The Barbary Coast
Seven stops. Seven lies. One Emperor. Walk through the neighborhood that invented the word shanghaied — where a gang leader in chain mail was assassinated because somebody sent his bodyguard for a newspaper, tourists paid for balcony seats to watch staged depravity, and a bankrupt rice trader declared himself Emperor of the United States.
What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- Tour Reveal
- Walking plan
- 1h 30m · ~1.0 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 9 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
9 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"You're about to walk through the neighborhood that gave San Francisco its reputation. Not the good one. The other one. Before this was a city of startups and sourdough, it was the most dangerous port in the Western Hemisphere."
"See that brick building? Four fifty-one Jackson Street. Italianate facade, cast-iron shutters, a plaque on the wall. This was the West Coast's largest whiskey warehouse."
"Alright. Seven stops. Seven lies. Let's sort them out. Sam Brannan's receipt — shovels sold, fourteen hundred, gold personally mined, none? I made that up. No evidence he kept one."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 11IntroductionYou're about to walk through the neighborhood that gave San Francisco its reputation. Not the good one. The other one.37.7949, -122.4053 Read this stop
- 22Portsmouth SquarePortsmouth Square. Concrete plaza, a parking garage underneath, probably someone playing chess over there.37.7949, -122.4053 Read this stop
- 33Chinatown AlleysWaverly Place. The Street of Painted Balconies. Look up — red, green, gold, those beautiful curved eaves.37.7940, -122.4070 Read this stop
- 44Pacific AvenuePacific Avenue. Antique shops, architecture firms, people walking small dogs. Extremely civilized.37.7965, -122.4035 Read this stop
- 55Hotaling's WarehouseSee that brick building? Four fifty-one Jackson Street. Italianate facade, cast-iron shutters, a plaque on the wall.37.7972, -122.4040 Read this stop
- 66Old Ship SaloonThe Old Ship Saloon. Two ninety-eight Pacific Avenue. One of the oldest bars in San Francisco. And it's built on a ship.37.7967, -122.3985 Read this stop
- 77Transamerica PyramidLook up. That pyramid. Forty-eight stories, eight hundred and fifty-three feet, the most recognizable building on the San Francisco skyline.37.7952, -122.4028 Read this stop
- 88Emperor NortonYou're on Commercial Street. In twenty twenty-three, the city added a second name to this block — Emperor Norton Place.37.7944, -122.4028 Read this stop
- 99Tour RevealAlright. Seven stops. Seven lies. Let's sort them out. Sam Brannan's receipt — shovels sold, fourteen hundred, gold personally mined, none?...37.7944, -122.4028 Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The San Francisco city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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The Barbary Coast
$9.99 · one-time