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Retrace the steps of history this summer with Victorian Days Walking Tours taking place across San Mateo County.
Beginning July 20, the San Mateo County Historical Association (SMCHA) will continue its Victorian Days Walking Tours program designed to provide glimpses into the Peninsula’s past. Curated by local historical societies, these locally led tours are free and open to all ages, with RSVP required for all tours except in Woodside July 20 and Aug. 3; Pacifica Aug. 3; Burlingame Aug. 4; Redwood City Aug. 24; and Pescadero Aug. 25.
Whether on foot, by trolley, or boat, these tours enable participants to experience history first hand, with tours in Daly City through Pescadero and several cities in between. With a total of 18 tours, the program will kick off at Folger Estate Stable Historic District at Wunderlich Park in Woodside and end with a Pescadero walking tour Aug. 25.
Started in 1935, SMCHA’s mission is to inspire wonder and discovery through education about the cultural and natural history of San Mateo County. The Victorian Days Walking Tours have had a long history on the Peninsula, beginning in 1979 as a complement to the annual Victorian Days festival. Mitch Postel, president of SMCHA, explained in an email that these tours launched as a fundraiser.
“We decided to create partnerships with other historical groups throughout the County to create walking tours as a build up for Victorian Days,” said Postel. “The first Victorian Days were in 1979. By the end of the 1980s, walking tours were an entrenched part of our efforts.”
Victorian Days is an annual event that explores life in the 1800s. When the SMCHA transitioned to their current location in Redwood City in 1998, the fundraising element was no longer attached to the walking tours, but they continued as an education program.
This year, Victorian Days takes place Aug. 18 at the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City, featuring crafts and a scavenger hunt for kids plus a Victorian Tea with historic reenacters (the event is free, but the Victorian Tea costs $10 for adults and $6 for students.) Both the annual event and walking tours touch on the breadth of historical experiences of the Victorian era.
“For us (at SMCHA), the Victorian era meant anything that was happening during this time could be used for interpretation,” noted Postel. “Thus, European fashions for the 1890s might be worn, Civil War reenactors were always present, American cowboys, Mexican Vaqueros, and all others were (part of Victorian Days), depending on what the focused theme was for that particular year.”
As such, participants will see a rich variety of tours to choose from since local historical societies are given creative freedom to design their walks. This year, tours include a visit to Pigeon Point Light Station in Pescadero, a trolley ride tour of Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, a visit to the site of the last duel in California history in Daly City, an architecture-focused tour in San Mateo, hikes at Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park in Half Moon Bay and even a tour by boat in Foster City.
Victorian attire is encouraged at particular events to further enhance the tour experience. There are about a dozen historical societies in San Mateo County, and Daly City History Guild Museum & Archive, Foster City Historical Society, San Mateo Heritage Alliance and the Woodside History Committee are among this year’s participants. Postel will host a walk in San Bruno’s business district, including a stop at a private slot machine collection owned by Joe Welch, an antique collector who was once one of the largest property owners in San Mateo County.
When asked why one should consider going on a walking tour, Postel emphasized that there is something for everyone.
“Folks that enjoy the walking tours get in-depth looks at particular subjects involving our Peninsula’s past. They also get a little exercise while doing so,” he said. “I believe all the tours ought to be interesting to both longtime residents and newcomers.”
During the pandemic, the program pivoted to an online format. In 2020, SMCHA worked with individuals and organizations who created their own online walking tours, which were then released on specific dates throughout the summer. In 2021, some of the tours were hosted in person with a limited number of participants and some were online, depending on the comfort level of the participants. These walks are still available online for those wanting to complete a walk virtually.
Since returning to in-person programming, attendance for each walking tour has ranged from 10-50 people. View a full list of this year’s walking tours and RSVP requirements on SMCHA’s website. For those wanting to explore more history along the Peninsula, visit these sites operated or administered by SMCHA: San Mateo County History Museum at the Old Courthouse in Redwood City, the Sanchez Adobe in Pacifica and the Woodside Store.