San Francisco: Golden City by the Bay

FALL SYMPOSIUM
October 22–26, 2025 
 
OPTIONAL TOURS
PALO ALTO: Stanford’s Cultural Legacy and Gilded Age Estates
SONOMA: Heritage, History, and Viticulture
 
Join us as we explore the magnificent fusion of art, architecture, and innovation that defines San Francisco and the Bay Area. The city reveals its character through layers of architectural and cultural heritage, where innovative spirit meets diverse influences across rolling hills and along the Pacific coastline. From Victorian streets to the Golden Gate Bridge, the city tells a story shaped by Asian, European, Latin American, and Native American traditions, transforming dramatically since the 1849 Gold Rush. The 1906 earthquake became a catalyst for architectural renewal, with Gilded Age mansions in Nob Hill and Spanish Colonial details in the Mission District showing how the city rebuilt and reimagined itself. Cultural institutions and historic homes preserve extraordinary collections that span continents and centuries, offering glimpses into the private worlds of notable San Franciscans and illustrating how art, architecture, and design have defined this remarkable urban landscape.