Rand Richards

Rand Richards is an award-winning historian. The San Francisco-based author's first two books are local bestsellers: "Historic San Francisco: A Concise History and Guide" and "Historic Walks in San Francisco: 18 Trails Through the City's Past." His new book "Mud, Blood, and Gold: San Francisco in 1849," originally released in hardcover, has just come out in paperback.

Rand has lectured before many groups, including the California Historical Society, the San Francisco History Association, and the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society. In November 2010 the latter organization gave him their Award of Merit at a gala $150 a plate luncheon at the Palace Hotel for his "distinguished contributions to the collection, preservation and interpretation of San Francisco history."

In 1995 Rand had the honor of being invited by Mikhail Gorbachev to the first State of the World Forum at the Fairmont Hotel. At the five-day conference for world leaders he gave a lecture on San Francisco history and led tours of some of the City's historic sites.

You can find out more about Rand and his books at his website at www.heritagehousesf.com.