San Francisco’s Past --Step by Step

A walking trail of San Francisco’s historic sites, inspired by Boston’s Freedom Trail, opened this weekend. But unlike Boston’s trail, for which the National Park Service provides a free map-guide, you have to pay to play.

The Barbary Coast Trail (named after the Berber pirates of yore) winds 3.8 miles north from 5th and Mission streets to the Fisherman’s Wharf area, highlighting history from the Gold Rush to the Beat poets. About 150 directional arrows--but no informational plaques--are being installed in sidewalks along the route. To know what you’re looking at, you must consult “Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail” (Quicksilver Press, $13.95) or its smaller cousin, “Barbary Coast Trail Official Guide” ($8.95).

Both books are by Daniel Bacon, a board member of the San Francisco Historical Society, which, not coincidentally, sponsors the trail. Bacon said he dreamed up the trail several years ago after visiting Boston, then joined the historical society and “tried to drum up enthusiasm.”

“Walking San Francisco” locates sites and provides a lively anecdotal history of the city. The book, available in San Francisco bookstores, and the smaller guide, due for delivery to bookstores this week, can also be ordered through Bacon, tel. (415) 641-5058. For trail information, call the historical society at (415) 775-1111.