mural tour san francisco

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Street Art , Travel , USA

San francisco street art tour.

When we visited California I wanted to see the awesome murals I’d read about so I created my own San Francisco street art tour.  I researched the stories behind many of the best examples which represent political, social and human rights issues.  Most of the murals shown here are permanent, so I would thoroughly recommend seeing them in person to experience the power and passion used to create them.

The first few murals in my San Francisco street art tour are ones I spotted just wandering around the city, the first being on the side of a Denny’s near the Westfield shopping mall.  It is on the corner of Jessie and Mission Streets, is titled ‘No Ceiling’ and is an enormous, five storey piece by BIP (Believe In People), an anonymous American artist from Oakland.  He spent a month creating this image of an unnaturally muscular young girl which represents the strength of Bay area women.  It is eye-catching and extremely powerful.

The next street art we saw on the trip was this massive Jazz-themed mural on the corner of Broadway and Columbus.  It is on a building which is home to the New Sun Hong Kong restaurant, run by a Chinese family where the owner has lived in San Francisco since he was 15 years old.  Bill Weber painted the four storeys in 1987 initially and it features jazz legends such as Benny Goodman, as well as locals Emperor Norton and Herb Caen.  It has been retouched and restored since, and it must be one of the oldest examples of street art which still exists in the world!

The next example is a tribute to a community project which transformed some waste ground opposite the city hall into an allotment (this is a British term, I’m not sure what the US translation is!).  There are few grocery stores in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco so locals took over this empty space and now grow fresh produce for the community.  The Precita Muralists were inspired to celebrate the hard work which went into the project and painted a vibrant design on the building overlooking the Tenderloin Peoples’ Garden on the corner of Larkin and McAllister Streets.

Street Art in Haight-Ashbury

Listen To This Wall is “an initiative to bring a creative antidote to the ever increasing visual noise that crowds our urban landscape. Working with artists and designers to produce original works that offer new ways of seeing and being inspired in our city spaces”.  So it’s actually an anti-visual space, a place of calm amongst the otherwise bombardment of colour and busy-ness.   It’s in the Haight Ashbury district, on the intersection of Haight and Shrader.

Right next to Listen To The Wall is Mushroom With A View!  It is a red and pink psychadelic design featuring (magic?) mushrooms, frogs and other wildlife and is a former Fotomatic kiosk on the corner of Haight and Shrader.  Alex Skelton and Joff Jones were commissioned to paint the kiosk by Rob Schwartz, owner of San Francisco Bicycle Rentals.  Last year was the 50th anniversary of the Summer Of Love, and Rob wanted to mark this by creating a tribute to the psychadelic era, in the form of a giant mushroom!

My next photo isn’t actually a wall mural.  It’s an ornately-decorated store on Haight called Cold Steel America which offers body piercing and tattoos.  The mosaic tiles are incredibly intricate and eyecatching, with 3D flames and embellishments around the door and frontage.

The next stop on our San Francisco street art tour is on the corner of Haight and Masonic.  Another mural celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Summer Of Love in 2017, this is by street artist Apexer and was commissioned by the de Young museum.

Although this isn’t strictly street art like the ones above, I do love the rainbow crossings in the Castro district.  It was installed by the city to honour the LGBT community in 2014.  I’m curious how many extra pedestrians cross these particular streets just to get a photo opportunity!  It makes normal black and white zebra crossings so boring and echoes what has been happening in other gay districts around the world including Los Angeles and Sydney.

Clarion Alley

The area most written about for any San Francisco street art tour is Clarion Alley in the Mission District.  It is situated between Mission and Valencia, at 17th and 18th streets.  The area is very reminiscent of Graffiti Alley in Toronto (which I have written about here ) but is more political.  The Clarion Alley Mural Project organises the art and promotes social, political and economic justice via the murals.

This art is by the Dope Project which supports overdose prevention and education in conjunction with the Public Health Department.

The next mural has a very sad story behind it.  It was painted in honour of Luis D Gongora Pat, a homeless man who scraped by and sent money back to his family in Mexico.  He was known as “the homeless guy with the soccer ball” and was shot dead by police, allegedly posing no threat to them.  It is a fine example of the social justice statements on many of the Clarion Alley murals on my San Francisco street art tour.

Another social statement was painted by Ivy Jeanne McClelland in 2014 and is protesting against the dotcom influx bringing their dollars to the Mission District and forcing out the people who have always lived around there.  It started at a playground when some Dropbox and AirBnB guys had reserved a pitch for soccer for a $27 fee, angering local Latino players as the way it had worked previously was that the first team who scored would secure use of the playing field.  The resulting confrontation was captured on video and went viral, leading to demonstrations and ultimately a victory for the community who forced the Parks commission to change the reservation policy and revert to the old system.

This work was still in progress when I finished.  Enough Is Enough, Stop Killing Our Children was painted by Mel C Waters in 2018 and is a powerful image of a mother cradling her young child.

The next mural is by Hospitality House and was painted in 2016.  It is called “We all deserve a healthy and safe community” and lists the key attributes that all communities strive for; mutual respect, resiliance, dignity, self-determination and community power.

Another political statement by Megan Wilson is next on our tour and was completed in August 2015.  Her Stop The Corporatocracy mural is another dig at the big dotcom corporations.

The next example on my San Francisco street art tour is a tribute to comic book artist Spain Rodriguez and was painted by Paul Mavrides and Mark Bode.  This was completed in August 2015 and celebrates Rodriguez who painted the first Mission mural in 1971.

“The tigers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction” is by Mike Ritch who “investigates man’s changing relationship with the natural world…”.   It is a striking mural and the title is from a William Blake poem who, by absolute coincidence, lived in a cottage about a mile from my house in Sussex, England at the beginning of the 19th century.  I find it incredible that Blake’s words have inspired this most modern form of art in a city many thousands of miles from where he lived.

This is by Erin Feller who painted it in 2016.  I’m sure many others would echo the sentiment, “Men! All of you. Put your guns down” which is spelled out so clearly and succinctly by Erin.

Balmy Alley

Clarion Alley’s lesser known neighbour is Balmy Alley, a 15 minute walk away.   The murals here date back to the 1980s and protest against human rights issues and political abuse.  What’s interesting about the art here is that some of it is 3D, with wooden pieces fixed to the murals to create a unique effect which contrasts with much of the ‘standard’ graffiti I’ve seen elsewhere.

The culture contains the seed of resistance, by O’Brien Thiele and Miranda Bergman dates back to 1984 and represents life in Central America.  It includes poverty, war, music and other aspects of that culture.  It is one of the original murals in Balmy Alley, transforming it from a neglected space into an art gallery enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year.

Laura Campos painted this eyecatching mural which is a tribute to Father Richard Purcell who started a ministry for homeless people with AIDS after caring for his brother who died of the disease.

This iconic pose by Michael Jackson has been immortalised at Balmy Alley.

This is Manjushri, a Buddhist character associated with transcendental wisdom and was painted in 2001 by Marta Ayala.

And so ends my San Francisco street art tour.  I’m so pleased to have these images to remember my visit to this awesome city and hope you have enjoyed the tour too.  I would highly recommend visiting in person as it’s difficult to convey just how stunning the murals are.

Here are some useful resources and links :

• Walking tour of Mission District murals – view on TripAdvisor UK
• The Clarion Alley Mural Project has a website here

Here are links to more amazing street art I’ve photographed :

• Graffiti Alley, Toronto
• Brighton Graffiti Tour
• Brighton Street Art

We stayed in a great AirBnB apartment in San Francisco and I have to say that it’s a great option, especially for a family as it can be much more relaxing than staying in a single or multiple hotel rooms.  Having your own kitchen, lounge and laundering facilities is really handy.   If you’re a new customer then you can get a $35 travel credit if you sign up using this link .

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get some money at no extra cost to you = I get to write about more stuff I love, yay!

6 thoughts on “ San Francisco Street Art Tour ”

Some great artwork.

Excellent, I loved reading about the stories just as much as looking at the artwork. Interesting about the dot com, when we went on a bus tour the commentator was saying about the homeless situation and told us that people who lived there are now forced to rent a hostel for a couple of days then live on the streets for a couple more before they just can’t afford to live there permanently any more.

I know, it’s so sad. What is crazy also is that there are more dogs than children in San Francisco as they are more affordable, and you can earn a six figure salary being a dog walker!

Really cool art. I love taking pics of my Frenchie, Maddie, in front of great street art. Thanks for pointing me towards a few new pieces.

Great photos! I used your guide to help get photos of my French bulldog, Maddie in front of some of these great mural walls. Thanks so much!

I love that! Thanks

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Mission Murals and Graffiti Tour

Street art in the mission district.

NOTE: THIS TOUR HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY GUIDES WHO ARE ABLE TO LEAD IT.

HERE is a self guided tour, if you’d like to visit historic Mission murals.

We have rebranded as The Haunt Ghost Tours , and are exclusively a ghost tour company!

The Mission Street Art Tour is an opportunity to discover the historic Mission District through the murals, graffiti and the stories behind them.

We will dive deep into Street Art culture while learning about the stories that have shaped this neighborhood, and the amazing role that arts and culture play, bringing people together to create political change.

In this 2 hr tour, we will learn about Mission muralism, and public art and street art’s intersections with social movements like feminism, latinx organizing, anti-gentrification movements, and organizing against injustices like police brutality.

We’ll introduce you to the stories of local heroes of the arts world, and dive into the ongoing effort to keep the culture and heritage of the Mission alive. We’ll explore graffiti culture, the writers and artists that make Bay Area graffiti unique, and with a little luck, we will run into one of the many artists and curators that are actively creating on the back alleys of the Mission.

Goals of this tour:

See historic works and hear the stories behind them: how activism and art intersect in political works.

Understand how the Mission District’s social movements shaped San Francisco into the revolutionary city it is today.

Learn how large-scale murals are created, how graffiti writing took off in the Mission, views on commercialization of street art, and the terminology of the spray can world.

See stunning political street art, and understand how graffiti writers, feminists, Latinx communities and neighborhood activists have fought, and continue to fight, to keep the soul of SF alive in the face of gentrification, preserving local culture.

This tour is for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience.

Artists, collectives and organizations we highlight include:

• Precita Eyes Muralists
• Mujeres Muralistas
• Anti-Eviction Mapping Project
• The Women’s Building
• Juana Alicia
• Jet Martinez
• Mission Economic Development Agency
• And many others…
• Introduction to street art techniques and styles
• Stunning alleys full of murals and aerosol art
• History of muralism in the Mission
• Graffiti culture and terminology
• Tales of resilience and community organizing

Your Guides

Wes Leslie is a songwriter, tropical bartender, and almost-local, with a long family history in the Bay. He makes “bedroom soul” music which you can find on  Spotify  and his  website . He has spent time backpacking through much of the world, including a year living in Madrid, Spain, where he dreamt up this walking tour company. Follow him on IG @wes.leslie

SF’s Best Haunted Walking Tour

Haunted SF is our 1.5 hour ghost walk through Chinatown and the Jackson Square historic district. This tour is rated PG-13 for some talk of violence, gore and the macabre. Children are welcome at your discretion.

Plus, you get access to ghost hunting gear! Every Ghost Hunter ticket includes use of an EMF detector during the tour. The host will carry other modern ghost hunting tools, which will be used throughout the tour.

Our 5 Star Rated walking tour is a macabre and murderous tour through the streets of downtown San Francisco.

Not “just a ghost tour,” this night tour includes tales of unexplained deaths, scandalous murders, the old red light district, famed spirits, Chinatown assassins, and much more.

Haunted Ghost Tour Details

• Tours start between 7:00 – 9:00 pm – This is a night time walking tour. See our schedule to find a time that works for you tonight. Please arrive 10 minutes early to meet your guide.
• Tour Duration – The tour lasts 1.5 hours. Total walking distance is about 1 mile at a leisurely pace on a flat route. We can accommodate wheelchairs and service animals. Please notify your guide if you’d like special assistance.
• Professional Guides – You will be led by one of our three professional guides. Our dedicated guides have been conducting haunted walking tours for over 4 years and are rated 5 stars on Yelp, Google and TripAdvisor. Learn more about our guides below.
• Family Fun – While the tour does have some disturbing details and creepy history, it is considered a family-friendly night activity that’s a ghoulish good time for all.
• Haunted History – We hope you don’t mind getting the chills. The haunted history lesson you’ll get is a well-researched tour through true crimes and hauntings that took place on the very streets we’ll walk.
• Haunted Locations – Visit mysterious and ghostly places in San Francisco, where residual ghost impressions are felt, poltergeists heard, and after death after consciousnesses are witnessed.
• Ghost Sightings – No guarantees, but this tour has been known to stir up spirits and invite apparitions. We’ve had guests report strange sensations, hear shrill sounds, and document unexplainable images in photographs from the tour.

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Coit Tower Murals

Neighborhood: Telegraph Hill

Description

Tucked away in an unpainted tower on a hill, one of the greatest works of Social Realist art in America lies hidden away. A set of murals created by 26 of California’s best artists, it documented California life in the 1930s from a socialist perspective: romanticizing workers, illustrating inequality, and sometimes even winking at the Soviet Union. It was controversial, sure. But as a work of art? Nobody could deny that it was stunningly gorgeous.

Discover how Californians lived, worked and played in the 1930s, rendered in an evocative style that’s inspired artists for decades. Climb the stairs to see murals not usually open to the public. See the tower funded by local legend Lillie Coit and hear about how her love for San Francisco manifested in a massive donation to beautify the city. Learn about the passionate “rounds man” who took care of the tower for so many years. Splendid art and rich history — what more could you ask for?

Sign up is required.

Coit Tower has a tour walker limit.

• Wednesday, March 27 at 10:00 am given by Janice L. Sign Up
• Saturday, March 30 at 10:00 am given by David D. Join Waitlist
• Wednesday, April 3 at 10:00 am given by David D. Sign Up
• Saturday, April 6 at 10:00 am given by Rory O. Join Waitlist
• Wednesday, April 10 at 10:00 am given by David P. Sign Up
• Saturday, April 13 at 10:00 am given by Bernard C. Sign Up
• Wednesday, April 17 at 10:00 am given by Richard R. Sign Up
• Saturday, April 20 at 10:00 am given by Maria C. Sign Up
• Wednesday, April 24 at 10:00 am given by Janice L. Sign Up
• Saturday, April 27 at 10:00 am given by Juliet K. Sign Up

Tour Length: Approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours

Meet at the main entry of Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill. No parking. Public transportation: MUNI line 39.

Please note: Private group tours required for groups of 8 or more.

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