Women are a part of San Francisco’s history every month of the year, and for Women’s History Month, we are excited to highlight some tours that focus on the women who helped shape our city. You will encounter philanthropic visionaries, architectural innovators and urbanists, political icons, cultural influencers, scientists, social visionaries, and civil rights champions.
Alamo Square and its Painted Ladies
Alamo Square is famous for its Painted Ladies. Still, on Elizabeth O’s version of this tour, you will discover some women who helped develop, restore, and maintain this historic neighborhood. You will hear the stories of the impact of over a dozen area women, including how artist Maija Peeples-Bright created the first San Francisco Painted Lady. Elizabeth O’s next Alamo Square and its Painted Ladies tour is on March 1.
Applause! SF’s Performing Arts Hub
Meet women who helped make San Francisco a performing arts center. Marian Anderson, renowned for her transcendent voice, faced racial barriers yet was welcomed by the San Francisco Symphony, selling out the opera house in 1938. Antonia Brico grew up in the East Bay and shattered gender norms, leading the Berlin Philharmonic in 1930 and the SF Symphony that same year. Architect Beverly Willis designed the iconic San Francisco Ballet School in 1984, which continues to be a prototype for ballet schools. And meet the unsung heroes Maureen Broderick and Damara Bennett, whose bold campaign rescued the SF Ballet from closure in 1974. Applause! SF‘s Performing Arts Hub tours are available on March 11, 20 and 30.
Bohemians and Other Unconventional Women – New Tour!
Join this short, fascinating walk through a small slice of Russian Hill about Bohemian women. Enjoy spectacular views while listening to amazing stories of non-conventional women who rejected societal expectations of the time and lived life on their terms. Bohemians and Other Unconventional Women tours are available on March 3, 6, 10, 17, 20, 24, 27, and 31.
Learn about some of the female heroes of the Summer of Love! In addition to rock stars like Janis Joplin and Grace Slick, we will discuss the impact of other women like Lenore Kandel, Peggy Caserta, and Mountain Girl. Haight-Asbury tours are available on March 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23.
HERstory: Women Muralists of the Mission – New Tour!
Murals began appearing in the Mission District in the early 1970s. It was exclusively men’s work, mainly done by Latinos drawing upon a long tradition of Mexican “muralismo.” A few women, all Latinas, defying criticism, the occasional catcall, and even their social mores courageously said they could climb a scaffold and paint. And they did, exquisitely and uniquely, with a distinctive palette. Many pioneers still paint while nurturing a new generation of women muralists. Walk with us to hear the sensational story of the women muralists of the Mission and see their dazzling work. You will be awestruck. HERstory tours are available beginning in March.
Meet Mary Ellen Pleasant, the mother of civil rights in California and one of America’s first Black female millionaires. You will also hear about how the unique political constraints on Japanese immigration affected the women in this neighborhood and their families. Japantown tours are available on March 1, 8, and 15.
Murals and the Multi-Ethnic Mission
We begin at the Women’s Building, so we are off to a good start! The side of that building features one of San Francisco’s most significant and best-known murals. Painted by a Who’s Who of Bay Area muralists, it showcases prominent women from myth, legend, and local and world history. Do not miss this one! Murals and the Multi-Ethnic Mission are available on March 2 and 21.
Meet Audrey Munson, “America’s First Supermodel” and a star of the PPIE. Later in her career, she had a classic “Me Too” moment with the head of the premier silent film production company (she rebuffed him, which cost her dearly). She was then accused of having an affair with a married man (not true), and the tabloids had a field day. She ultimately was the victim of “Cancel Culture” and had an unbelievably sad ending to her remarkable life.
The above tours are available year-round at City Guides.
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