San Francisco City Guides

San Francisco City Guides (SFCG) is a nonprofit organization that offers dozens of different walking tours of San Francisco presented by trained, volunteer guides.[1] Topics range from history and architecture to local legends throughout the city.[2] Tours are free but donations are accepted at the end of tours to support the organization.[3][1] They usually cover less than a mile and can last up to two hours.[3]

San Francisco City Guides was founded in 1978 and has received support from the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and various foundations and donors over the years.[4]

History

Beginnings

San Francisco City Guides was founded after frequent requests for a tour of City Hall. Gladys Hansen, City Archivist, San Francisco History Room, City Hall, trained a few volunteers to give tours of City Hall and the San Francisco Civic Center to dignitaries, visitors and students. There were no schedules and tours were provided on an as-needed basis.

With ever-increasing requests, Judith Waldhorn Lynch, who was hired through C.E.T.A. was assigned to work with Gladys in the History Room in 1977. Lynch set about recruiting volunteers and supporters to formally launch the program which would later be named “City Guides.”

The first training class produced 67 volunteer guides. City Hall/Civic Center was the single tour offered.

1980s

In 1982, Mayor Dianne Feinstein asked City Guides be official guides for new Moscone Center. In 1984, City Guides was appointed as San Francisco's official docent by Mayor Feinstein.

In 1986, City Guides was asked to be official Bridge Guides for the 50th Anniversary Celebration by the Friends of the Golden Gate Bridge; this tour became the eleventh regularly offered tour.

1990s

San Francisco Public Library became City Guides' primary sponsor, while City Guides became a project of The Tides Center, which now serves as fiscal agent, replacing Friends of the Library in 1996.

2000s

In 2001, City Guides received the Ron Ross Founders Award from the San Francisco History Association, in recognition of its contribution to the preservation of San Francisco history.[5]

By 2007, City Guides collaborated with San Francisco Beautiful and Wilderness Press to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a book written by a City Guide, Adah Bakalinsky, Stairway Walks in San Francisco by expanding the offerings of tours of the most interesting of San Francisco’s 350 stairways.[2]

In 2008, City Guides celebrated its 30th anniversary with an event held at the Main Library. In City Guides' 30th year, 30,000 walkers attended their tours.

In 2012, San Francisco City Guides started a partnership with the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society to provide historical, cultural and architectural walks.[6]

Volunteers

City Guide volunteers form a diverse group, united by their passion for sharing San Francisco with others. Volunteers come from all over the Bay Area and have backgrounds such as teachers, engineers, students, retired professionals, lawyers, historians, real estate agents, journalists and even professional tour guides.

References

  1. ^ a b "A free walking tour of Pacific Heights Mansions". San Francisco Examiner. June 17, 2013. Tours are given by expert volunteers who are passionate about their city and their subject areas and do not accept tips. In fact, the 200 registered guides have actually paid for their own training. The tour company -- in operation since 1978 -- offers more than 100 walks for free, although a donation for the administration back at the office is appreciated. Your guide will be there at the appointed time and place, rain or shine. No reservations are needed unless you're coming with seven or more friends.
  2. ^ a b "San Francisco City Guides to conduct citywide stairway walks". Merced Sun-Star. April 27, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Colliver, Victoria (2015-05-18). "City Guides' tours explore minutiae of S.F. neighborhoods". SFGATE. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  4. ^ "About Us - Free Walking Tours". San Francisco City Guides. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  5. ^ "San Francisco History Association - Award Recipients". sanfranciscohistory.org. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  6. ^ "Press Release". Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
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