns. With the restaurant industry slowing and time on her hands, Taylor once again turned to her passions—photography and history — and began posting about them on social media.
“I went back to this idea of sharing Snohomish history,” she explains. “I was using historic home photos that I had and adding captions.” Inspired by the positive response to her early Instagram posts, her next project was to design a coloring book highlighting several of Snohomish’s historic homes.
After some initial coaxing from the community, Taylor’s passion eventually turned into leading historic walking tours. “I was really interested in making history something tangible and experiential because it doesn’t have to be dry and it doesn’t have to be just read,” Taylor explains. “It can feel like a sense of connection, and I thought a walking tour is the perfect way to do that.” Since then, Taylor has worked with nonprofits and community groups, published books, collaborated with historians, led tours for all ages, and shared Snohomish history with both visitors and locals.
Choose Your Own Walking Adventure
Lace up your walking shoes, grab a coffee at one of Snohomish’s many charming cafes and enjoy your trip back in time with Taylor. Making history come to life through masterful storytelling, Taylor leads tours from April through October. Join her as she guides you through the legends and lore of First Street shenanigans on the Downtown Tour. Perfect for those who have ever wondered about the beautiful homes of Snohomish, the Historic Snohomish Homes Tour will answer all your questions about the characters who lived in them in a bygone era.
Travel back to your yearbook days and enjoy a historical perspective with the Historic Snohomish High School tour or celebrate the women who helped shape what Snohomish is today with the Historic Snohomish Women’s Tour. Perfect for the spooky season, enjoy Taylor’s newest tour, the Lost Cemetery Tour. Discover how an entire burial ground located in the center of downtown was lost to the pages of history.
For those history buffs who may find it challenging to schedule a walk, Taylor has conveniently made downloadable self-guided tours. Wander around on your own time or play tour guide to out-of-town guests. Pair a trip to the local pumpkin patch with her self-guided Haunted Snohomish Tour or dinner out on First Street with her Downtown self-guided tour.
Walking Through the Past and Into the Future
When she is not leading tours, writing books, or working on her next research project, Taylor is encouraging the next generation of local historians. “There are so many opportunities for people who are interested to get involved,” she explains. Encouraging curiosity, Taylor recommends getting involved with the refreshed Snohomish Historical Society, volunteering, or telling your neighbor about historical events around town. Above all, be curious. “There are a lot of stories out there that haven’t been told and haven’t been uncovered,” she explains. “There is so much potential.”
Taylor’s passion for local history is contagious. Wander into the past, get involved, and enjoy local history with Snohomish Walks. “It doesn’t really feel like a business to me so much as it feels like a very natural extension of myself,” she explains. “This is what people enjoy and value. It’s gonna be a fun time for both of us.”
