In-Person Walking Tours

Tours

UPDATE: We have now reached capacity for our final tour on April 16, 2023. If you were unable to attend one of our tours, we invite you to check out the self-guided tour option. (We are always submitting grant proposals to fund our public tours - check back often!)

CLOSED: Free but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for March & April 2023 in-person tours. 

The City of San Jose Abierto initiative has graciously offered funding to support four in-person tours:

• Sat, March 25, 10-1pm
• Sun, April 2, 10-1pm
• Sat, April 8, 10-1pm 
• Sun, April 16, 10-1pm

The full tour of 12 works of public art begins on SJSU's campus with the history of the Cesar Chavez Arch and the Victory Salute statue. Then, the tour moves off campus into downtown San Jose to visit public art that memorializes and commemorates the Japanese American Internment, Muwekma Ohlone, Vietnamese culture, Oaxacan-Mexican dreams, American activism, Chicano Mural Movement, and civic leadership. 

The full tour of 12 works of public art takes 3 hours with a tour guide - they discuss the neighborhood from the perspective of art, art history, urban geography, and cultural development. We supply you with a print copy of the tour map, two tour guides (with portable mics) who are well versed in the 12 works of public art, and a bike guide who will oversee all logistics for the tour. 

To preview the list of public art works on this tour that represent a story of resistance in San José, see here.

  Full Tour: 3 hours
  3.2 miles 

If you don't have time for the Full Tour, the self-guided tour allows you to use either the Linktree or the GPSmyCity mobile app for an abbreviated tour. Below, you'll find an overview of the path as well as the artwork. We suggest, if you don't have time to amble about downtown for 3 hours, to try out the Northside or Southside shorter tours in a self-guided tour.

  Southside Tour: 2-2.5 hours
  2.6 miles 

  Northside Tour: 2-2.5 hours 
  2.6 miles 

FAQ

• REGISTER HERE! 

  • Registration for the March & April 2023 Full Tour route is now CLOSED. Consider taking our self-guided tour or checking back to see if we are offering more free, public tours. 

• Can I join a tour even if I'm not an SJSU student?

  • Yes!! Everyone is welcome to register for an in-person tour. We will limit each tour to 20 people.

• Is there an age limit for participating in the tour?

  • The in-person tour is for ages 12 and up. You might enjoy taking your kids on a shorter self-guided tour.

• Where and when do we meet?

  • On the day your tour is scheduled, meet at the Arch of Dignity (Cesar Chavez Memorial), San José State University. Download [pdf] the campus map and meet at the area circled about 20mins prior to your tour. We will check in everyone based on their registration.

• Do you know the way to San Jose (State University)?

  • Check out the directions to main campus.

• Where can I park for this tour?

  • SJSU garages (using ParkMobile app) are open to anyone (see our Parking Solutions) for a nominal amount ($8 for a full day) or use free street parking  around campus (free on Sundays).

• Can I get to SJSU without driving? 

  • Yes, see our Transportation Solutions for commuting information.

• What is the cost of the tour?

  • FREE! The Spring 2023 tours were supported by a City of San Jose Abierto grant. In Spring 2022, the tour was supported by a grant from the California Humanities Council (see more here).

• What is the max number of people per tour?

  • 20 attendees at each tour group.

• How long will the tour take to complete? 

  • 3 hours

• What is the distance of the tour?

  • 3.2 miles. There are opportunities to leave the tour early. 

• What should I wear and bring?

  • The tour will run rain or shine. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Since SJSU is a sustainble campus, we strive to reduce waste every chance we can get; for this reason, please bring a water container for refilling at water fountains.

• Can I bring a friend?

  • Everyone should be registered under their own names so we can maintain our limit of 20 attendees. If bringing a child who cannot register for themselves, please indicate this in your registration. 

• I didn't get into one of the in-person tours! What now?

  • Take the self-guided tour! Use the GPSmyCity free mobile app or print map and use the Linktree for information about each artwork. See more about how to take this tour on your own time.

Don't forget to add your images about art as resistance at each location using #SJResistArt on Instagram!