Transformation of Crissy Field

August 8, 2023 by
The 1985 Downtown Plan was one of the most important pieces of red tape in San Francisco history. With rampant downtown development just around the corner, city officials wanted to lay down some ground rules: if you’re going to build here, you’re going to have to pay a little extra to cover the necessary infrastructure improvements. Oh — and you have to dedicate 1% of your project to a publicly accessible open space. Thus, Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces (POPOS) were born. Join us as we gallivant between several exotic outdoor spots, featuring hidden parks, rooftop gardens, and views of nearly every building in San Francisco. Hear the real story of the Financial District while hanging out in some of the city’s most comfortable lookouts. Plus, we’ll discuss all the distinctive architecture that you’ll be face-to-face with.

Boom & Bust

June 23, 2023 by
San Francisco’s connection with the movies goes back more than 125 years to the dawn of the moving picture. From iconic locations to obscure alleys, San Francisco was the setting for hundreds of silent films from the 1890s on, with stars like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Mary Pickford, Lon Chaney and Rudolph Valentino. Many of its native sons and daughters became famous in front of and behind the camera as the silent era peaked in the 1920s – and an infamous downtown speakeasy was the setting for an historic studio scene that sounded (literally) the end of silent film. Join us on a walk through the Barbary Coast, Chinatown, the Financial District and Union Square and learn about an eccentric photographer, a golden molar, the first Hispanic movie star, the influence of anti-Chinese laws, and the greatest scandal of the silent era.

Barbary Coast: The Devil’s Playground

March 13, 2023 by

Cable Cars: Halfway to the Stars

March 2, 2023 by

Applause: A history of music and dance in SF

September 9, 2022 by

Express – Architecture Downtown – Deeper Dives

May 16, 2022 by
Delight in the multifaceted blueprint created as the result of 1906 Earthquake. More than 15 architectural styles will be represented from the 20th century.

1850’s San Francisco: Paris Of The Pacific 2026 – Bastille Festival Celebration Tours

May 16, 2022 by
Gold Rush San Francisco had a large population of French Parisians. Their influence, abilities, and taste for the finer things of life helped San Francisco to blossom almost overnight from the mud of Yerba Buena Cove into a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city.

Express – Gold Rush City

May 10, 2022 by

It’s impossible to overstate how massively influential the Gold Rush of 1849 was on American history. It reinvigorated the stagnant US economy; triggered a gigantic influx of immigrants; and was the singular reason California was granted statehood in 1850. But what were conditions like in this instant city? How did such a huge mob of treasure-seekers get along and create a habitable community? More interestingly — what did they do when they weren’t panning for gold?

Discover the story of San Francisco’s intrepid gold-hunting settlers. Learn about the Vigilance Committee, Emperor Norton, and the fleet of abandoned ships that clogged the Bay for years. Hear the untold stories of individual prospectors who lived through the madness. Walk the streets of the old Yerba Buena Cove, featuring all the haunts and dives of the original 49ers. It’s an insightful look at the most significant era in San Francisco history — grab your gold pan and join us.

Gardens in the Sky: Salesforce Transit Center and Rooftop Park

January 26, 2022 by

Online – Land’s End: Sutro Heights

October 16, 2020 by