| Saturday
May 19 |
| 10:00 am | Bungalows of Westwood Park | Craftsman, English Tudor, Spanish Revival, Colonial Revival-you'll see all these styles and more strolling through this west side neighborhood of 650 cozy bungalows built for middle class San Franciscans in the early 20th century. |
Meet at Ocean & Faxon Avenues |
| 10:00 am | North Beach | Savor a taste of the International District, home to the Latin Quarter of the 1850s, Little Italy since the 1880s, and the stage for turn-of-the-century bohemians and mid-20th century beatniks. |
Meet at 666 Filbert Street on the steps of Saints Peter and Paul Church, across from Washington Square.
Public transportation: MUNI lines 30, 45.
Parking: city garage - 735 Vallejo, between Stockton and Powell. |
| 10:00 am | Palace Hotel | Majestic. Spectacular. Words fail to convey the extraordinary beauty of the elegantly restored Palace. See this 1909 Beaux Arts gem for yourself, and discover why it's consistently ranked as one of the top luxury hotels in the world! |
Meet on right side of main lobby; 2 New Montgomery Street. Public transportation: MUNI/BART Montgomery Station; all Market Street buses & streetcars. |
| 10:00 am | Omni Hotel Walk | Starting from the lobby of the Omni Hotel enjoy one of City Guides popular downtown tours. Each week take a surprise tour that could include Nob Hill, Chinatown, Embarcadero Skyway, Gold Rush City, or the Ferry Building. |
500 California Street (at Montgomery) |
| 10:00 am | Chinatown | Explore local alleys and walk among sites of temples and tongs, and shops of joss, dim sum, herbs; learn some colorful history and stories from the oldest Chinatown in the US. |
Meet in Portsmouth Square (Washington & Kearny), upper level near the elevators. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 30, and 45. |
| 11:00 am | Mission Murals | See the colorful people's art of the Mission District, one of San Francisco's largest ethnic communities. |
Meet at Precita and Harrison, behind Flynn Elementary School. Public transportation: MUNI lines 12, 27. |
| 11:00 am | Pacific Heights Mansions | Walk past palatial homes and consulates in Pacific Heights--mansions used as the Japanese and German consulates in 1941. Learn of Victorian lifestyles and earthquake refugees. |
Meet in Alta Plaza Park, atop the stairs above Pierce & Clay Sts. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 2. |
| 11:00 am | Landmark Victorians Of Alamo Square | See some of the city's most opulent and carefully restored 'Painted Ladies' including the world famous Postcard Row. You will also be treated to breathtaking panoramic views from the Alamo Square Historic District. |
Meet in front of 824 Grove Street. Public transportation: MUNI lines 21, 22, 5. |
| 11:00 am | Castro: Tales Of The Village | Explore a neighborhood you thought you knew. What was once dairy farms and dirt roads is now one of the city's most vibrant and cohesive communities. Stairs and steep hills. |
Meet at Harvey Milk Plaza, southwest corner of Castro and Market, under the rainbow flag. Muni K, L, M, Castro Station |
| 11:00 am | Coit Tower Murals | Murals--some controversial--created by 25 of California's leading artists of the 1930s reflect scenes of the Great Depression, landscapes, farm workers, industries, a stylish soiree, and vibrant city life. Tour includes some murals not usually open to the public. |
Meet at the main entry of Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill. No parking. Public transportation: MUNI line 39. |
| 12:00 pm | Ferry Building | Enjoy an hour-long walk on the rise, tragic fall, and modern rebirth of one of San Francisco's most renowned historic landmarks. Visit a contemporary swirl of shops and learn the history of ferries, freeways and quakes. Meet at the foot of the stairs at the front entrance, Market and Embarcadero. |
Meet at the main entrance, near the stairs to the 2nd Floor. Public transportation: MUNI lines 12, F Market; MUNI/BART Embarcadero Station. Lots of stairs; elevator available. |
| 1:00 pm | West Side Whimsy Walk | Discover the unique atmosphere and whimsical architecture of the City Beautiful movement-inspired neighborhoods built west of Twin Peaks. See Art Deco landmarks, storybook cottages, and Spanish castles as we explore the Balboa Terrace, St. Francis Wood, and Lakeside neighborhoods. |
Meet at the staircase next to 141 Junipero Serra Blvd. |
| 1:00 pm | Telegraph Hill Stairway Hike | Enjoy sweeping views of the Bay
and beyond. Climb the Filbert Street steps and experience a different San Francisco: semi-tropical gardens and cottages built in the 1850s. Perhaps catch a glimpse of the wild parrots. |
Meet at Marconi Monument,Lombard & Kearny Sts; only approach is from North Beach or Fisherman's Wharf. |
| 1:00 pm | Palace Of Fine Arts/Marina | Discover one of the most romantic spots in San Francisco, and the site of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. Learn of this fabulous fair and beloved building while you enjoy today's historic Marina district. |
Meet at the corner of Bay and Lyon Sts. Public transportation: MUNI lines 28, 30. |
| 1:00 pm | Fire Department Museum | View antique engines and fire fighter artifacts mixed together with the history of fire fighting. This is an indoor tour. A trained City Guide is available for questions and explanations. |
Meet on Presidio Avenue between Bush and Pine. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 43. |
| 1:00 pm | Japanese Tea Garden | Join us for a 45-minute stroll through this five-acre world-famous garden. Learn about the icons of the Garden and the family that lived there. Admission to garden required except on the Monday and Wednesday 9:30 morning tour. |
Meet just inside the entrance to the garden. |
| 2:00 pm | Land's End: Sutro Heights | In sunshine or fog, experience the dramatic wind swept vistas where San Francisco meets the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy Sutro Heights Park, Mayor Sutro's gift to the public, and see the ruins of his gigantic baths. Somewhat strenuous. |
Meet by the lions gate entrance to the park on the south side of Pt. Lobos Ave across from the GGNRA visitors' center adjacent to 48th Ave and the MUNI bus stop.Public transportation: MUNI No.38 bus to 48th Ave |
| 2:00 pm | Golden Gate Heights Stairways | On this hearty walk, a multitude of stairways connects comfortable Inner Sunset residential streets with dramatic chert outcroppings offering magnificent views of San Francisco, the Pacific Ocean, and the Marin Hills. |
Meet at Kirkham and the base of the 15th Avenue stairway. Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes Muni N Judah. |
| 2:00 pm | Japantown, Urban Renewal and Fillmore Jazz | San Francisco’s Japantown dates from the earthquake and fire of 1906. Later, Japanese Americans were uprooted in World War II and replaced largely by African Americans who opened many jazz clubs. Then, in the 1950s, urban renewal changed the physical landscape. Today we see Japanese-style architecture next to classic Victorians and the birth of the Fillmore Jazz Preservation District. |
Meet at the Japantown Peace Pagoda at Buchanan between Post and Geary. Public transportation: MUNI lines, 2, 22, 38. |
| Sunday
May 20 |
| 9:00 am | Tenderloin Neighborhood Part I | Explore the Tenderloin’s isolated rural village beginnings and its years as a quiet residential and small business neighborhood. Find out how it morphed into San Francisco’s hotel and silk stocking entertainment and vice district, how it became part of the mean streets in the last half of the 20th century, and how it is trying to reinvent itself as the entertainment and restaurant district it used to be. Learn about the days of the Uptown Tenderloin, San Francisco’s bootlegger wars, the start of the San Francisco movie industry, famous madams, neighborhood gambling and jazz clubs, and Little Saigon. |
Meet at Powell & Market Streets |
| 10:00 am | Cow Hollow (Tour Cancelled) | The tolling of historic bells cast halfway around the world, a rare building type from 1861, a grand Italiante manor house, and San Francisco's most exotic building. These and other unique experiences await you on the Cow Hollow tour. |
Meet at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Van Ness and Green. Public transportation: MUNI lines 45, 47, 49. |
| 11:00 am | Castro: Tales Of The Village | Explore a neighborhood you thought you knew. What was once dairy farms and dirt roads is now one of the city's most vibrant and cohesive communities. Stairs and steep hills. |
Meet at Harvey Milk Plaza, southwest corner of Castro and Market, under the rainbow flag. Muni K, L, M, Castro Station |
| 11:00 am | Golden Gate Bridge | Marvel at San Francisco's world-famous landmark. Discover how the Golden Gate Bridge was built, who built it, and why it's not painted gold - despite its name. Experience breathtaking views of San Francisco and the Marin Headlands from the mid-span of the bridge. |
UPDATED MEETING LOCATION DUE TO CONSTRUCTION: Meet outside the Bridge Cafe, located at the view parking lot on the SF side of the Bridge. Weather can be unpredictable. Bring a jacket! Public transportation: MUNI lines 28. |
| 11:00 am | Mission Dolores Neighborhood | This tour covers the history of San Francisco from the perspective of the one neighborhood that's been through it all. Learn about the Spanish mission that formed the neighborhood, hear the magnificent tale of how the neighborhood survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, discover who the local streets are named after, and experience what this vibrant area is like today. |
Meet at the gold-painted fire hydrant (which saved the neighborhood in 1906),SE corner of Church and 20th Sts. Public transportation: MUNI line J Church streetcar. |
| 11:00 am | Haight-Ashbury | Come explore streets, sidewalks, parks, and vistas that tell the story of a Victorian era resort site subsequently developed by comfortable merchants, whose gingerbread homes still grace its streets. Somewhat strenuous. |
Meet at the Park Branch Library, 1833 Page St. Public transportation: MUNI lines 33, 43. |
| 11:00 am | Downtown Deco | Discover downtown's legacy of the Jazz Age through skyscrapers and office buildings from the Roaring Twenties and early 1930s. Visit some stunning lobbies and learn about some of San Francisco's architects and artists who embraced the Art Deco style. |
Meet in front of the Telephone Building at 140 New Montgomery, in between Mission and Howard. Public transportation: MUNI/BART Montgomery Station; all Market Street buses & streetcars |
| 11:00 am | Billionaire's Row: Outer Broadway Architecture | Explore the most exclusive corner of Pacific Heights; where, since the late 19th century, San Francisco's wealthiest families have built mansions with spectacular views of the bay. Find out which society family runs a nursery school from their home and which rehab program had its headquarters in this unlikely setting. Stroll past a Victorian Firehouse turned private residence and visit a humble church that started a new architectural movement. |
Meet at the top of the Lyon Street steps at the intersection of Lyon and Broadway. Public transportation: MUNI lines 3, 43. |
| 1:00 pm | Japanese Tea Garden | Join us for a 45-minute stroll through this five-acre world-famous garden. Learn about the icons of the Garden and the family that lived there. Admission to garden required except on the Monday and Wednesday 9:30 morning tour. |
Meet just inside the entrance to the garden. |
| 1:00 pm | Fire Department Museum | View antique engines and fire fighter artifacts mixed together with the history of fire fighting. This is an indoor tour. A trained City Guide is available for questions and explanations. |
Meet on Presidio Avenue between Bush and Pine. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 43. |
| 1:00 pm | Golden Gate Park: East End | The East End of Golden Gate Park holds many features and stories of its past one hundred year existence. The Conservatory of Flowers, underground tunnels, a rock quarry, and a long gone aviary are part of its past. View the AIDS Memorial Grove, and the new buildings in the Music Concourse, site of the 1894 World's Fair. We will be walking up small hills and climbing some stairs in this two-hour walk. |
meet at the top steps of the Conservatory of Flowers
|
| 1:30 pm | Noe Valley: A Village Within the City | Who was Noe? What is Horner's Addition? Where was Temple? What is a John Anderson? Did Andrew Carnegie live in Noe Valley? Find out about the valley's working class roots. Walk along and learn tricks to uncover this now-upscale neighborhood's historic secrets. |
Meet at the Public Library, 451 Jersey Street (between Castro and Diamond Streets.) |
| 2:00 pm | Nob Hill | Here once rose the rococo palaces of the old railroad and silver kings. Expect architectural tidbits and anecdotes about a great cathedral, four prestigious hotels, and a most exclusive men's club. Elegance, urbanity, and fabulous views. |
Meet at the front entrance to the Stanford Court Hotel on California Street between Powell and Mason. Public transportation: MUNI Powell or California Street cable car; Powell Street MUNI/BART station. |
| 2:00 pm | Gold Rush City | Relive the early history of an instant city. Learn about the Vigilance Committee and a fleet of abandoned ships. Who was Emperor Norton? Walk the streets of Yerba Buena Cove, the haunts of the original 49ers. |
Meet on the northeast corner of Clay & Montgomery at the Transamerica Pyramid. Public Transportation: MUNI lines 1, 15. |
| 2:00 pm | Victorian San Francisco | See and learn about Victorian era architecture of the city's first suburb. As we walk in the neighborhood of Lafayette Square, you'll also learn about Victorian lifestyles and San Francisco's illustrious history. Some steep streets. Many fabulous views! |
Meet at 1801 Bush at Octavia. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 3. |
| 7:00 pm | North Beach By Night | The other side of North Beach history - that of its bars, bordellos and beatniks - comes alive on this evening tour. Weather can be chilly, dress accordingly. |
Meet in front of Specs Cafe, 12 Saroyan Place, just off Columbus, south of Broadway and next to Tosca Cafe. |
| Monday
May 21 |
| 9:30 am | Japanese Tea Garden | Join us for a 45-minute stroll through this five-acre world-famous garden. Learn about the icons of the Garden and the family that lived there. Admission to garden required except on the Monday and Wednesday 9:30 morning tour. |
Meet just inside the entrance to the garden. |
| 10:00 am | 1906: Earthquake And Fire | Imagine awakening before dawn on April 18, 1906 to the unthinkable--a massive earthquake has toppled chimneys and buildings, and ripped apart city water pipes. With the fire on your heels, escape from the alleyways south of Market to what should be the safety of Union Square. |
Meet at Market Street Plaza benches between 525 and 555 Market Street. |
| 10:00 am | Chinatown | Explore local alleys and walk among sites of temples and tongs, and shops of joss, dim sum, herbs; learn some colorful history and stories from the oldest Chinatown in the US. |
Meet in Portsmouth Square (Washington & Kearny), upper level near the elevators. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 30, and 45. |
| 11:00 am | Fisherman's Wharf: A Hidden History | Come experience what most visitors miss at this world-famous tourist destination! Go behind the scenes of this vital part of San Francisco's past and present to see great old ships and unexpected vistas. Learn about swimmers who survived the Bay(and those that didn't!), Joltin' Joe and much more. |
meet by the Mermaid Fountain, main courtyard of Ghirardelli Square, off Larkin St. between North Point & Beach Sts. |
| 11:00 am | Bawdy & Naughty | This two-block stroll explores how, starting with the Gold Rush, professional women arrived to become a part of San Francisco's legend and lore. Learn about Belle Cora, Ah Toy, French parlor houses, and Barbary Coast dives. |
Meet at Kearny & Maiden Lane. Public transportation: MUNI lines 9x, 9ax, 9bx, 15, 30, 45, 81x; also one block west of Montgomery MUNI/BART station. |
| 1:00 pm | Japanese Tea Garden | Join us for a 45-minute stroll through this five-acre world-famous garden. Learn about the icons of the Garden and the family that lived there. Admission to garden required except on the Monday and Wednesday 9:30 morning tour. |
Meet just inside the entrance to the garden. |
| 1:30 pm | Chinatown | Explore local alleys and walk among sites of temples and tongs, and shops of joss, dim sum, herbs; learn some colorful history and stories from the oldest Chinatown in the US. |
Meet in Portsmouth Square (Washington & Kearny), upper level near the elevators. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 30, and 45. |
| 2:00 pm | Embarcadero Skyway | Take flight (sort of)! Most of the tour is above the ground. View “Rockefeller Center West” from a different angle and discover a hidden urban oasis. Tread on buried ships that once housed saloons, jails, stores and brothels. |
Meet in front of 400 Sansome Street (at Sacramento). Lots of stairs; wheelchairs not advisable. |
| 3:00 pm | Diego Rivera Mural at the Stock Exchange Tower | The mural "Allegory of California" graces the stairwell of the City Club (Formerly the Pacific Stock Exchange Club). Normally closed the public, this is an opportunity to see the first mural painted in the US by the great Mexican artist Diego Rivera. The Pacific Stock Exchange Lunch Club, now the City Club, is considered the best interior in the Art Deco style in San Francisco, and among the best in California. |
Meet in the lobby of the Stock Exchange Tower located at 155 Sansome Street |
| 7:00 pm | North Beach By Night | The other side of North Beach history - that of its bars, bordellos and beatniks - comes alive on this evening tour. Weather can be chilly, dress accordingly. |
Meet in front of Specs Cafe, 12 Saroyan Place, just off Columbus, south of Broadway and next to Tosca Cafe. |
| Tuesday
May 22 |
| 10:00 am | Palace Hotel | Majestic. Spectacular. Words fail to convey the extraordinary beauty of the elegantly restored Palace. See this 1909 Beaux Arts gem for yourself, and discover why it's consistently ranked as one of the top luxury hotels in the world! |
Meet on right side of main lobby; 2 New Montgomery Street. Public transportation: MUNI/BART Montgomery Station; all Market Street buses & streetcars. |
| 10:00 am | North Beach | Savor a taste of the International District, home to the Latin Quarter of the 1850s, Little Italy since the 1880s, and the stage for turn-of-the-century bohemians and mid-20th century beatniks. |
Meet at 666 Filbert Street on the steps of Saints Peter and Paul Church, across from Washington Square.
Public transportation: MUNI lines 30, 45.
Parking: city garage - 735 Vallejo, between Stockton and Powell. |
| 11:00 am | City Hall and the Civic Center | Explore a National Historic District and tour San Francisco's most beautiful building: its City Hall. |
Meet at steps of Main Library facing the Pioneer Monument on Fulton St. between Hyde & Larkin. Public transportation: MUNI line 19; MUNI/BART Civic Center Station |
| 11:00 am | Pacific Heights Mansions | Walk past palatial homes and consulates in Pacific Heights--mansions used as the Japanese and German consulates in 1941. Learn of Victorian lifestyles and earthquake refugees. |
Meet in Alta Plaza Park, atop the stairs above Pierce & Clay Sts. Public transportation: MUNI lines 1, 2. |
| 11:00 am | Castro: Tales Of The Village | Explore a neighborhood you thought you knew. What was once dairy farms and dirt roads is now one of the city's most vibrant and cohesive communities. Stairs and steep hills. |
Meet at Harvey Milk Plaza, southwest corner of Castro and Market, under the rainbow flag. Muni K, L, M, Castro Station |
| 12:00 pm | Ferry Building | Enjoy an hour-long walk on the rise, tragic fall, and modern rebirth of one of San Francisco's most renowned historic landmarks. Visit a contemporary swirl of shops and learn the history of ferries, freeways and quakes. Meet at the foot of the stairs at the front entrance, Market and Embarcadero. |
Meet at the main entrance, near the stairs to the 2nd Floor. Public transportation: MUNI lines 12, F Market; MUNI/BART Embarcadero Station. Lots of stairs; elevator available. |
| 1:00 pm | Japanese Tea Garden | Join us for a 45-minute stroll through this five-acre world-famous garden. Learn about the icons of the Garden and the family that lived there. Admission to garden required except on the Monday and Wednesday 9:30 morning tour. |
Meet just inside the entrance to the garden. |
| 1:30 pm | Historic Market Street: Path Of Gold | From the Ferry Building to Lotta's Fountain, Market Street provides a cross section of San Francisco history as it slices diagonally across the city. Lining the city's first boulevard, dubbed the "Path of Gold" as it was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, are historic buildings, monuments and modern skyscrapers. Hear the street's relevance to everything from the Gold Rush to Bay Area Rapid Transit and vintage street cars. |
Meet in front of Landmark at One Market, south side of Market St. between Steuart & Spear Sts.No hills. Wheelchairs welcome. Public transportation: MUNI lines F, 2, 7, 14, 21, 66, 71. |
