The Lunar New Year and Chinatown history shine in this online tour about neon signs and how they illuminate the alleys of Grant Avenue.

Part 1 of this special presentation of the Chinatown Neon Tour has an introduction provided by the Chinese Historical Society of America with a focus on traditions for Chinese New Year in San Francisco. This intro will be followed by SF Neon's popular Chinatown neon tour, which illuminates the wealth of vintage neon signs and history in the streets and alleys of Chinatown.

This tour features legacy neighborhood businesses with neon signs that have became neighborhood landmarks. Suggestion: support your local Chinese restaurant and order takeout (socially distanced) to enjoy while you watch this tour. This is the first tour of a two-part series. It's not to late to register for Part 2.

Free | Suggested donation of $10.

Those who register will get links watch the tour three different ways: Live on Zoom, streaming on Facebook, or as a recorded video.

This 90-minute virtual tour features vintage neon signs and a rich collection of photographs, video clips, maps, and historic research compiled by hosts Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan, authors of Saving Neon and San Francisco Neon: Survivors and Lost Icons. In proud partnership with the Chinese Historical Society of America and the Tenderloin Museum.

Photos by sfneon.org postcard collection and OpenSFHistory.org