Gold Greed and Gunslingers Forging San Francisco By Junket

Discover how gold, greed, and gunslingers shaped San Francisco’s wild beginnings.

Walk the streets where fortune seekers and outlaws forged a city from chaos.

Uncover the untamed stories that turned San Francisco into a boomtown legend.

From gold rush dreams to deadly showdowns—San Francisco’s past comes alive.

Explore the rise of San Francisco through ambition, danger, and daring characters.

Where fortunes were made, laws were broken, and a city was born.

Step into the gritty Gold Rush era that forged San Francisco’s identity.

Duration2h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 20 travelers

Overview

Come on our History Walking Tour of San Francisco!
Travel back in time to the San Francisco of the late 1840s and early 1850s with this Gold Rush History Tour. You'll visit sites important to the early history of San Francisco, and by extension, all of California. From Portsmouth Square, to Sydney Town, to Pier 7, explore the locations, people, and legends that make up some of the darker side of San Francisco's early history, replete with tales of greed, discrimination, feuds, and lawless violence.

What's included

Professional and knowledgeable local guide
Thoroughly researched and accurate history

Food and drink

What to expect

Portsmouth Square
Pass by

This was the center of the original city of San Francisco, before California was even part of the US. Legend has it that the California gold rush officially began here.
Pass by

Discover the true story of the struggles Chinese people faced during the gold rush, which even included a fee for the privilege of mining at all.
Pass by

Learn more about the Six Companies that governed Chinatown, and the Tong Wars, here.
The Devil's Acre
Pass by

San Francisco is a city of contrasts, where a short walk can take you to a completely different place. Learn the history of the area known as The Devil's Acre, once such place in San Francisco, here.
Pass by

Learn the history of the Sydney Ducks, a team of arsonists, in this, the area they controlled.
Pass by

In San Francisco, as ships were grounded with the changing shoreline, they were simply repurposed into buildings. This saloon is an example of this.
Sydney Walton Square
Pass by

At this square, learn about "The Hounds" and the massacre that was the tipping point in creating an official police force for San Francisco.
Shanghai Kelly's
Pass by

Discover the legend of Shanghai Kelly, the region's most famous "crimper".
Pier 7
Pass by

End your tour with the tragic tale of James and Belle Cora.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meet your tour guide in front of the Hilton Financial District, at the intersection of Merchant and Kearny Streets. Your guide will be wearing a black US Ghost Adventures t-shirt and carrying a lantern. Please arrive 15 minutes prior start of the tour.

End point

Meet your tour guide in front of the Hilton Financial District, at the intersection of Merchant and Kearny Streets. Your guide will be wearing a black US Ghost Adventures t-shirt and carrying a lantern. Please arrive 15 minutes prior start of the tour.

Additional information

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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