1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco
  4. Mysteries & legends

San Francisco · Mysteries & legends

Emperors, kidnappings and tunnels: secret San Francisco

From Chinatown to North Beach through the city's strangest stories, always separating what is documented from what belongs to tradition. It ends at dusk in Washington Square, surrounded by Italian restaurants.

  • 5 stops
  • 2.7 km
  • 2 h
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Brick facade of the Old Ship Saloon with its ship-shaped sign

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Old St. Mary's and Emperor NortonA clock that warned brothel-goers and, on the corner, the spot where the only emperor of the United States collapsed.
  2. 2 Ross Alley, the alley of secretsGambling halls behind iron doors, tunnels nobody has ever found and a fortune cookie factory.
  3. 3 The Old Ship Saloon and the Barbary Coast shanghaiersA bar that began inside a stranded ship, and the dark reputation of sailors kidnapped on the waterfront.
  4. 4 Coit Tower and the girl who ran with the firemenA tower atop Telegraph Hill, a rebellious heiress and the fire hose nozzle nobody designed.
  5. 5 Washington Square and the time capsuleA statue holding a message for the future, a wedding that never happened in that church and a tribute to the firemen.

Loading the map…

Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

Emperors, kidnappings and tunnels: secret San Francisco

Legendary characters

Emperor Norton, the firemen's mascot and the shanghaiers of the Barbary Coast.

Myths under the microscope

Chinatown's tunnels, the fire hose tower and Marilyn's wedding: how much of each is true.

The Filbert Steps

A climb through hanging gardens up to Telegraph Hill, with views of Alcatraz.

Keep exploring

More routes in San Francisco

Back to San Francisco
HistoryFrom Yerba Buena to the city that rose from its ashes MixedCable cars, Chinatown and the Beats: San Francisco highlights

Itineraries

How many days do you have in San Francisco?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

San Francisco in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

San Francisco in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

San Francisco in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary