This walking tour was excellent. Emperor Norton was very informative and friendly. There was a lot of emphasis on historical significance, although there was also some on art/architecture/food/etc. as well.
I would perhaps even call this an "underground" tour, in the sense that I felt like a lot of the things we learned on the tour were probably lesser-known details about the city (we did actually go underground at one point too). For this reason I think that this tour would be great not only for tourists, but for locals as well (I was a tourist).
Not only does The Emperor seem to be a known and loved figure around the places he goes on his tour, but he also appears to be constantly seeking out new information for his tour. I have little doubt that The Emperor loves his city and learning about it.
Pablo V., Franklin, TN
Really informative and fun tour! Emperor Norton does a great job. We have recently moved to the SF Bay area and found it a great way to explore and learn about our new city! Thank you Living Social deals for introducing us to this tour.
Y.B., White Plains, NY
Simply the BEST way to have a fun history lesson and explore downtown SF! Emperor Norton leads you, in character and in full regalia, on a 3hr walking tour from Union Square around the immediate area and ending at the edge of Chinatown. You will learn so many things about SF and the culture that would take you years to ferret out on your own by researching and reading. He's done a first rate job of creating a modern day version of a real life historical character and has really done his homework on local history. No bs from this fellow! He's also a wealth of knowledge for great places to visit in the SF area. You're really missing out if you don't take 3hrs of your day to go on this tour-the time flies by fast. There were about 10 people on our tour (which is about avg) and you get to go inside some buildings as well as enjoy a nice walk around town (bring a jacket). IMO, this is more for adults - leave the kids somewhere else. Well worth the $20!!!
Robert B., San Luis Obispo
Emperor Norton was a famous "eccentric" from the late 19th and early 20th century in San Francisco, arriving in 1849 with the Gold Rush. It is well worth it to spend about 3 hours with the Emperor (your tour guide) who has meticulously research the history of the character and the times. Walk the Barbary Coast trail, starting in Union Square, and wend your way to Portsmouth Square hearing fascinating stories of San Francisco that even Native Sons & Daughters may not know -- including the remains of a secret underground tunnel, leading from what was once a bordello. Hear the history of one of America's most colorful cities from it's most colorful character.Bruce M., Berkeley
Thanks so very much for our tour yesterday afternoon - what a super time we had! Learned so much and saw so many interesting things.........truly, this is a 'must do' for anyone in San Francisco - whether you live here or are visiting!
Sharone
Really a fantastic tour. Extremely well researched and presented in a warm and entertaining way. Great for locals who want to learn even more about our City, or your visitors to brag about our amusing and amazing past! Five Stars.
Walt
Enjoyed a most informative walking tour w/Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine. Although I am a native San Franciscan, I heard information that I didn't know or had forgotten. The walking tour ran a bit over and ended up being 3 hours instead of 1-2 1/2. Time went by so quickly because his wealth of information held everyone's attention. If you have the opportunity to take this tour, don't hesitate.
Rose
I took this tour a few Saturdays ago and have to say Emperor Norton knows his stuff. He had some great insight to the city that I have never heard before. My girlfriend and I would recommend this to anyone local or just visiting who has a free afternoon.
Luke G., San Francisco
I have lived in San Francisco for 13 years. I like to do a costume event for my birthday each year. This year, I thought it would be fun to dress up in Victorianish attire and go on a private group historical walking tour in downtown SF. As a local history buff and long-time fan of the historical character of Emperor Norton, when I saw the name and premise of this tour, I was sold!
The Emperor was amenable to arranging a private group tour and flexible on date and time. He was punctual and looked fabulous in his imperial regalia. He delivered a fantastic tour with many stops, some familiar to me and some entirely new, all with fascinating details I'd never heard before. Being all in costume and led by the Emperor, our group made quite a picture, and tourists photographed us and asked us what we were up to all day. It was fun feeling like part of the show instead of just spectators, and adding to the overall San Francisco weird creative random experience.
Since we were very interested and asked lots of questions, all of which the Emperor graciously answered, the tour ran longer than we expected. We enjoyed every minute of the adventure. When we encountered an opera singer busking at the end of Maiden Lane, the Emperor sneaked over and asked her to sing me "Happy Birthday" without my noticing. It was a lovely surprise and a fantastic memory. He really went out of his way to make it a special day.
The Emperor is on good terms with the proprietors of every historical building we stopped in. He is well-prepared, very engaging, and clearly very enthusiastic about his material. He is passionate about San Francisco's colorful history, beautiful architecture and memorable characters, and he embodies the best spirit of Emperor Norton's spirit of creativity, eccentricity and tolerance.
I'm certain this tour would be nearly as much fun in modern street clothes. Whether you're a native San Franciscan or just in town for a visit, Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine is a splendid way to spend an afternoon.
K C., San Francisco
We decided to do this walking tour of San Francisco a couple of weeks ago. It was fun and different and gave us some new insight into the history of San Francisco. It started in Union Square and meandered over various parts of the city. None of the walking was strenuous but you must be able to ambulate or this tour is not for you. It was fun following our costumed Emperor Norton into the St. Francis Hotel and around town, but I guess nothing seems out-of-the-ordinary in San Francisco! For $20, it was an entertaining and informative afternoon.
Trish G., Mission Viejo, CA
Emperor Norton toured my family and friend group of six. Emperor Norton was fantastic. We paid him the homage he deserves, bowing to his majesty, knowledge and wisdom. I recommend all come and give the Emperor his due. We learned history of SF and interesting trivia. Truly, this is one of the best values in SF.
Dan C., Livermore
I really enjoyed this tour. Emperor Norton himself was great, but learning about and actually walking through the history of San Francisco was fantastic. My father grew up in San Francisco, and I had thought I knew a lot about it, but learned so much on the tour. My only complaint was that I wish it was longer, although it already covered a lot of ground and if it were longer some might run into difficulties covering the territory. I would recommend this as a good way to see the inside of the city, beyond all the current distractions.
Gordon G., Mission Viejo
Thank you Emperor Norton for the fantastic tour. We raised our children in the Bay Area and have since moved to Oregon. Our children are now raising their children here in San Francisco. We cherish each visit knowing that there's still more to learn about this beautiful city. This tour was filled with beautiful sights and interesting historical information, all presented by a a very knowledgable guide. We are recommending this to all friends visiting San Francisco.
Jeanne L., Wilsonville, OR
Impeccably researched and full of charm, the tour was one lovely surprise after another. The emperor really knows his stuff. Even the fellow tour goers were awesome. I highly recommend this SF. It's unique, delightful, informative and a whole bunch of fun.
Lizzie B., Dana Point
Awesome tour! I took my brother visiting from out of town and we had a blast. Emperor Norton really knows what he's talking about! The tour was the perfect length, about 2.5 hours, not too much walking, but enough to see everything you'd want to see, and we learned a ton about history and stories of the things I pass by everyday in this awesome city, and saw some things I've never noticed. We went to several old buildings and landmarks and learned about them, and even saw part of an underground tunnel in the old Barbary Coast. Emperor Norton has old photos of many of the spots so you can see what it looked like back in the day vs. now and tells the stories of important characters and events in San Francisco history as you go along. It's super affordable, and the story of Emperor Norton's character and his history is a really fun addition.
J D., San Francisco
I would perhaps even call this an "underground" tour, in the sense that I felt like a lot of the things we learned on the tour were probably lesser-known details about the city (we did actually go underground at one point too). For this reason I think that this tour would be great not only for tourists, but for locals as well (I was a tourist).
Not only does The Emperor seem to be a known and loved figure around the places he goes on his tour, but he also appears to be constantly seeking out new information for his tour. I have little doubt that The Emperor loves his city and learning about it.
Pablo V., Franklin, TN
Really informative and fun tour! Emperor Norton does a great job. We have recently moved to the SF Bay area and found it a great way to explore and learn about our new city! Thank you Living Social deals for introducing us to this tour.
Y.B., White Plains, NY
Simply the BEST way to have a fun history lesson and explore downtown SF! Emperor Norton leads you, in character and in full regalia, on a 3hr walking tour from Union Square around the immediate area and ending at the edge of Chinatown. You will learn so many things about SF and the culture that would take you years to ferret out on your own by researching and reading. He's done a first rate job of creating a modern day version of a real life historical character and has really done his homework on local history. No bs from this fellow! He's also a wealth of knowledge for great places to visit in the SF area. You're really missing out if you don't take 3hrs of your day to go on this tour-the time flies by fast. There were about 10 people on our tour (which is about avg) and you get to go inside some buildings as well as enjoy a nice walk around town (bring a jacket). IMO, this is more for adults - leave the kids somewhere else. Well worth the $20!!!
Robert B., San Luis Obispo
Emperor Norton was a famous "eccentric" from the late 19th and early 20th century in San Francisco, arriving in 1849 with the Gold Rush. It is well worth it to spend about 3 hours with the Emperor (your tour guide) who has meticulously research the history of the character and the times. Walk the Barbary Coast trail, starting in Union Square, and wend your way to Portsmouth Square hearing fascinating stories of San Francisco that even Native Sons & Daughters may not know -- including the remains of a secret underground tunnel, leading from what was once a bordello. Hear the history of one of America's most colorful cities from it's most colorful character.Bruce M., Berkeley
Thanks so very much for our tour yesterday afternoon - what a super time we had! Learned so much and saw so many interesting things.........truly, this is a 'must do' for anyone in San Francisco - whether you live here or are visiting!
Sharone
Really a fantastic tour. Extremely well researched and presented in a warm and entertaining way. Great for locals who want to learn even more about our City, or your visitors to brag about our amusing and amazing past! Five Stars.
Walt
Enjoyed a most informative walking tour w/Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine. Although I am a native San Franciscan, I heard information that I didn't know or had forgotten. The walking tour ran a bit over and ended up being 3 hours instead of 1-2 1/2. Time went by so quickly because his wealth of information held everyone's attention. If you have the opportunity to take this tour, don't hesitate.
Rose
I took this tour a few Saturdays ago and have to say Emperor Norton knows his stuff. He had some great insight to the city that I have never heard before. My girlfriend and I would recommend this to anyone local or just visiting who has a free afternoon.
Luke G., San Francisco
I have lived in San Francisco for 13 years. I like to do a costume event for my birthday each year. This year, I thought it would be fun to dress up in Victorianish attire and go on a private group historical walking tour in downtown SF. As a local history buff and long-time fan of the historical character of Emperor Norton, when I saw the name and premise of this tour, I was sold!
The Emperor was amenable to arranging a private group tour and flexible on date and time. He was punctual and looked fabulous in his imperial regalia. He delivered a fantastic tour with many stops, some familiar to me and some entirely new, all with fascinating details I'd never heard before. Being all in costume and led by the Emperor, our group made quite a picture, and tourists photographed us and asked us what we were up to all day. It was fun feeling like part of the show instead of just spectators, and adding to the overall San Francisco weird creative random experience.
Since we were very interested and asked lots of questions, all of which the Emperor graciously answered, the tour ran longer than we expected. We enjoyed every minute of the adventure. When we encountered an opera singer busking at the end of Maiden Lane, the Emperor sneaked over and asked her to sing me "Happy Birthday" without my noticing. It was a lovely surprise and a fantastic memory. He really went out of his way to make it a special day.
The Emperor is on good terms with the proprietors of every historical building we stopped in. He is well-prepared, very engaging, and clearly very enthusiastic about his material. He is passionate about San Francisco's colorful history, beautiful architecture and memorable characters, and he embodies the best spirit of Emperor Norton's spirit of creativity, eccentricity and tolerance.
I'm certain this tour would be nearly as much fun in modern street clothes. Whether you're a native San Franciscan or just in town for a visit, Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine is a splendid way to spend an afternoon.
K C., San Francisco
We decided to do this walking tour of San Francisco a couple of weeks ago. It was fun and different and gave us some new insight into the history of San Francisco. It started in Union Square and meandered over various parts of the city. None of the walking was strenuous but you must be able to ambulate or this tour is not for you. It was fun following our costumed Emperor Norton into the St. Francis Hotel and around town, but I guess nothing seems out-of-the-ordinary in San Francisco! For $20, it was an entertaining and informative afternoon.
Trish G., Mission Viejo, CA
Emperor Norton toured my family and friend group of six. Emperor Norton was fantastic. We paid him the homage he deserves, bowing to his majesty, knowledge and wisdom. I recommend all come and give the Emperor his due. We learned history of SF and interesting trivia. Truly, this is one of the best values in SF.
Dan C., Livermore
I really enjoyed this tour. Emperor Norton himself was great, but learning about and actually walking through the history of San Francisco was fantastic. My father grew up in San Francisco, and I had thought I knew a lot about it, but learned so much on the tour. My only complaint was that I wish it was longer, although it already covered a lot of ground and if it were longer some might run into difficulties covering the territory. I would recommend this as a good way to see the inside of the city, beyond all the current distractions.
Gordon G., Mission Viejo
Thank you Emperor Norton for the fantastic tour. We raised our children in the Bay Area and have since moved to Oregon. Our children are now raising their children here in San Francisco. We cherish each visit knowing that there's still more to learn about this beautiful city. This tour was filled with beautiful sights and interesting historical information, all presented by a a very knowledgable guide. We are recommending this to all friends visiting San Francisco.
Jeanne L., Wilsonville, OR
Impeccably researched and full of charm, the tour was one lovely surprise after another. The emperor really knows his stuff. Even the fellow tour goers were awesome. I highly recommend this SF. It's unique, delightful, informative and a whole bunch of fun.
Lizzie B., Dana Point
Awesome tour! I took my brother visiting from out of town and we had a blast. Emperor Norton really knows what he's talking about! The tour was the perfect length, about 2.5 hours, not too much walking, but enough to see everything you'd want to see, and we learned a ton about history and stories of the things I pass by everyday in this awesome city, and saw some things I've never noticed. We went to several old buildings and landmarks and learned about them, and even saw part of an underground tunnel in the old Barbary Coast. Emperor Norton has old photos of many of the spots so you can see what it looked like back in the day vs. now and tells the stories of important characters and events in San Francisco history as you go along. It's super affordable, and the story of Emperor Norton's character and his history is a really fun addition.
J D., San Francisco