Historical Tour Mystifies

Do you ever have the need for a little mystery in your life? Then head to San Francisco and discover the fascinating secrets that lie within the Dashiell Hammett Tour.For those unfamiliar with the name, Hammett lived in San Francisco and was an American author of thriller, detective novels and short stories that were largely based in the city during the late 1920s and early 1930s.Hammett created numerous enduring characters like the husband-wife duo, Nick and Nora Charles from “The Thin Man,” and detective Sam Spade from “The Maltese Falcon.” These characters have been popularized not only in his novels, but also on the big screen.The tour itself highlights many of the buildings where Hammett wrote his stories and also stops at the majority of the locations that the noir writer included in his classic “The Maltese Falcon.”But the tour would be absolutely nothing without the guide, Don Herron. An avid Hammett fanatic, Herron paints a descriptive picture of the author’s characters and the city of San Francisco during the late 1920s.He has been offering these extensive tours since 1977, and they have grown to be loved by tourists and locals alike. The unique opportunity to play detective appeals to suspense lovers of all ages, and throughout the year, Herron’s tour attracts group after group of enthralled fans.Your detective work begins immediately when you arrive to the city — before you can start your tour, you have to find your guide. But not to worry, Herron always wears a snap-brim hat and trenchcoat during all of his tours.Herron takes on the persona of one of Hammett’s characters, complete with 20s fashion and jargon, as he leads you through back alleys and old buildings around the city where Detective Spade had some of his most infamous run-ins.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhyOO0c5AAYAs the group travels “up and down these mean streets,” they get a taste of what Hammett imagined and the city that inspired him as he wrote his novels.The audience gets to see — and potentially eat in — the restaurant where Spade ate most of his meals, John’s Grill. Be sure to ask for Spade’s lamb chops.Groups also get to visit the back alley where a plaque reads “Miles Archer, partner of Sam Spade, was done in by Brigid O’Shaughnessy,” as well as the apartment where Hammett lived and wrote his novel.So put on your detective’s hat and transport yourself back in time with the Hammett tour, where thrilling mysteries come to life. Contact Lauren Bonney at lbonney@scu.eduor call (408) 554-4852.