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Offered languages
- English
- English
Niles isn’t just a charming town hidden in the Bay Area hills – it was Hollywood before Hollywood existed.
On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll discover how this rowdy railroad junction became the world’s first movie capital, where Charlie Chaplin perfected his Little Tramp and cowboy stars invented the Western genre.
The tour starts and ends at the Niles Depot Museum. You’ll walk along Niles Boulevard past the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, housed in the original 1913 Edison Theater. Along quiet residential streets, you’ll see preserved Essanay Cottages where actors bunked together, and Victorian homes where railroad elite rented rooms to movie stars.
You’ll hear about how Niles transformed from a frontier town with 18 saloons into a thriving film studio. I’ll also share stories about bank robberies that were stopped by costumed cowboys, ghost sightings in the Hotel Wesley, and how Joe’s Corner operated as the town’s unofficial bank during Prohibition.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at the Niles Depot Museum. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Itinerary
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(Pass by)
This self-guided audio tour starts at the Niles Depot Museum, the 1901 train station marking the Transcontinental Railroad’s true finish line.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You’ll walk along Niles Boulevard past the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, housed in the original 1913 Edison Theater.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
On this walking tour, you'll pass by Devout Coffee and you’ll discover how this rowdy railroad junction became the world’s first movie capital, where Charlie Chaplin perfected his Little Tramp and cowboy stars invented the Western genre.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
While hearing how the town developed and survived various industries, you'll pass by the Niles Library and hear its history.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll hear stories about bank robberies that were stopped by costumed cowboys, ghost sightings in the Hotel Wesley, and how Joe’s Corner operated as the town’s unofficial bank during Prohibition.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You’ll hear about how Niles transformed from a frontier town with 18 saloons into a thriving film studio and see the Niles Antique Co-Op.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
While hearing how the town developed and survived various industries, you'll pass by Bronco Billy's Pizza Palace and hear its history.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
By the end of this tour you’ll have a sense of how a canyon town built by railroad workers became the birthplace of American cinema – and survived when both industries moved on.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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