Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime Tour

Schedule

Sat, 04 Jun, 2022 at 06:00 pm to Sat, 27 Dec, 2025 at 09:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Union Square | San Francisco, CA

Visit the sites of Hollywood scandals, red light areas, opium dens, gangsters, Gold Rush era lynchings and kidnappings – and historic bars.
About this Event

On our Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime tour we visit the sites of old Hollywood scandals, red light districts, opium dens, Gold Rush era lynchings and kidnappings, haunted locations (with some of the scariest ghost stories you've ever heard) and stop to enjoy a drink in a historic bar from the Barbary Coast era.

We start with the Fatty Arbuckle affair at the St Francis, the first Hollywood sex scandal, a moment that changed the public's perception of celebrity forever (and lead to the 'morality clause'). Then we stroll down Maiden Lane, which is lined with designer boutiques now, but a hundred years ago was the city's main red light district. After that we visit Chinatown, a neighborhood that was full of opium dens and gambling hellholes more than a hundred years ago, but is now a fun and fascinating place to visit.

Next you'll learn about Gold Rush era SF, when it was the Wild West here and public lynchings were held on Portsmouth Square. Finally, we head to the infamous Barbary Coast, which was once full of brothels and dance halls, often used to Shanghai unwary sailors (which is where the term originated). During the evening we'll regale you with some very scary San Francisco ghost stories from that period. We end the tour at the oldest continuously operating bar in the city, the Old Ship Saloon, which dates all the way back to the 1850's.

Join our Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime tour and be haunted by these tales from San Francisco's lawless past for weeks!

Our tours can sell out. If you can't make a booking email [email protected], telling us when you want to go and how many guests are in your party. If we can squeeze you in we’ll let you know.



Logistics & Details

*Walking distance: 2 miles.

*Tour starts 6 pm Saturday, Union Square, opposite St Francis Hotel (meeting point photo).

*Tour finishes 9 pm, Old Ship Saloon.

*We donate $1 for every guest to Climate Cents, a climate change organization.

*We can go into two different bars for cocktails on this tour, each for about 15 minutes. You do have to be over 21 y.o. to order an alcoholic drink – but you don’t have to be over 21 y.o. to do this tour.



Disclaimers

This tour is in English. If your English isn’t fluent this may not be the best option for you. We do not offer this tour in any other language at this time.

Drinks are not included.

This is a walking tour and we move at a reasonable pace. If you have mobility issues please book a private tour.

This tour is not recommended for children under 15 y.o.

We never cancel tours in advance due to the weather conditions. Be sure to wear warm clothing, nights are usually cool in SF.

Aim to get to the meeting point 10-15 minutes early. If you’re late you may miss the tour.

Contactless payment for gratuities available, please allow 15-20%.

Where is it happening?

Union Square, Powell and Post Street, San Francisco, United States
Tickets

USD 59.98

Real San Francisco Tours

Host or Publisher Real San Francisco Tours

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in San Francisco

Max Bartos & Meredith Edgar -SF
Mon, 01 Sep at 07:30 pm Max Bartos & Meredith Edgar -SF

988 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, United States, California 94133

MUSIC
Xuefei Yang (San Francisco)
Mon, 01 Sep at 07:30 pm Xuefei Yang (San Francisco)

1111 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue : LISTEN | Envelop SF (7:30pm)
Mon, 01 Sep at 07:30 pm Miles Davis - Kind of Blue : LISTEN | Envelop SF (7:30pm)

Envelop SF

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Osees
Mon, 01 Sep at 08:00 pm Osees

777 Valencia Street San Francisco CA 94110

ART
Ceramics Handbuilding and Sculpting Basics - Sutter Location - Pottery Class in San Francisco | Classpop!\u2122
Tue, 02 Sep at 10:30 am Ceramics Handbuilding and Sculpting Basics - Sutter Location - Pottery Class in San Francisco | Classpop!™

SMAArt Studio - Sutter

WORKSHOPS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Pay What You Wish Day!
Tue, 02 Sep at 11:00 am Pay What You Wish Day!

Cartoon Art Museum

ART EXHIBITIONS
Pat Burtscher
Tue, 02 Sep at 04:00 pm Pat Burtscher

Punch Line Comedy Club - San Francisco

COMEDY
Calva Louise
Tue, 02 Sep at 04:00 pm Calva Louise

Brick & Mortar Music Hall

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime Tour
Sat, 04 Jun at 06:00 pm Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime Tour

Union Square

ART NONPROFIT
SF Ghost Hunting Tour in Chinatown with a Paranormal Investigator
Fri, 07 Oct at 07:00 pm SF Ghost Hunting Tour in Chinatown with a Paranormal Investigator

The Haunt SF Ghost Tours

ART THEATRE
The Vampire Tour of San Francisco
Sat, 02 Aug The Vampire Tour of San Francisco

Nob Hill

4-Week \/ALL Wheel Throwing with Clay
Wed, 06 Aug at 06:00 pm 4-Week /ALL Wheel Throwing with Clay

6138 Geary Blvd

WORKSHOPS KIDS
SF INDIEPOP FEST!
Sat, 06 Sep at 07:00 pm SF INDIEPOP FEST!

oreillys pub

FESTIVALS ENTERTAINMENT
SF INDIEPOPFEST! @ O'Reilly's, Saturday September 6
Sat, 06 Sep at 07:00 pm SF INDIEPOPFEST! @ O'Reilly's, Saturday September 6

O'Reilly's Pub SF

ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCES
Undead Mile Run \u2013 San Francisco, CA
Sat, 06 Sep at 08:00 pm Undead Mile Run – San Francisco, CA

San Francisco California

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT
ASH ISLAND in San Francisco
Sat, 06 Sep at 08:00 pm ASH ISLAND in San Francisco

The Regency Ballroom

ART
limp wrist on the lever
Thu, 11 Sep at 08:00 pm limp wrist on the lever

Potrero Stage

ART HEALTH-WELLNESS
Unwound, Street Eaters in San Francisco
Mon, 15 Sep at 08:00 pm Unwound, Street Eaters in San Francisco

Great American Music Hall

ART LIVE-MUSIC
Songwriters Unite in A Night of Motivation
Tue, 30 Sep at 06:30 pm Songwriters Unite in A Night of Motivation

The Lost Church - San Francisco

ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC

What's Happening Next in San Francisco?

Discover San Francisco Events