Find Your Tour
Sunday March 15
- 9:00 am
Gardens in the Sky: Salesforce Transit Center and Rooftop Park
Visit a destination that is a hub for San Francisco and its environs -- and one of the most elegant gathering spaces in the region. Glide on a gondola to a rooftop retreat of trees and plants from around the world. The transit center and its gardens will have you marveling at trees, towers, and tales that recall its past as one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Francisco -- and boldly asserts the city's promise and potential for its future.
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Bathroom Stop9:30 am
Discover the magic of San Francisco, a city celebrated for its stunning beauty, breathtaking vistas, and rich culture and history. This one-of-a-kind tour provides a sweeping introduction to SF, making it ideal for those who are new to the city or those seeking a broad-ranging look at what makes it unique. On this unforgettable walk, you'll explore diverse urban landscapes and visit some of San Francisco's most iconic landmarks. You’ll hear stories that bring the city alive. Topics include: Gold Rush, cable cars, food culture,1906 earthquake and fires, counterculture movements and tech innovations. The tour ends at North Beach where you’ll find an assortment of old-world cafes, vibrant neighborhood energy and “Only in San Francisco” shopping opportunities. Come experience the allure of this incredible city and see for yourself why San Francisco captures hearts!
View Tour Details >10:00 am
1850's San Francisco: Paris Of The Pacific
Everyone in France heard the rumors. Or saw the news reports "of gold mines...fabulous riches awaiting only the hands of miners to be picked up." Some packed their bags and set off for California. These French left their mark on the culture of the booming city. The French influenced society, especially in food and fashion. Without them, it's hard to imagine San Francisco becoming our sophisticated, cosmopolitan metropolis.
View Tour Details >10:00 am
Applause: A history of music and dance in SF
Once staid and seedy, and scarred by empty lots, this area is now the hub of SF’s performing arts. In just 4 blocks there are over 15 venues with more than 11,000 seats! SF is famous for being the birthplace of flower-power rock. But it is also home to the nation’s oldest professional ballet company, is the setting for world class jazz festivals, and has a venerable opera company and a multi-Grammy winning symphony -- all with homes located here. Hear SF’s unique history of these performing arts and learn about the mix of classical to contemporary architectural styles showcasing the area’s changes. No longer staid nor seedy, the SF Performing Arts Hub is where it is happening.
View Tour Details >10:00 am
San Francisco’s Chinatown rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake to evolve into a Chinese community holding fast to its traditions amid a rapidly changing cityscape. Discover the local alleys where this community has continued to flourish for over 150 years, in spite of harsh racial discrimination. Family associations and temples, dim sum, herbal apothecaries and jade jewelry shops built by the local community, all contribute to the vibrancy of this place, one of the oldest Chinese communities outside of China.
View Tour Details >10:00 am
Perk up your Sunday morning with the bell ringing at the oldest Orthodox Christian parish in America. Spared destruction from the 1906 disaster, Cow Hollow contains structures from nearly every decade since the 1860s. This tour illustrates the transformation of the district from a rural suburb to a full-fledged city neighborhood.
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Hill10:30 am
Chinatown Family Associations, Tongs and Gangs
Pulled and pushed from the far southeast part of China from 1849 onward, young Chinese men went to the gold fields only to find that discrimination forced them to either work as laborers or return to San Francisco, but not to look for gold. Settling in San Francisco's Chinatown many joined the Family Associations, Tongs, and Gangs that largely controlled the neighborhood. Walk along Chinatown's streets and alleys and dive into the colorful and sometimes violent history of this period Note: Content may not be appropriate for children under 14 years of age.
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Adult Content10:30 am
See one of San Francisco’s oldest and most colorful neighborhoods, the Mission, where you’ll trace a history beginning with Indigenous peoples through waves of immigrants to today’s concerns of gentrification. Begin at the famous golden fire hydrant where locals successfully fought to save the area during the 1906 earthquake. Gaze at a spectacular view of SF’s skyline from gorgeous Dolores Park. Wander through a historic district, get a mini-course about Victorian styles, go down the hip Valencia Street corridor, see and understand the importance in the Mission of its murals, while learning about the area’s Indigenous peoples and the colonization by Spain and Mexico at the oldest building in San Francisco, Mission Dolores, the church of Saint Francis of Assisi.
View Tour Details >11:00 am
Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco
San Francisco is an inherently cinematic city. Its rolling hills, Victorian roof lines, and panoramic vistas would make it a tremendous backdrop for any director — but nobody knew how to film the city better than the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. See the landmarks Hitchcock shot as he used the city’s look to create his signature sense of paranoia. A truly thrilling trip down memory lane.
View Tour Details >Hill
Wear Sturdy Shoes11:00 am
Billionaires' Row: Outer Broadway Architecture
After the 1906 earthquake pummeled their Nob Hill enclaves, the wealthy titans of San Francisco became temporary nomads. With the landscape wiped clean, where in the city was the best place to put down roots? The best view of the Bay was located on the hills of Pacific Heights, where real estate was essentially up for grabs. They parked their old money in mammoth mansions and created one of the most expensive zip codes in the world.
View Tour Details >Hill
Stairs11:00 am
When Harvey Milk won his historic 1977 race for the Board of Supervisors, he ran the campaign out of his humble Castro District camera shop. A vibrant gay community took root in the Castro — one that would come to transform San Francisco politics out of sheer collective willpower. You’ll learn about the evolution of the Castro’s architecture, historic businesses and the people and places that played a role in making the Castro one of the epicenters of the gay rights movement —a tradition that continues today. And it is a neighborhood that continues to evolve.
View Tour Details >HillStairs11:00 am
Dogpatch East - Past, Present, and Future Industries
Come learn about this fascinating designated Historic District. Witness Potrero Points transformation from the Gold Rush through the height of World War II and learn how it weathered a major downturn to emerge as one of the city's fastest-growing areas. See new developments along Pier 70 coming to life and learn about the exciting future of the city’s southern waterfront.
View Tour Details >Bathroom Stop11:00 am
It’s 1967 and the sun is shining on San Francisco. You’re walking down Haight, weaving through groups of long-haired kids smoking joints and laughing. As you pass the legendary Straight Theater, you hear Jerry Garcia and the Dead letting loose a psychedelic storm of sound. You’re in the Hippie Capital of the world.
View Tour Details >11:00 am
Walk the streets where railroad barons, silver kings, and other wealthy San Franciscans built lavish mansions. Hear stories of the success and scandals of the high society men and women who lived on Nob Hill, the place that locals call Snob Hill. Experience the splendor of a world famous hotel where Tony Bennett first sang "I left my Heart in San Francisco". Visit a cathedral whose stained-glass windows honor scientists as well as saints, whose memorial chapel displays sections of the AIDS quilt, and whose labyrinth is the site of both meditative walks and candlelit yoga classes.
View Tour Details >HillBathroom Stop1:00 pm
Barbary Coast: The Devil's Playground
Notorious the world over, San Francisco’s Barbary Coast has always been the source of legend and intriguing tales involving crime, prostitution, and excesses of all kinds. Fortunately, the core of the Barbary Coast, once known to devotees as “Terrific Street,” has survived and this tour offers stories and details of its historic past as “the devil’s playground.”
View Tour Details >1:00 pm
"Gold! Gold from the American River!", shouted San Francisco businessman Sam Brannan, as he ran down Montgomery Street in May,1848, waving a jar filled with gold over his head, sparking the Gold Rush. As word spread rapidly around the world, the tiny village of San Francisco, tucked amidst massive sand dunes by the Bay, and frequented by grizzly bears and mountain lions, was transformed virtually overnight into a booming instant city.
View Tour Details >Bathroom Stop1:00 pm
Golden Gate Park: East End,
Creating San Francisco's Great Urban ParkIt was the 1860s, and everyone had heard about New York City’s Central Park — a spacious plot of green that contrasted sharply with the metallic landscape beyond. To recreate such a space in San Francisco, city officials looked west and by the turn of the century, Golden Gate Park had developed into an enormous playground for a recreation-starved city. Breathe deep and enjoy a natural oasis on the Pacific.
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Bring LayersWear Sturdy ShoesBathroom Stop1:00 pm
Japanese Tea Garden (No Tour Today)
After the successful 1894 Midwinter Exposition San Francisco decided to keep the Japanese Village exhibit. Makoto Hagiwara was hired to be the new manager of the Garden and immediately set about expanding the Garden three-fold to its size today. An impressive variety of flora greets you as you enter a Japanese inspired wonderland of small scenes created throughout the Garden. The peace and quiet of the Garden encourages one to slow down and be mindful of the surroundings - A perfect walk for those seeking a peaceful afternoon...
View Tour Details >Stairs
Fee Involved1:00 pm
Presidio: From Military Base to National Park with Tunnel Tops
See where San Francisco began exactly 250 years ago! Explore the Presidio, a place shaped by Indigenous roots, military history, and bold reinvention. This guided walk reveals how a former Army post became one of the nation’s most remarkable national parks, blending history, community, and spectacular natural beauty.
View Tour Details >Bring LayersWear Sturdy Shoes2:00 pm
After the 1906 earthquake San Francisco was back to square one. If it wanted to remain the major American city of the West, it wouldn’t just need to rebuild — it needed to transcend what had been done before. Over the next century, luminous designers from Chicago and New York would bring their experiences working with new materials set at record heights to innovate the local blueprint. Architects like George Kelham, Willis Polk, William Pereira, and SOM would paint the skyline out of thin air.
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Rain Cancels2:00 pm
San Francisco neighborhoods constantly change but still retain much of the look and character of past decades. The Marina District is no exception. Largely developed in the 1920s and 1930s, a period that coincided with a popular design style now known as “Art Deco” which fused art and technology with a jazz age lifestyle. Deliberately intended to be modern the style was influenced by a wide variety of sources, which can be seen on many of the Marina’s apartments and commercial buildings, while surrounded by a residential district of “Mediterranean Revival” houses and flats.
View Tour Details >2:00 pmSan Francisco’s Chinatown rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake to evolve into a Chinese community holding fast to its traditions amid a rapidly changing cityscape. Discover the local alleys where this community has continued to flourish for over 150 years, in spite of harsh racial discrimination. Family associations and temples, dim sum, herbal apothecaries and jade jewelry shops built by the local community, all contribute to the vibrancy of this place, one of the oldest Chinese communities outside of China.
View Tour Details >2:00 pm
It was the 1850s on the southern edge of town when cattle peacefully grazed the hill known as Potrero Nuevo. But bustling industry along the shoreline below the hill created a need for nearby housing. Hear how Potrero Hill was transformed and discover this secret oasis isolated from the rest of the city and blessed with sweeping views of the skyline and Bay.
View Tour Details >HillStairs2:00 pm
Telegraph Hill is one of the most beautiful, panoramic vantage points in San Francisco, offering breathtaking views of the Bay. Come and uncover Telegraph Hill’s colorful history on a mile-plus hike featuring incredible vistas and lush foliage. Explore the hidden staircases that lead to Coit Tower atop the Hill, and discover gorgeous gardens and a beautifully landscaped neighborhood of cottages dating back to the 1850s.
View Tour Details >HillStairsRain CancelsBathroom Stop2:00 pm
Ever wondered why there are so many Victorian style houses in San Francisco with an endless variety of decoration? The answer lies in the rich and fascinating history launched primarily by the California Gold Rush in 1849 and the advent of the cable car. Walkers learn cues to recognize the different styles of homes built across 4 decades. If you are a fan of Victorian architecture, and don't mind walking a few steep hills, or just want to learn more, this tour is for you.
View Tour Details >HillStairsMonday March 16
- 9:30 am
After the successful 1894 Midwinter Exposition San Francisco decided to keep the Japanese Village exhibit. Makoto Hagiwara was hired to be the new manager of the Garden and immediately set about expanding the Garden three-fold to its size today. An impressive variety of flora greets you as you enter a Japanese inspired wonderland of small scenes created throughout the Garden. The peace and quiet of the Garden encourages one to slow down and be mindful of the surroundings - A perfect walk for those seeking a peaceful afternoon...
View Tour Details >StairsFee Involved10:00 amSan Francisco’s Chinatown rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake to evolve into a Chinese community holding fast to its traditions amid a rapidly changing cityscape. Discover the local alleys where this community has continued to flourish for over 150 years, in spite of harsh racial discrimination. Family associations and temples, dim sum, herbal apothecaries and jade jewelry shops built by the local community, all contribute to the vibrancy of this place, one of the oldest Chinese communities outside of China.
View Tour Details >10:30 am
Fisherman's Wharf: A Hidden History
It may not look like it now, but underneath the sleek, commercial facade of today’s redeveloped Fisherman’s Wharf, hundreds of Italian immigrants built an entire industry on the backs of Dungeness crab. Not everything on this tour happens on the water. We'll look at Ghirardelli Square, once the factory of San Francisco's most beloved chocolatier. Passing the Hyde Street Cable Car Turnaround we discuss San Francisco's cable cars and we'll explain the stories of many of the historic ships anchored at the Hyde Street Pier. Discover a new side of the Wharf, featuring stories of the Bay that locals themselves don't know.
View Tour Details >11:00 am
Golden Gate Park: Mid Park Ramble
Hidden Gems, Rarely VisitedDiscover fascinating, but seldom-visited features in the Park by hiking from the Music Concourse around Stow Lake and to the observatory ruins atop the second highest sand dune in San Francisco. Tour the Prayer Book Cross commemorating a little-known 16th century event and Lloyd Lake's Portals of the Past, a haunting reminder of the tragedy of 1906.
View Tour Details >HillStairsRain CancelsBring LayersWear Sturdy Shoes1:00 pmAfter the 1906 earthquake San Francisco was back to square one. If it wanted to remain the major American city of the West, it wouldn’t just need to rebuild — it needed to transcend what had been done before. Over the next century, luminous designers from Chicago and New York would bring their experiences working with new materials set at record heights to innovate the local blueprint. Architects like George Kelham, Willis Polk, William Pereira, and SOM would paint the skyline out of thin air.
View Tour Details >Rain Cancels1:00 pmJapanese Tea Garden (No Tour Today)
After the successful 1894 Midwinter Exposition San Francisco decided to keep the Japanese Village exhibit. Makoto Hagiwara was hired to be the new manager of the Garden and immediately set about expanding the Garden three-fold to its size today. An impressive variety of flora greets you as you enter a Japanese inspired wonderland of small scenes created throughout the Garden. The peace and quiet of the Garden encourages one to slow down and be mindful of the surroundings - A perfect walk for those seeking a peaceful afternoon...
View Tour Details >StairsFee Involved1:30 pmSan Francisco’s Chinatown rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake to evolve into a Chinese community holding fast to its traditions amid a rapidly changing cityscape. Discover the local alleys where this community has continued to flourish for over 150 years, in spite of harsh racial discrimination. Family associations and temples, dim sum, herbal apothecaries and jade jewelry shops built by the local community, all contribute to the vibrancy of this place, one of the oldest Chinese communities outside of China.
View Tour Details >3:00 pm
American History in Golden Gate Park (No Tour Today)
Join us on a fascinating stroll in one of America's most magnificent urban parks, where you will hear the incredible tale of the Park's improbable creation from a sea of desolate sand dunes. Learn how this city of immigrants to a new state from across the country and across the world chose to celebrate and connect to the history of the US. You will hear amazing and little-known stories of controversy and violence behind the monuments and memorials commemorating America's turbulent and inspiring past.
View Tour Details >Bathroom StopTuesday March 17
- 10:30 am
Chinatown (No Tour Today)
San Francisco’s Chinatown rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake to evolve into a Chinese community holding fast to its traditions amid a rapidly changing cityscape. Discover the local alleys where this community has continued to flourish for over 150 years, in spite of harsh racial discrimination. Family associations and temples, dim sum, herbal apothecaries and jade jewelry shops built by the local community, all contribute to the vibrancy of this place, one of the oldest Chinese communities outside of China.
View Tour Details >11:00 am
Cable Cars: Halfway to the Stars
Since Andrew Hallidie introduced Cable Cars in 1873, San Francisco’s cable car lines changed the landscape of San Francisco, making hilly neighborhoods accessible. The cable cars survived the 1906 earthquake and fire as well as outlasting political attempts to modernize transportation. Today the cable cars have gained worldwide attention to become what is seen today as a San Francisco icon.
View Tour Details >Bring LayersWear Sturdy Shoes11:00 amWhen Harvey Milk won his historic 1977 race for the Board of Supervisors, he ran the campaign out of his humble Castro District camera shop. A vibrant gay community took root in the Castro — one that would come to transform San Francisco politics out of sheer collective willpower. You’ll learn about the evolution of the Castro’s architecture, historic businesses and the people and places that played a role in making the Castro one of the epicenters of the gay rights movement —a tradition that continues today. And it is a neighborhood that continues to evolve.
View Tour Details >HillStairs12:00 pm
For much of the early 20th century, nobody traversed the Bay without going through the Ferry Building. At its peak in the 1930s, it was the second-busiest travel hub in the world, shuttling more than 50,000 people both to and from San Francisco each day. When the city built its famous bridges, ferry travel dropped dramatically, and the building suffered for decades. In the ‘90s the Ferry Building transformed into a world-class food market focusing on local artisan creations. Today, it remains an iconic landmark of the waterfront (and a popular establishing shot for movies set in San Francisco). Join us on a wondrous trip through the centerpiece of the shoreline.
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Indoors1:00 pmAfter the successful 1894 Midwinter Exposition San Francisco decided to keep the Japanese Village exhibit. Makoto Hagiwara was hired to be the new manager of the Garden and immediately set about expanding the Garden three-fold to its size today. An impressive variety of flora greets you as you enter a Japanese inspired wonderland of small scenes created throughout the Garden. The peace and quiet of the Garden encourages one to slow down and be mindful of the surroundings - A perfect walk for those seeking a peaceful afternoon...
View Tour Details >StairsFee Involved1:30 pm
City Hall and the Civic Center
After the original City Hall perished in the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco had a chance to think bigger the second time around. Civic Center is a campus that houses some of the city’s most important governmental and cultural institutions. Minimal walking — but maximum awe.
View Tour Details >Bathroom Stop1:30 pm
Historic Market Street: Path Of Gold
When surveyor Jasper O’Farrell completed his 1847 proposal for Market Street, an abnormally wide boulevard cutting diagonally through the heart of the city, it wasn’t popular. Landowning pioneers accused him of “wanton disregard” for their rights. But over time opinions changed. Come and stroll the street that unites San Francisco. Learn how Market Street has evolved with the times, always remaining relevant. Hear epic tales born on the Path, from Gold Rush stories to cable cars, vintage street cars and the construction of BART.
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Japanese Tea Garden (No Tour Today)
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American History in Golden Gate Park (No Tour Today)
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Pacific Heights Mansions (No Tour Today)
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Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco (No Tour Today)
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Monday March 16
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