New Orleans Tour Guide
Learn more about our Free Walking Tours
Who is Nola Tour Guy?
David G. Hedges
Nola Tour Guy was started by David G. Hedges an adventurous, fun-loving Chicago native who considers New Orleans his true home. At the age of 19, David traveled to New Orleans via hitchhiking and freight trains despite not knowing anyone in the city. He quickly became enamored with New Orleans and after finishing up college in Chicago, decided to move there permanently. In 2011, David pursued his tour guide license so he could share his passion for the city with others, but found that many existing tour companies were based out of state and offered only a cookie cutter, watered down version of New Orleans’ unique history.
No one can truly feel the city’s energy or understand its dynamic layers on a large, crowded tour or in a blur on a streetcar. David knew he could do better and started his own company, Nola Tour Guy. On his tours, David imparts captivating history with grace and good humor and gives real depth to a complex, diverse city. Most of all, he aims to make these tours fun and engaging. Join David on a FREE tour and fall in love with New Orleans just like he has!.
Eric Spinrad
Eric Spinrad graduated with honors, receiving a Bachelor in Science, just in time for the market crash of 2008. With a life deferred and job opportunities dismal, Eric hit the open road and eventually washed up on the rich alluvial deposit that cradles New Orleans. Awe inspired by the city’s mostly intact old quarter, which many cities lost to urban redevelopment, he took to books and began sifting through the many layers of New Orleans history. Contrary to history existing within a vacuum, Eric believes that from nature’s test of the levee system to the recent removal of Confederate symbols, New Orleans is in constant motion that continually shapes the city and its inhabitants. Eric is thoroughly excited to join David Hedges at Nola Tour Guy to captivate both visitors and locals alike with the ever changing history of America’s greatest city, New Orleans.
Sal Geloso
Salvatore Geloso AKA Sally Baby has been residing and working as a queer jazz musician of color in New Orleans for the past 15 years. Drawn to the crescent city by its unmistakable folk magic and lore, Sally baby delved deep into the rich history and stories told by the cities colorful characters of a disappearing past. Specializing in Creole, Indigenous histories , and ethnomusicology, Sally baby guarantees a unique unforgettable experience that is down to earth and exceptionally informative. Discover for yourself how the crescent cities true secrets are really hidden in plain sight for all to see. Sally baby believes there is no need to sensationalize a story that is already stranger than fiction!
Sandy H.
Sandy H. has lived in New Orleans since 1995 and have been a tour guide in the city for approximately 20 years. She holds a Master’s degree in history and enjoys helping bring the past alive for visitors.
Daniel Chick
I grew up on the New Orleans Westbank in the borough of Gretna. After graduating High School I attended University of New Orleans pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in History. I also worked full time at DiMartino’s which makes the best muffaletta in New Orleans. When Hurricane Katrina rolled through in 2005 I ended up moving to Pennsylvania for a few years. I graduated from Penn State University with a degree in History in 2009 in the hopes of becoming a teacher.
Teaching never materialized which was no surprise considering how little demand there was for Social Studies education. I ended up working at Ochsner Medical Center in the outpatient Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Department. One day I left my badge behind in the mailbox of my Department Head and started driving for Uber which I did for a year.
With the advice of my brother Sean and a sudden rekindling in my love for history I decided to start giving tours. I have not looked back ever since. I’ve always felt being a native New Orleanian with a variety of different life experiences in this city has given me the ability to provide different insights on my tours than what might be expected. The teacher inside of me will always enjoy the feeling of engagement.
I love leading tours and I love meeting the people who take my tours and making their trip to the city a great and, hopefully, an enlightening experience.
Daniel Chick
Sean is a New Orleans native, born in Algiers and raised in Gretna. He holds a Masters Degree in History from Southeastern Louisiana University and has a passion for the past. He has held many jobs: teacher, reporter, waiter, librarian, cook, but his true calling is showing people the sights of his home town, from the famous landmarks to the best place to get a good meal. He loves telling stories about the strange and wonderful people of old New Orleans, from notorious criminals and crooked politicians to wandering artists and colorful eccentrics.
Sean is a published American Civil War historian. His books can be bought here:
and Here
