In the mood to explore? Historical Excursions are a perfect way to explore San Francisco – with a historian’s touch – giving you behind the scenes access to some of the most exciting places in the city! Whether you’re touring the stacks of the California Historical Society or looking over the shoulder of an archaeologist at the Presidio, you’ll have a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be found anywhere else. Transportation is included in each Excursion, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the day in beautiful San Francisco! An additional cost applies for the Historical Excursions – be sure to select your preferred Excursion(s) upon registration – space is limited.
Friday Excursion: May 29, 10:30am-3:00pm
The Presidio Officers’ Club
Additional cost: $65/Member, $75 Non-Member
Lunch included.
Long before there was the city of San Francisco, there was the Presidio of San Francisco. First established in 1776, the adobe walls of the Officers’ Club stand testament to California’s beginnings. Throughout the 20th century, the renowned Presidio Officers’ Club was a gathering place for Army brass and their families. Today, this beloved institution has been transformed into a multi-faceted cultural destination. The Officers’ Club features exceptional exhibits inspired by the Presidio’s role in shaping California: explore the many permanent and special exhibits, including a special visit to the Archeology Lab, where participants will experience this active research center where the Presidio’s artifacts are identified, analyzed and curated.
Saturday Excursion: May 30, 2:00pm-6:30pm
The California Historical Society
Additional cost: $45/Member, $55 Non-Member
Snack included.
Visit the California Historical Society (CHS) for a curator-led tour of the special exhibit: City Rising: San Francisco and the 1915 World’s Fair, presented in celebration of the Fair’s centennial anniversary. The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE)—a world's fair commemorating the opening of the Panama Canal just nine years after the devastating earthquake and fires of 1906—emerged on 635 acres of land previously submerged by water. The fair featured eleven exhibition palaces showcasing objects from every corner of the globe, more than 1,500 sculptures commissioned from artists all over the world, 65 acres of amusement concessions, and an aviation field. Then, after the fair closed, this ephemeral city was all but erased from the landscape.
After the PPIE exhibit, participants will get a special guided tour of the CHS stacks, giving participants a chance to take a peek into the operations of CHS and to explore some of the extra special items curated by the Society (and unavailable to the public).
