House Tour

featuring

San Francisco's Noe Valley

Sunday, October 21, 2007
from One to Five p.m.

From its beginnings as a blue-collar village, Noe Valley has gained a reputation as the quintessentially charming San Francisco neighborhood, with central location, the City's best climate and a large stock of Victorian homes. Once the rancho of San Francisco's last Mexican magistrate, the eponymous Don Jose de Jesus Noe, the valley was developed in the 1850s by John Meirs Horner who laid out the present streets. This architectural heritage survived the 1906 fire due to underground streams, a lot of effort and a single working fire hydrant, which is ceremonially painted gold each April.

Homes open for the event will include Italianate, San Francisco Stick, and Queen Anne styles, primarily built between the 1870s and the turn of the last century. Visitors will see interiors which range from classic Victorian to sleek contemporary. Decorative touches include elegant wallpapers, dramatic hand-stencilling, vintage and state-of-the-art kitchens, and domestic taxidermy to the Victorian taste.

There will be a landmarked home which also earned the San Francisco Beautiful award... the home which boasts the tallest palm tree in the Valley, a garden lovingly pampered by a Golden Gate Park professional, and the panoramic views for which Noe Valley is renowned. The tour will also include two historic churches.

This is a self-guided tour with much to see, so an early start is suggested. A van will circle the route for those who wish to use it, and comfortable shoes are always desirable. Light refreshments will be offered, as well as a unique Gift Shop.

Parking in this area is extremely difficult, but public transportation is very good. See details below.

Tickets will be available on the day of the tour at the colorful Victorian Alliance ticket booth on Elizabeth Street between Diamond and Castro. (Advance ticket-holders are given a different starting point.)

Advance tickets, $20 if ordered by mail before October 1, 2007:
Send check with a stamped self-addressed envelope to:
Victorian Alliance
4272 25th Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Download a ticket order form

Tickets may be purchased for $25 on the day of the tour at the Victorian Alliance ticket booth on Elizabeth Street between Diamond and Castro.

Public Transportation From:

• J Church streetcar, to 24th or Clipper, 18 minute intervals
• #24 Divisadero, to Castro & Elizabeth or 25th, 15 minute intervals
• #35 Eureka, to Diamond & 23rd or Clipper, 30 minute intervals
• #48 Quintara, to 24th & Noe or Sanchez, 15 minute intervals

• Cross Embarcadero, enter Embarcadero Station and take Muni streetcar J Church outbound

• At street level, take Muni bus #48 Quintara outbound

• From King Street, take Muni streetcar J Church outbound

• Transfer to BART at Millbrae, go to 24th St. station and follow instructions for BART

• Take Muni bus #1 California to Market Street, enter Embarcadero Station and take Muni streetcar J Church outbound

• Take Golden Gate Transit to Civic Center, enter Civic Center Station and take Muni streetcar J Church outbound
• OR arrive in San Francisco by ferry and see above instructions from Ferry Bldg.

• Take BART to 24th Steet Station and see above instructions for BART

• Take BART to 24th Street station and see above instructions for BART

• Take shuttle from airport to Coliseum BART station, take BART to 24th Street Station and see above instructions for BART

NOTE: Estimated time intervals are based on Muni schedules.