Gold Rush City

June 10, 2019 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.

Architecture Downtown

June 10, 2019 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.

Downtown Deco

June 10, 2019 by
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.

Embarcadero Skyway and Art Tour

June 10, 2019 by
Take flight (sort of)! Most of the tour is above the ground. View “Rockefeller Center West” from a different angle. Discover a hidden urban oasis. Tread on buried ships that once housed saloons, jails, stores and brothels.

Fairmont Hotel

June 10, 2019 by
In 1906 the “Grand Dame” rose from the ashes of the earthquake and fire making the history of the Fairmont Hotel an important part of the history of San Francisco. Learn how this famous hotel rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake, why Presidents and diplomats from around the world choose to stay in this magnificently designed Italian Renaissance palazzo masterpiece. The Fairmont Hotel tour winds it’s way through several beautiful and surprising venues and rooms that are not always open to the public. Join your City Guide and enjoy discovering the history and secrets of the magnificent Fairmont Hotel, the Grand Dame of San Francisco.

Ferry Building

June 10, 2019 by
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.

Golden Gate Heights Stairways

June 10, 2019 by
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.

Fort Mason To Aquatic Park

June 10, 2019 by
This remarkable walk along the northern waterfront includes unique views and exciting accounts of many of the most important events of San Francisco history, including the Spanish era, military changes, Civil War times, 1906 Earthquake, PPIE, the astonishing development of the GGNRA and the saga of Aquatic Park. Incomparable vistas adjacent to the last unaltered bit of SF coast!

Golden Gate Bridge

June 10, 2019 by
This tour has everything. Soaring design, stunning engineering, terrifying geology, ripping currents and tides, famous fog, sailboats, ships and marine mammals, fearless ironworkers, cowardly bankers … and then there’s the view!

Fisherman’s Wharf: A Hidden History

June 10, 2019 by
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. Since the Gold Rush, the spot has served as the central hub for Bay area fishermen, where delicacies are pulled ashore and brought to market. Come along and dive into the gritty history of a world-famous pier. We’ll stroll by the lateen-rigged feluccas owned and operated by descendents of the Bay’s original fishermen, and hear the magical tales of the boats that litter the seafloor — as well as the deeply interesting people who manned them. You’ll also get to explore the first successful adaptive reuse project in the country: Ghirardelli Square, filled with a distinctive mix of shops that continues to inspire developers worldwide. Learn about the Fish King and other Wharf stories you don’t usually hear, while enjoying a sunny walk along the shore.