This year marks the 40th anniversary of San Francisco Architectural Heritage as the City’s leading local historic preservation organization.  

San Francisco Architectural Heritage is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and maintaining a public appreciation and understanding of the cultural, aesthetic and economic value of San Francisco’s architecturally and historically significant structures and districts, and to preserving and protecting these valuable resources.  Heritage offers lectures, workshops, seminars and architectural walking tours through which thousands of San Francisco residents and visitors have discovered the city’s diverse built environment.  Tours of the Haas-Lilienthal House and themed neighborhood walking tours are offered year-around on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

The Haas-Lilienthal House at 2007 Franklin Street serves as San Francisco’s only intact, private Victorian era home that is open to the public for tours year-round.  Tours of both the exterior and the interior of the Haas-Lilienthal House afford visitors a guided visual exploration with commentary about those who designed and built the house in 1886 and those who utilized the house for three generations.  

The Pacific Heights Walking Tour, offered every Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m., is the original walk offered by San Francisco Architectural Heritage.  It is an illuminating tour of eastern Pacific Heights which includes examples and insights into San Francisco’s diverse architecture as well as stories of earthquakes, fortunes, and fame.

At 1:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month, A Walk Along Broadway visits the area north and west of the Haas-Lilienthal House, covering a number of Victorian era and later house styles along and off Broadway (including the “Mrs. Doubtfire” house) and numerous stunning Classical Revival buildings, including two of Silver King James Flood’s former mansions.

At 1:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month, Beyond Union Street: A Walk Through Cow Hollow explores the early years of Cow Hollow through the distinctive architecture of the neighborhood, including early dairy farms, roadway inns, converted stables and barns, the exteriors of Victorian houses and mansions, and the grand art deco apartment buildings that replaced them. The walk showcases residential and commercial architectural styles from the 1850s to the 1920s.

At 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month, Walk the Fire Line: Van Ness Avenue is a stroll down to and along Van Ness Avenue, skirting the 1906 fire line and offers marvelous post-1906 architecture along and east of Van Ness Avenue, as well as a few outstanding pre-quake survivors on the western side. It addresses the earthquake and fire and the subsequent effects on the area, which evolved from being a grand residential boulevard to a high-style commercial row created to showcase that latest of modern conveniences, the automobile.

All tours start at the Haas-Lilienthal House, 2007 Franklin Street.  Tours are free for members, $8 general admission, $5 for seniors and children.

As Heritage celebrates 40 years, they are offering a limited-time promotional membership rate of $40 for new members, 33 percent off the regular price of membership.  Heritage membership includes Heritage News, a quarterly print publication, free Haas-Lilienthal House and architectural walking tours, discounts on Heritage events, discounts on bookstore items, and free admission to the annual Holiday Open House.

For more information:  For information about San Francisco Architectural Heritage visit www.sfheritage.org or call 415-441-3000.