The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: Graft, Gunfire and a 90-Year-Old Fish

(177 reviews)

San Francisco, California audio tour: The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: Graft, Gunfire and a 90-Year-Old Fish

This is a 2.7mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

San Francisco, California

The United States

$11.99

Access all 42 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

Buy for a Group

Reviews

About the Tour

Golden Gate Park is a serene oasis in the heart of San Francisco. It’s larger than New York’s Central Park and is filled with museums, lakes, bison, a Ferris wheel and more than a thousand acres of meadows, redwood groves and curated gardens. But it didn’t get this way without some drama.

The story of Golden Gate Park is also the story of arrogant tycoons humbled by natural disasters, gunfire and graft. It's the story of a city that honors its fallen and of one giant, stuffed 150-year-old grizzly bear (that happens to be on the California flag). You'll find all of the above on this walking tour by San Francisco Chronicle journalists Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight, the team behind Total SF.

Some of the highlights include:

Conservatory of Flowers: Discover the (controversial) first museum in Golden Gate Park.
AIDS Memorial Grove: Hear the inspiring story of a volunteer-driven sanctuary built out of love.
California Academy of Sciences: Learn about the museum's resident 90-year-old fish and reindeer-friendly roof.
Stow Lake: See some of the most stunning and underrated views in San Francisco.
Music Concourse: Visit where the Golden Gate Park Band has been performing for San Franciscans for 139 years. You'll hear the band's music during the tour and can learn more and support the band at goldengateparkband.org.
Sweeny Observatory and Monarch Grove: Tour the ruins of a shrine to wealthy excess, and hear about the park's ties to the bear on the California flag.

This tour combines Peter and Heather’s love for exploring San Francisco with the time they’ve spent scouring The San Francisco Chronicle archive for the best stories that no one is talking about. Join them on this entertaining 90 min hike through Golden Gate Park for natives, newcomers and tourists alike.

Tour Producer

San Francisco Chronicle

3 tours

The San Francisco Chronicle has been covering breaking news and life in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1865. Our journalists know the city's riveting tales and secret corners better than anyone.

Preview Location

Location 1

Start - Conservatory of Flowers

PETER: Hello, I’m Peter Hartlaub, the Culture Critic for the San Francisco Chronicle

HEATHER: And I’m Heather Knight, the Chronicle’s San Francisco columnist

PETER: And we’re teaming up to show you some little-known history, insider knowledge and some of our absolute fav... Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

You can listen to your tours as often as you like using both the VoiceMap app and website.

Take virtual tours anywhere, like a podcast

Select Virtual mode in the VoiceMap app to listen to tours like a podcast - at home or in transit.

Buy for less on voicemap.me and sync

Once you've purchased a tour, it's added to your VoiceMap library. To access it in the app, just sign in using the same account.

Do tours without paying for data

Tours work offline, so you don't have to pay roaming fees. Just download them over WiFi before you get started.

Major Landmarks

California Academy of Sciences
Skatin' Place
de Young Museum
National AIDS Memorial Grove
Conservatory of Flowers
Stow Lake
Japanese Tea Garden

View all

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
100 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
Total distance

4km
Final location
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
Distance back to start location

393.73m

Directions to Starting Point

Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States

The tour begins at the bottom of the stairs in front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

Show Directions

Gift vouchers

Buy tours for friends and family who delight in discovery

Buy Now

Buy for a group

Get 15% to 50% off when you buy for a group

Buy Now

License this tour

Adapt this tour to use your brand and suit your guests

Find out more

Tips

Places to stop along the way

The tour is walking or short biking/driving distance from several fun-to-explore neighborhoods near the park, including:

• The Haight-Ashbury: The Haight is filled with history, shopping, used clothes and records, and good food options centered on Haight Street between Stanyan and Masonic.
• Inner Richmond District: There are eclectic shops, food and more fun discoveries in the neighborhood surrounding Green Apple Books at 506 Clement St.
• Outer Richmond District: There is more food, historic bars and a theater in the neighborhood surrounding Balboa Theatre at 3630 Balboa St.
• Inner Sunset District: Irving Street between 6th and 12th avenues has some great breakfast places and other dining.

Best time of day

From dawn until dusk. It's best during dry weather as some spots are on dirt roads or trails.

Precautions

• Wear comfortable shoes and layers — be prepared for cold weather and a modest hike (some of it on unpaved paths.)
• This walk includes stairs, with one particularly long staircase. Unfortunately it isn't wheelchair accessible or suitable for strollers.
• If you drive to the park or to a nearby neighborhood, be sure not to leave valuables in your car. Auto theft is traditionally very common around Golden Gate Park.

Get The App

Download tours to use them offline

Listen hands-free with GPS playback

Get turn-by-turn directions

Scan the QR Code

“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”