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Any good Gun/Wild West museums in San Fransisco?


Scattergun Scotsman

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I'm on my way to the US to visit family for the Holidays. I've got 3 days to burn in San Fransisco. Can anyone recomend a good Firearms/Wild West/Gold Rush museum to pay a visit to thats in the area?

 

Thanks

Scattergun

Edited by Scattergun Scotsman
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Lots of fun things to see and do in San Francisco. Unfortuately gun and wild west museums aren't high on the list of things to do in San Francisco. San Franciso is a beautiful city but 100% liberal and anti-gun. They just put the last gun shop in the city out of business a few months ago. Here is a good list of local museums.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_the_San_Francisco_Bay_Area

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The closest thing you're likely to find - but it's a good find - is Fort Point; an honest-to-goodness Civil War fort, literally under the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

 

If I recall correctly, there's a story that they even fired a cannon shot at a possible Confederate ship passing by... although I cannot imagine why there'd be a Confederate ship in that neighborhood. :)

 

Fort Point

 

FortPoint.jpeg

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I'm on my way to the US to visit family for the Holidays. I've got 3 days to burn in San Fransisco. Can anyone recomend a good Firearms/Wild West/Gold Rush museum to pay a visit to thats in the area?

 

Thanks

Scattergun

Are you bringing guns? There are plenty of places to shoot. At least five clubs that I know of that are within an hour. If you've got some time to venture out, you could also hit Sacramento. There's a train museum and a whole slew of old west stuff up there. Very cool

 

Golden Gate Western Wear used to be there. Not sure if they still are.

 

 

They're still here, but the store is in Richmond. Not sure if it has always been there or not. I get almost all of my clothes, hats and boots there.

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The last time I was there I drove out to see the Winchester House. After Oliver died his wife moved right outside of San Francisco and had a working ranch.

 

They have a museum of every Winchester ever made?

 

Mrs. Winchester was haunted by the souls of everyone who had been killed with a Winchester. She was told that as long as she was still constructing the house nothing bad would happen to her. So, she would draw-up plans every night and workers would build by the day. The house was never finished. It has stairs that go into the ceiling, doors that open into walls, rooms that have no purpose, etc.

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The last time I was there I drove out to see the Winchester House. After Oliver died his wife moved right outside of San Francisco and had a working ranch.

 

They have a museum of every Winchester ever made?

 

Mrs. Winchester was haunted by the souls of everyone who had been killed with a Winchester. She was told that as long as she was still constructing the house nothing bad would happen to her. So, she would draw-up plans every night and workers would build by the day. The house was never finished. It has stairs that go into the ceiling, doors that open into walls, rooms that have no purpose, etc.

The Winchester house is ok I suppose, but off to the side and for free is the Winchester museum that has so many winchester rifles it's amazing. Definitely worth a visit.

 

The Blackhawk auto museum in Danville (east bay) has a wonderful collection called "The Spirit of the Old West". It takes up the whole upper floor of the museum. Google Blackhawk Museum, absolutely worth a visit.

Thanks, Morgun. I had no idea this place even existed. I'm going to have to take my kids there one of these weekends.

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A couple hours east of SF is Columbia State Historic Park. It is a beautiful old Gold Rush town that is perfect for a day trip. You must take in the stagecoach ride:

 

Link---> http://www.visitcolumbiacalifornia.com/

 

In the same area is the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. Take the train ride and you might see injuns!

 

Link---> http://www.railtown1897.org/

 

Have a safe journey and Merry Christmas,

SJS

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A couple hours east of SF is Columbia State Historic Park. It is a beautiful old Gold Rush town that is perfect for a day trip. You must take in the stagecoach ride:

 

Link---> http://www.visitcolumbiacalifornia.com/

 

In the same area is the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. Take the train ride and you might see injuns!

 

Link---> http://www.railtown1897.org/

 

Have a safe journey and Merry Christmas,

SJS

If you go up that way, you might want to also visit Coloma, where gold was first found at Sutter's Mill. You can go to the other side of the American River and pan for gold--you get to keep anything you find!

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In Monterey there is a great walking tour of Old Monterey--> https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=951

 

See the original Presidio Building of California--> http://www.monterey.org/museums/city-museums/presidio-of-monterey-museum

 

Cannery Row is also a do not miss attraction. It is a bit of a Tourist Trap but Doc's Lab still exists--> http://canneryrow.com/our-story/

 

My Favorite in Sacramento is Sutters Fort--> http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=485

 

Old Sacramento is not bad either--> http://oldsacramento.com/

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Blackhawk!!!Blackhawk!!!Blackhawk!!!Blackhawk!!!Blackhawk!!!Blackhawk!!!

 

Nuff said...... Can't be beat!

 

Amazing collection of old firearms and a fantastic Old West Diarama

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See alcatraz

If you plan to see Alcatraz look into getting advance tickets before you arrive because the tours tend to sold out.

 

Also, I second the recommendation to see Fort Point You can see what Ft. Sumter looked like before it was pretty much destroyed. Also, it is a federal park so admission is free. Again, check out ahead of time when they might be having demonstrations of artillery etc. Just "above" the fort near the old Golden Gate Bridge tollbooths are a number of WWI & WWII vintage fortifications Then drive across the bridge to the Marin County side and take the first exit to see the fantastic views and more old military fortifications in the Marin Headlands. Unmatched views of the City from there!

 

Welcome to California. We can always use more Danes!

 

Seamus

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Thanks for the reccomendstions. I've been round the Golden Gate, the Nike Missle site, got a whole new bunch of clothes from the Xmas market at Cow Palace, booked Alcatraz for Wedsday and I'm off to see some big @ss trees tommorow. The Winchester house is on the list and the closest Bass Pro Shop. Lot of fun so far in a city that has twice the entire population of Denmark....

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