Boomtown: Barbary Coast at the Conservatory of Flowers November 16, 2012

Land ho! Get ready to jump ship into San Francisco’s rowdy past as the Conservatory of Flowers presents an all new garden railway display celebrating San Francisco’s gold rush Boomtown days and its infamous Barbary Coast neighborhood. In an enchanting display landscaped with hundreds of dwarf plants and several water features, model trains wend their way along miniature docks crowded with replicas of the clipper ships that brought fortune seekers to California, then zip past whimsical recreations of the city’s most important landmarks of the day, including Portsmouth Square, Chinatown’s Waverly Place, and Maiden Lane where many a greenhorn was parted from his gold. Visitors encounter a life-sized schooner at the entrance to the gallery, and interpretive signs, memorabilia and interactive activities throughout help them to understand the colorful history of the city after the 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill.

So, shout “Eureka!” this holiday season, and don’t miss Boomtown: Barbary Coast at the Conservatory of Flowers (just watch your pockets!).

Closed Mondays and on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Official Website: http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org