Gold Rush Women: Untold Stories of San Francisco’s Trailblazing Pioneers

Wed Nov 19 2025 at 02:00 pm to 04:00 pm UTC-08:00

Saints Peter and Paul Church | San Francisco

Go Roam Tours
Publisher/HostGo Roam Tours
Gold Rush Women: Untold Stories of San Francisco\u2019s Trailblazing Pioneers Step into San Francisco’s Wild Gold Rush Era—Through the Eyes of the Women Who Made History.
About this Event

🌟 Midweek Trailblazer Rate — Just $29.95! 🌟

Book by October 31, 2025 to save on all Wednesday & Thursday tours August 6, 2025 through March 30, 2026


🚶‍♀️ Walk through Gold Rush history—from a woman’s point of view.Join Go Roam Tours for a bold, inclusive walking tour uncovering the powerful women and gender-nonconforming people who shaped early San Francisco but were left out of the textbooks.

From brothel madams to suffragettes to artists to entrepreneurs, “Gold Rush Women” reveals the untold stories of women who defied the odds and redefined the West.

More About the Tour:

Uncover the untold stories of the bold, brilliant, and scandalous women who helped shape San Francisco during the Gold Rush. From entrepreneurs and entertainers to outlaws and activists, this walking tour explores the city’s vibrant past through the fierce women who defied the odds—and left their mark.

On this 2-hour guided walking tour through North Beach, Chinatown, and the Financial District, you’ll discover:

· Mary Ellen Pleasant, a Black businesswoman, abolitionist, and self-made millionaire known as the "Mother of Civil Rights in California."

· Ah Toy, San Francisco’s first Chinese madam who took on the courts—and won.

· Lola Montez, scandalous performer, political influencer, and global celebrity.

· Juana Briones, entrepreneur, healer, and early Californio landowner.

· The hidden lives of women pioneers, sex workers, suffragists, and unsung heroines who risked everything for fortune, freedom, or fame.

👣 This walking tour brings history to life in the streets where it happened—perfect for history buffs, culture seekers, and anyone curious about the powerful women of the past.

📍 Location: Starts in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square

🚶‍♀️Walking distance: ~1 mile

🎟️ Tickets: $34.95 | Discounts for students, seniors, and youth

🗓️ Offered: Thursdays–Sundays

💡 This tour reclaims women’s and gender-expansive history—one city block at a time. Book your spot and walk in the footsteps of the fearless.

Perfect for: Solo travelers, history lovers, LGBTQIA people, feminist locals and visitors, and anyone curious about women's and gender-expansive people's history.


About Your Tour Guide:

Throughout the tour, your guide—Heather Cassell, award-winning feminist journalist and publisher and San Francisco Bay Area native—shares the story of women who shaped San Francisco from its days as Yerba Buena to the mad rush for gold to the club era and suffrage movement during the Gilded Age.

Whether you're a visitor, a longtime local, or exploring your own place in the women’s movement, this tour offers a toast to the people, places, and movements that built San Francisco—and continue to shape its future.

Event Venue

Saints Peter and Paul Church, 666 Filbert Street, San Francisco, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00 to USD 33.80

Sharing is Caring:

More Events in San Francisco

Nick Mulvey
Wed, 19 Nov Nick Mulvey

August Hall

Parking Grizzly Bear
Wed, 19 Nov Parking Grizzly Bear

The Warfield

Grizzly Bear
Wed, 19 Nov Grizzly Bear

The Warfield

Hannah Bahng
Wed, 19 Nov at 04:00 am Hannah Bahng

The Regency Ballroom

LexTalk World Conference & Exhibition San Francisco 2025
Wed, 19 Nov at 08:00 am LexTalk World Conference & Exhibition San Francisco 2025

AMA Conference Center San Francisco

LexTalk World Conference & Exhibition San Francisco - 2025
Wed, 19 Nov at 08:00 am LexTalk World Conference & Exhibition San Francisco - 2025

AMA Conference Center San Francisco, 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, USA

Cirque du Soleil - Echo
Wed, 19 Nov at 04:00 pm Cirque du Soleil - Echo

Under The Big Top - Oracle Park

John Mulaney
Wed, 19 Nov at 04:00 pm John Mulaney

The Masonic - San Francisco

Brian Jonestown Massacre
Wed, 19 Nov at 04:00 pm Brian Jonestown Massacre

The Regency Ballroom

Bolden.
Wed, 19 Nov at 04:00 pm Bolden.

Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Leith Ross
Wed, 19 Nov at 04:00 pm Leith Ross

The Fillmore - San Francisco

Kerala Dust
Wed, 19 Nov at 04:00 pm Kerala Dust

Bimbos 365 Club

San Francisco is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore San Francisco Events