Gold Rush City
Neighborhood: Downtown
Description
“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.
Learn about the incredible fires, gangs, vigilantes, shanghaiing, the Pony Express and the larger-than-life characters, like Mark Twain, Emperor Norton, and Levi Strauss, who walked the famously muddy streets. Walk above the fleet of abandoned ships, still full of cargo, buried beneath today’s skyscrapers. Hear how the Gold Rush sparked the largest peacetime migration in world history, catapulting California into statehood. Discover how treasure seekers converged from over a dozen nations around the world with diverse languages and customs to create the dynamic and tolerant character of the multi ethnic city we see today.
Next Tours
Notes
Tour Length: Approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
This tour ends at the intersection of Gold Street and Balance Street, which is a short block east of Montgomery Street.
Location
Meet at the sidewalk on the TransAmerica Pyramid (north) side of the Clay Street opposite the Starbucks on Clay.
Please note: Private group tours required for groups of 7 or more.
