SF City Guides
@sfcityguides
Since 1978; San Francisco: One story at a time. 501 C 3 💙 70+ free walks through city neighborhoods ❤️ RSVPs Optional Tag your photos w/ #sfcityguides www.sfcityguides.org
Long before gold rush chaos, this quiet cove village on the bay was home to a couple hundred people with about 40 buildings, a few trading posts, and hide-and-tallow ships anchored offshore. It took its name from the fragrant wild mint that carpeted the surrounding hills. www.sfcityguides.org
View of dedicating ceremony for the Dewey Monument central to Union Square in 1903. www.sfcityguides.org
In 1887, the Market Street Cable Railway converted a steam-powered “dummy” line into a full cable car route Thanks to SFMemory for allowing us to repost their photo. Cable Cars, Halfway to the Stars. sfcityguides.org/tour/cable-c...
Located on Fulton between 24th & 25th Avenues, the Casino Roadhouse was a loud, boisterous restaurant and bar in a sparsely populated area of town. Special thanks to SF Public Library for allowing us to repost their picture. Inner Richmond Tour sfcityguides.org/tour/inner-r...
Two earthquake-proof museums. Two Pritzker-worthy architects. One epic walk through Golden Gate Park’s greenest secrets. Nature, art, and science collide — join us! Link in bio sfcityguides.org/tour/archite... #fishermanswharf #sfwalks #visitsanfrancisco #bestofbayarea
Robert Frost was born in San Francisco in 1874. He wrote about SF: “Such was life in the Golden Gate Gold dusted all we drank and ate And I was one of the children told, “We must eat our peck of gold”. This monument can be found near the end of the California Cable Car line. www.sfcityguides.org
The first San Francisco Municipal Railway streetcars rolled into service on December 28, 1912. However, it was the first to be established in a major US city, giving it widespread recognition. Photo courtesy of SFMTA Photo Archive www.sfcityguides.org
On July 1, 1846, U.S. Army Captain John C. Fremont gazed at the narrow strait that separates the Bay for the Pacific Ocean, and said “it is a golden gate to trade with the Orient.” The Golden Gate Bridge free walking tours RSVP ——> sfcityguides.org/tour/golden-...
Come & let us be your Presidio guide to learn about the rich history of this National Park in your own backyard. Celebrate on the tour and then search for some of the more notable residents of the SF, including Major Pauline Cushman Fryer, a Union spy. sfcityguides.org/tour/presidio/
Construction began on the Ferry Building in 1895. This photo is taken in 1897. Opened on July 13, 1898, the building replaced a wooden predecessor constructed on the same site in 1875. The Ferry Building free walking tours shares Ferry Building history sfcityguides.org/tour/ferry-b...
Invented almost 100 years ago in 1928, the beloved IT’S-IT was created by George Whitney, the owner of the once-celebrated Playland at the Beach. After scooping a dollop of vanilla ice cream between two fresh, old-fashioned oatmeal cookies and covered in chocolate. www.sfcityguides.org
On April 18, 1906 the enormous Earthquake & Fire occurred. On a last resort, they used gun powder to create firebreaks. The firebreak destroyed housing/buildings to save other parts of the city. 1906 Earthquake & Fire Tour. sfcityguides.org/tour/1906-ea...
When the 1906 earthquake and fire leveled downtown San Francisco, one structure stood through it all: Lotta’s Fountain, at Market, Geary & Kearny. Gifted to the city in 1875 by actress Lotta Crabtree, the cast-iron fountain had always doubled as a public drinking source. www.sfcityguides.org
Cable Cars turned into housing. On 48th Ave. near Ocean Beach. Cable Cars, Halfway to the Stars. sfcityguides.org/tour/cable-c...
The de Young survived 1906, then lost its unsafe original building in 1929. The Mullgardt wing soldiered on until Loma Prieta damaged it in 1989. Herzog & de Meuron’s copper-clad design opened October 15, 2005. Architectural Treasures in Golden Gate Park sfcityguides.org/tour/archite...
The Dutch Windmill was designed by SF Alpheus Bull Jr. & built in 1902 for $25,000. The windmill was situated near the Pacific Ocean to capture the prevailing westerly winds and use the energy to pump water for The Park’s irrigation system. Golden Gate West End Walk sfcityguides.org/tour/golden-...
Where the Hyatt Regency Hotel sits today, the California Wire Works former office that didn’t survive the 1906 Earthquake & Fire. The California Wire Works was acquired by Halladie. The Cable Cars, Halfway to the Stars free walking tours sfcityguides.org/tour/cable-c...
Old City Hall before the 1906 earthquake and fire. The 1906 Earthquake & Fire shares many stories about this catastrophic event. sfcityguides.org/tour/1906-ea...
Portsmouth Square was once the town of Yerba Buena (later renamed to San Francisco). SF was mostly dirt and sand as you can see in this daguerreotype of SF early days. RSVP to 1850s SF: Paris of the Pacific walking tour. RSVP here: sfcityguides.org/tour/paris-o...
When San Francisco welcomed the United Nation meetings in our Civic Center. The photo shows plants in front of the Conservatory of Flowers welcoming them. The Applause! SF’s Performing Arts Hub shares UN history on this free walking tour. sfcityguides.org/tour/applaus...
The Pan Pacific International Exhibition (PPIE) had many attractions. This was a horse racing track back during the PPIE during 1915. Be sure to zoom in on the photo. The Palace of Fine Arts/Marina walking tour shares the history of the PPIE. sfcityguides.org/tour/palace-...
Fireworks from the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exhibition. Spend Thursday, July 4, with San Francisco City Guides. On that special day, our tours will offer a unique tour explorations as Russian Hill Stairways, Mission Bay: Hidden Waters etc. sfcityguides.org/find-your-to...
Meet “The Grand Old Lady of California Street” – the Bank of California at 400 California St. - Built in 1908 after the 1906 quake - Greco-Roman design by Bliss & Faville - Iconic granite Corinthian columns A true SF landmark! www.sfcityguides.org
In Golden Gate Park, Velma Tilden was challenged with riding the sail on the Dutch windmill. For every revolution she would get a box of chocolates. She lasted 25 rotations. The West End Golden Gate Park Walking Tour takes walkers to the windmill. sfcityguides.org/tour/golden-...
Aerial view of San Francisco without the Golden Gate Bridge probably taken in the 1920s. Also of note are the sand dunes that are south of Golden Gate Park. Angel Island in the distance. www.sfcityguides.org
One of the early versions of the Cliff House that burned down September 7, 1907. Happy Pride Www.sfcityguides.org
Dante’s Inferno at the 1894 Midwinter Fair. The Midwinter Fair included amusement rides as part of the entertainment. “Dante’s Inferno” was among the four amusement rides the fair offered. This scare exhibit had passengers enter through the mouth of a gold dragon head. www.sfcityguides.org
Seal Rocks, just offshore from San Francisco’s historic Cliff House, have long been a favorite for sea lions. The rocks were an early marine sanctuary, protecting the animals from disturbance. Many sea lions now gather at Pier 39, Seal Rocks still host seasonal visitors. Www.sfcityguides.org