Explore the history, lore and architecture of California with “everybody’s favorite guide.’’ Walks start from locations accessible by public transit and are repeated several times for your convenience. If you have any questions regarding the tours, please contact Kathy Jacobson at kjacobson@calhist.org or 415-357-1848 x229.

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February 26th, 27th, 28th
POLK GULCH (San Francisco)

As the young city of San Francisco developed west from the Embarcadero and Union Square, it encountered an ancient shallow canyon in the sand-covered hills. Named Polk Gulch for President James K. Polk, it delineated the western edge of the original plat of the city, as the relentless grid system ended in this Gulch. By 1852, the politicians added hundreds of blocks and thousands of lots to the west of this gulch, calling it the Western Addition, and extending the street grid west to Divisadero Street. From the earliest days of settlement here, it was a quirky neighborhood, overshadowed by a wide and elegant avenue one block to the west - Van Ness. On this walk we'll look at the area which was totally destroyed by the great 1906 firestorm, and rebuilt within a few short years. Often considered the "black sheep sister of Castro Street", with its checkered past, the Gulch has evolved into a neighborhood with a mix of new and old: coffee houses, bookstores, upscale condos, older apartments, residential hotels, immigrants, street hustlers, yuppies, tourists and shops. There is even a brand new church edifice covering one-half city block. The walk will include much fine architecture, as well as the original sites of the studios of famed photographer Eadweard Muybridge and artisans Arthur and Lucia Mathews, creators of the California style of art and furniture. Walk is easy, but parking is very difficult. There is a public parking garage on the southeast corner of Polk and Bush Streets.

March 12th, 13th, 14th
THE PORTOLA (San Francisco)

One of the little known neighborhoods of the city is the Portola, located in the southern part of the city. Named for Gaspar de Portola, explorer of San Francisco Bay in 1769, this former cattle grazing area evolved into a multi-ethnic area, mostly after the 1906 earthquake and firestorm. Many Jews for instance were forced out of the South-of-Market Area by these events, and moved "out the Road", meaning to cheaper land and housing adjacent to San Bruno Avenue in the Portola. By the 1920's, hundreds of Maltese families had moved into the area, supplanting the Jews who had by then moved north to the Fillmore-McAllister area. Today, this is one of the most ethnically mixed areas of the city, with almost equal numbers of Caucasians, Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans, and with the highest rate of home-ownership the city. On this walk we will explore not only San Bruno Avenue, but the back streets of The Portola, encountering two former Jewish synagogues that have become other places of worship. Here we will find very few true Victorian homes, but rather the cottages of early last century. A highlight will be the former Avenue Theatre, once a major showplace for silent films and other cultural events in this part of San Francisco. Walk and parking are easy.

March 20th
BLACK DIAMOND MINES REGIONAL PRESERVE DAY TRIP

View the workings of a 20th century sand mine and learn about the lives of 19th century coal and 20th century sand miners. The Preserve’s 42 miles of trails traverse areas of grassland, foothill woodland, mixed evergreen forest, chaparral, stream vegetation and exotic plantings. Notable among the latter are several tree species introduced by the coal miners. These include the black locust, pepper tree, almond, eucalyptus and tree of heaven. In the springtime, the hills are covered with some of the most remarkable wildflower displays in the Bay Area. We will take a hike up to the historic Rose Hill Cemetery and enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the lovely outdoor areas. This trip requires a 1/3 mile hike to the mine opening or portal with some uphill grade. Once inside the mine, the trail is flat. Come explore this East Bay treasure with us! Trip includes transportation, morning pastry, coffee, and box lunch.

April 23rd, 24th, 25th
ST. FRANCIS WOOD (San Francisco)

Nearly a century ago, famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (of Central Park fame) designed the St. Francis Wood neighborhood. On our walk we will explore this beautiful and exclusive area of quiet streets lined with stately homes, including several by Julia Morgan. St. Francis Wood is one the the country's earliest examples of the "City Beautiful" movement, exemplified by the creation of esthetic vistas, public footpaths, open spaces and recreational areas, fountains, curvilinear streets and underground utility lines - all served by public transit - via the then-new Twin Peaks
Tunnel to West Portal. We'll see how this area has retained its original feeling of ambience and gentility since its inception. Walk and parking are easy.

May 7th, 8th, 9th
INNER RICHMOND TOUR AND TEA (San Francisco)

Development to the city's Richmond District development began in the early 1870's with scattered homes built in the sand dunes that covered the entire area, located near to the Point Lobos Road. Named by the first settler for his home in Victoria, Australia, the area grew slowly until about 1910, when it was almost built-out. On this stroll, we'll see historic churches, a police station (complete with horse stable), restored public library and the old French Hospital complex, now part of a Kaiser Hospital campus. This is the home neighborhood of Gracie Allen, and we'll learn about her life. The walk
will end at 5th Avenue and Balboa Street at Katia's Russian Restaurant and Tea Room, for a Russian High Tea featuring home-baked goodies and pots of steaming hot tea. Walk is easy, but parking is difficult. It is advised that you take the Muni 38 busline to the walk and back home after the tea. The neighborhood has a two-hour parking limit.

June 11th, 12th, 13th
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO & LONE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE

Jesuit teaching brothers arrived from Torino, Italy in 1855, to establish a Catholic institution of higher learning in San Francisco. The school’s original site was the site of the former Emporium on Market Street. Later, the college moved west, and by 1914 was located on the former Masonic Cemetery lands on Fulton Street between Masonic and Parker. Today, covering 30 acres and with over 10,000 students, this college has become the University of San Francisco, the largest Catholic university in California. Lacking sufficient money to buy the lands immediately adjacent to the north side of the campus, the Catholic church bought the 25-acre parcel of the former Calvary Cemetery on Lone Mountain, and built the Lone Mountain College for women on the site in the late 1920's. On this saunter, we will explore both of these celebrated schools and visit the largest church or chapel on a college or university campus in the nation. We'll ascend the
Lone Mountain Stairs, modeled after the famous Spanish Steps of Rome which go from the USF campus to Lone Mountain. They are the most beautiful in San Francisco. Come along with us for a very “educational” walkabout. Walk is easy, with one uphill (set of stairs) section. Parking can be difficult.