Niles History: An Audio Tour of the First Movie Capital

5.0 (one review) one hour – 1 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

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one review

5.0

Niles History: An Audio Tour of the First Movie Capital — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Niles History: An Audio Tour of the First Movie Capital, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Historical Tours Movie Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: one hour – 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: App for Android and iOS
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones

Itinerary

Niles Depot Museum

Passing by

This self-guided audio tour starts at the Niles Depot Museum, the 1901 train station marking the Transcontinental Railroad’s true finish line.
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

Passing by

You’ll walk along Niles Boulevard past the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, housed in the original 1913 Edison Theater.
Stop 3

Passing 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.
Stop 4

Passing by

While hearing how the town developed and survived various industries, you'll pass by the Niles Library and hear its history.
Stop 5

Passing 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.
Stop 6

Passing 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.
Stop 7

Passing by

While hearing how the town developed and survived various industries, you'll pass by Bronco Billy's Pizza Palace and hear its history.
Stop 8

Passing 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.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

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.

End point

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.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight-character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It's best to download before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you'll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]