Haight-Ashbury: Architecture & Murals Tour

We had a fantastic three-hour architectural and mural tour of San Francisco with our guide, Jamie. The tour was originally meant to be two and a half hours, but Jamie generously went well beyond the allotted time, and we were completely engaged throughout. What made the tour especially interesting was how Jamie connected the architecture and murals to the history of San Francisco itself. We heard stories stretching from the Gold and Silver Rush era of the late 1800s, through the city’s changing neighbourhoods, all the way to the Summer of Love in the 1960s. The Haight-Ashbury portion was a particular highlight. Jamie brought the neighbourhood’s counterculture history to life with stories about the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and the hippie movement, pointing out the actual houses, venues and places where they lived, performed and gathered. It made walking through the area feel completely different once you understood what had happened there. Jamie was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and incredibly generous with his time. A fascinating way to experience San Francisco beyond the usual tourist sights, and one we would definitely recommend.

Oh man! What a great tour!!! I picked this one to see beautiful SF architecture and got an excellent dose of the local history too. Such a wonderful experience!! I grew up across the bay in the 60’s. And when family came to visit, we’d take them over to Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, and, of course, to Haight/Ashbury streets - to see the “hippies”. It was so interesting to hear how this area, the Haight , came to life because of the 60’s (& 70’s) Summer of Love. Prior to that, it was just a rough and scrabble neighborhood. On Jamie and Dara’s tour we saw many beautiful Victorians all while hearing great stories about the homes and the architects who built them. Surprisingly we were invited to tour a Victorian which was for sale. It was just by chance and we were a small group - absolutely spectacular! Lucky us!! The murals and street art is incredible too. Such a lovely day, perfect for comfortably walking around. Then Jamie shared many stories about past occupants in those homes - so cool. So real. I remember, as a kid, hearing news stories about the various people and events. The Haight-Ashbury: Architecture & Murals Tour was very enjoyable. I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in architecture, history, hearing great stories, and having a wonderful afternoon walking and learning about a very cool ‘renowned’ neighborhood in San Francisco. I look forward to go on this tour again. Many of my friends and family want to go with me when I sign up and I’m sure they will.

What a fantastic tour! I can’t say enough great things about my tour guide Jamie! His knowledge of the area was vast, in depth and fascinating. We walked around the commercial and residential areas and he explained the meaning behind all of the murals, the history of the shops from years gone by, and the story behind the homes and architecture. If you’re looking for a great way to explore San Francisco, look no further. I highly recommend this tour!