This is to provide a "heads-up" for what to expect from the Telegraph Berkeley Historical Walking…read moreTour. This is also to supplement the Walking Tour, in case some of the more interesting points were missed. I doubt if this Walking Tour includes any of the really important things about Berkeley, such as Melvin Calvin's discovery of the Calvin Cycle, or the discoveries relating to vitamin B12 by Horace Barker, or the discovery by Gilbert Lewis of the covalent bond and his concept of electron pairs. Instead, the Walking Tour is more likely to disclose: (1) Anti-war demonstrations and riots; (2) Free Speech Movement; and (3) Curiosities, such as People's Park, Holy Hubert (evangelist), Pink Cloud (Berkeley Barb salesman), Pravda, the Hate Man, Stoney Burke (performs political comedy), and the successful and famous poet, Julia "Bubble Lady" Vinograd. And so, to prepare yourself for the Walking Tour, I suggest buying a copy of BLESS YOUR DIRTY HEART by Hubert Lindsey, a.k.a., Holy Hubert, and by buying two or three poetry books by Julia Vinograd. I suggest, CANNIBAL CASSEROLE to start out with. MY PHOTOGRAPHS. I took these photographs in the years 1969 to 1971. During the time I was taking freshman chemistry in Latimer Hall, us students were faced with a tough decision. Should we open the windows and let the stinky smell of our chemicals go out the window, or should we keep the windows shut to keep out the stinky smell of the tear gas that the Berkeley police were shooting at the rioters. The day after the riots, I would go out and collect spent tear gas bombs. I have a tear gas bomb that was a rubber ball with a valve on top, and another tear gas bomb that was a blue-painted can made of thick metal, with holes in the can to let the gas come out. I washed the residual tear gas out of the bombs by flushing water over the spent tear gas bombs in the bathroom sink in PRIESTLY HALL dormitory. My photographs show: (1) Bluegrass trio in Sproul Plaza with a mandolin case where you donate money, and where the mandolin case has a sign reading, "KITTY." The term "Kitty" is sometimes used to refer to a place for putting spare change. (2) Also on Sproul Plaza, people playing trombone and clarinet. (3) Holy Hubert on Sproul Plaza. One of the signs reads, "Jesus Christ is coming again to judge this world, follow Christ here on earth. Be persecuted and go to heaven not hell. Another sign reads, "REPENT-REPENT-REPENT Communist Party USSR Communist Party Red China Communist Party U.S.A. Marx-Lenin-Maotsetung ALL 3 ATHEISTS. Bible says Atheist=Fools. I won't follow fools. (4) Riot police on Telegraph Ave. escorting boy to paddy wagon. (5) Sandwich board on Telegraph Avenue. Sign reads, LEOPOLD'S RECORDS New Stones Album $5.99. (6) Boy gets put into paddy wagon, on Telegraph Avenue. (7) Four rioters on Telegraph. One of them flips bird at me. (8) Protest against Nixon and bombs. I took this photo at entrance to U.C. Berkeley campus. (9) Hippie is glad that LBJ died. See headlines from Berkeley Daily Gazette that reads, "Washington Funeral For LBJ." The sign attached to the wooden post reads, "ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL . . . ALICE STEWART & SNAKE . . . June 23." Please note that Alice Stewart & Snake also performed with Big Brother and the Holding Company, at Bimbo's in 1972. (10) Happy gathering on Telegraph. (11) People's Park with Pravda in the nude, as usual. (12) People's Park with row of four friends. (13) Happy gathering on Telegraph, near La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant. You can see GARDEN SPOT MARKET next to La Fiesta. But me and my roommates called this place the GARBAGE SPOT.

I checked out this tour on a recent rainy Sunday and as a Berkeley native learned so much I never…read moreknew about our local history, specific to Telegraph Avenue, Cal as well as Berkeley in general! It's a great tour and I'd recommend it to residents and visitors alike. It's a free app to download and my friend and I each but an earbud in our ear and walked the tour together. Totally recommend!

I had an interesting and beautiful tour of the Thorsen house. The level of knowledge and history of…read morethe 2 guides, Collin and Charlie was impressive. The architecture was so precise and well done it would take billions to replicate. I love real estate and the architecture that goes in it. Certainly made me appreciate and respect the little tools they had but the skill used to compensate for it. Grateful I decided to see it.

The people who stay there were knowledgeable about the home. Enjoyed learning about the history of…read moremy mother in law's grandparents.

STUNNING, STUNNING, STUNNING!…read more This stunning French chateau is a must see . . . IF you're lucky enough to be selected from their lottery. Check their official website, there were four weeks displayed and I was fortunate to get the week of my birthday. Wednesdays only from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. We were divided into two groups. The docent led us indoors and we were able to see the "downstairs" (staff area). We proceeded throughout the first floor and saw a variety of rooms: library, dining area, lacquer room, loggia, and ended at the backside of the mansion (must see pool). The docent was knowledgeable, humorous and passionate sharing stores about the owners of the mansion, the history, furnishings and such. I HIGHLY recommend.

This is the best kept secret in California - A Docent lead 2+ hour tour into one of the grandest…read moreand most beautiful historic mansion and it is absolutely free! It doesn't even have a gift shop for you to buy anything! The downside - the tours are conducted only once a week on Wednesday - and due to high demand, it is by lottery only. Consider yourself winning the jackpot if you got selected to go on the tour. Allen, the Curator personally lead us to a wonderful tour. They are all volunteers, doing it because they love the house and nothing else! Allen is witty, funny, extremely knowledgeable and absolutely the best. The house is beautiful, the grounds are well kept, everything is authentic as if you are going back in time to the turn of the 20th century. Highly recommend visiting this wondeful mansion- absolutely the best value you can ever get from a tour!

The Emperor's tour is informative, fun, funny, and memorable…read more He is a delightful, knowledgeable gentleman.

All hail Emperor Norton and his Fantastic Time Machine! One of the best things I've ever done in…read moreSan Francisco -- and the way I came across this tour was by total chance! I happened to be walking through Union Square one weekend morning and saw a gentleman dressed as Emperor Norton. I thought he was a street performer, but boy was I surprised to find out he was about to lead a walking tour! Being a history nerd and someone who was already familiar with the Emperor, I bought a ticket for the downtown tour on the spot, and had such a good experience the next day I bought a ticket for the waterfront tour. It's an enjoyable, leisurely stroll through San Francisco -- full of fun facts and trivia about the city, and Joseph is a delightful host and guide. I feel he lives up to the ideals and sentiments of both Emperor Norton and the city of San Francisco itself, and this is my #1 recommendation whenever a friend tells me they're going to visit SF (although, of course, I'm always sure to NEVER refer to it as "Frisco").

The Pardee Home Museum has been on my radar for a while as one of the few places in the East Bay to…read moreget afternoon tea. I ended up finally booking the garden for a large party this month and was impressed by the experience from start to finish. It's hard to believe that it's entirely volunteer-led! Everyone I met was clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the house, its history, and its preservation. Making a reservation was easy and the coordinators were kind and courteous during the whole process. The day-of place settings were beautiful and the food was some of the best I've had for tea in addition to being generous and variable in servings. There were even some kid-friendly items (including some non-caffeinated beverages) as I had a few young guests in attendance. The tour we had following our tea service was detailed and informative without being boring. The house itself is incredibly preserved and in immaculate condition. It was great learning about the history of the Pardee family and their influence in the Bay Area, California, and beyond. There were some interactive parts too including getting to touch some antique items and listen to some hand-cranked music players. I will undoubtedly be back sometime and highly encourage anyone who likes good food and vibes or learning about local history to book a visit themselves. If you have people from out-of-town visiting, the Pardee Home is an excellent first choice for doing something low-key and private but still touristy.

This tea party was a perfect experience. The food was delicious, the ladies serving were…read moredelightful, and the tour of the museum afterwards was so interesting!

Such a unique experience. I've lived in Pacifica for years and always wondered the history of this…read morecastle and what was inside. Now I know! Definitely worth a visit for anyone who likes unique history, movie buffs, and grand decor. Plus, delicious lemonade.

Who knew there was a castle in Pacifica? A nice visit if you're into history, architecture and want…read moreto see some views. Built in 1908 by the San Francisco rail magnate Henry Harrison McCloskey by the sea as a safe haven after his San Francisco home was severely damaged in the 1906 earthquake. It was later sold by his wife after her husband's death in 1914 Up until 1959, it had a reputation as a speakeasy, an illegal abortion clinic, a brothel and Coast Guard barracks during World War II. The castle was purchased and restored in 1959 by the late Sam Mazza, commercial painter and real estate magnate filled it with items from old theaters (fixtures, props) and items he purchased at garage sales...so a lot of kitschy items can be found. Place was never used as a residence but hosting parties and used as an event space. The place isn't as grand as I had imagined but definitely back in the day when Pacifica wasn't quite developed. A bit worn on the outside with no greenery and can see it providing a creepy backdrop at night. The docents (dressed as Mr and Mrs McCloskey) and Jeanette Cool, Executive Director of the Sam Mazza Foundation provided rich history that made it interesting and fun. The tour is 1.5 hours with a 10min video from 2000 of Sam Mazza at age 94...energetic and a bit quirky, eccentric with unique taste. All his real estate holdings, including the castle, and his art was left to his foundation after he passed in 2002. So now the castle provides tours, afternoon tea, holiday events and even a Halloween event with a medium...yeah friend bought tickets for that! An enjoyable visit with light refreshments after so grab a bite to eat before or after your tour

This light house station is a cool place to stop and get out to stretch when traveling along…read morehighway 1. You can wonder around the lighthouse, other artifacts and some great views here at this beautiful spot on the ocean. Be sure to walk to the end of the property behind the out buildings. There's a deck there so you can sit and breath in the fresh air. Along with some whale bones to check out. This is also a hostel where you can spend the night. But you need to make reservations in advance. The bathrooms leave alot to be desired. I'd only use them out of desperation...

driving from Union Square in San Francisco through Highway 1 to Big Sur, this was our first stop…read more The light house itself was under restoration. The lodging area and whalers cove is worth a stop along Highway 1 Perched dramatically on a cliffside on Highway 1 , the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is home to one of the tallest lighthouses in America. Tied as the tallest on the West Coast at 115 feet, it has been guiding mariners along the rugged Pacific coast since 1872. The site gets its unique name from the Carrier Pigeon, a Gold Rush-era clipper ship that famously ran aground on the foggy, jagged rocks just 500 feet from shore on its maiden voyage in 1853. While the historic white masonry tower itself is currently closed to the public for a major structural restoration project, the park grounds remain completely open and offer plenty to explore. Be sure to check out Whalers Cove which is a scenic, secluded beach nestled directly below the south side of the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. Piece of history: In the mid-1800s, it served as a bustling hub for shore whaling operations, where Portuguese whalers would spot migrating whales from the bluffs, row out in small boats to hunt them, and bring them back to the cove to process the blubber. Today, the cove is a protected, peaceful sanctuary where nature has reclaimed the shoreline. Lodgings at the Cove: HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel If you are looking to stay overnight right on the edge of the cove, the primary lodging option is the HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel. The accommodation is unique because it sits directly on the state park grounds, offering an incredible, budget-friendly coastal experience that feels like your own private estate. The Accommodations: The hostel is comprised of four historic, white-picket-fenced houses that originally served as the homes for the lighthouse keepers and their families. Guests can book affordable, straightforward shared dorm beds, or opt for private rooms within the houses. below. Note: Because of its unparalleled location right on the Highway 1 coastline and its highly affordable rates, rooms and beds at the hostel tend to book out many months in advance, especially for weekend stays.

My experience was the same as K H. It's great to see such a beautiful work of art and George is…read morevery generous to share his home and time. (He shared that tours help with cost of maintenance.) It is however mostly a tour of his life and not a lot of information on the house. Since it's his home and guided, your time in each room depends on how long his story is.

On the plane exiting at SFO and the girl in front of us was talking about the blue painted lady…read moretour by George Horsfall. It is his private residence and tours are given everyday he is home at 4:00 for $30. George is an notable figure in the area walking his 2 golden retrievers daily. His family has owned the house for years and he hosts charity events, music recitals, movie set cast parties and dinner parties for his friend in his historical home. The decor downstairs is a blast from the past with in tact stenciling, wall paper, and turn off the century original detail. He freely shares so much history and detail of the area, historical development and decline in the area. The wealth of knowledge here is abundant. If you want to be enchanted by really good stories told by an interesting educator and learn historical information of the area, invest time in the 90 minutes with George and the magical stories about the blue painted ladies. It is time really well spent. A GREAT TOUR!

Lots of details about this interesting corner of the Bay Area provided by our guide Dan G. He was a…read morewealth of information, pretty funny and as a local was able to share a lot of perspective on the islands changes. Great day trip and I wish we had more time to poke around.

Wonderful tour led by Jim. History + nature! A great morning spent on the island…read more For people who are looking to visit the Naval Museum on the island, it is no longer open, but this tour is operative and you get to see the naval chapel and walk around the area. I was originally looking for information about the museum and arrived at this page: https://www.mihpf.org/tours. I hope this will help you find their tour options and dates! All digitalized, no fuss. And it turns out I was the only who signed up for today's tour, and they did not cancel on me because of that. I really really appreciated it. One last thing, the money you spend on the tour goes into helping this foundation : ) Yay!

If you want to experience a step back in time, the self guided tour or the paid for tour will leave…read moreyou feeling like you are in another dimension. Stepping into the house from the front door, the energy felt warm and welcoming. It almost felt as though the family was still there. Maybe the past is the present. I was lucky to have the house to myself- I was told the house docent would arrive shortly . Natural light pouring through the old windows was lovely. As I wandered about, I could hear agitated footsteps from upstairs, so I did not go to the second floor, but instead entertained myself with exploring all the downstairs. I was drawn to a beautiful painting on the wall of a woman with her horse in the front room. As I was looking at the painting my sweater pocket was gently tugged not once but twice. Inside the pocket was my lemon honey cough drops. ‍ If you want to experience a quieter peaceful time before "progress" changed Hayward you will enjoy the tour. Any funds that they make on these tours or events goes to the care of the two historic mansions. The house docents are lovely and share the family history in such a way they come alive. If you have wondered what the inside of this grand old dame looks like you will enjoy seeing for yourself on the second Saturday of the month 10am to 2 pm. Enjoy.

Randomly passed by while biking down Hesperian (unintended city sight tour) and noticed this cool…read morearchitectural gem. It wasn't open today so couldn't go in for tours but I looked it up online later. Reminds me of the Patterson House at Ardenwood Historic Farm. Neat piece of local history!