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A historic sign with a silhouette of a man and the word 'NILES' prominently displayed. 1
A brick building with arched windows and a sign that reads "Niles Antiques and Collectibles". 2
A building with a sign reading "JOE'S CORNER" and a large arched doorway. 3
A two-story house with a porch, a small tower, and a front yard with a lawn and a brick pathway. 4
A light blue house with a porch, a flag, and a fence. 5

Niles History: An Audio Tour of the First Film Capital

By VoiceMap Audio Tours
Free cancellation available
Price is €9 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 1h 30m
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

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 railway junction became the world’s first film 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 Theatre. Along quiet residential streets, you’ll see preserved Essanay Cottages where actors bunked together, and Victorian homes where railway elite rented rooms to film 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.

Activity location

  • Niles Depot Museum
    • 37592 Niles Boulevard
    • 94536, Fremont, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Niles Depot Museum
    • 37592 Niles Boulevard
    • 94536, Fremont, California, United States

Check availability

Niles History: An Audio Tour of the First Film Capital in English

  • Activity duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes1h 30m
    1h 30m
  • Opening hours: Fri 00:00-23:59
  • English
Language options: English
Price details
€8.67 x 1 Adult€8.67
Total
Price is €8.67

What's included, what's not

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

Know before you book

    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.
    • This activity is provided by a professional trader (a party acting within their trade, business or profession).

Activity itinerary

Niles Depot Museum (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.

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum (Pass by)

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

Devout Coffee (Pass by)

On this walking tour, you'll pass by Devout Coffee and you’ll discover how this rowdy railway junction became the world’s first film capital, where Charlie Chaplin perfected his Little Tramp and cowboy stars invented the Western genre.

Niles Library (Pass by)

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

Rae Rae's at Joe's Corner (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.

Niles Antique Co-Op (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.

Bronco Billy's Pizza Palace (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.

Tyme For Tea & Co (Pass by)

By the end of this tour you’ll have a sense of how a canyon town built by railway workers became the birthplace of American cinema – and survived when both industries moved on.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Niles Depot Museum
    • 37592 Niles Boulevard
    • 94536, Fremont, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Niles Depot Museum
    • 37592 Niles Boulevard
    • 94536, Fremont, California, United States

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