San Francisco Bay Area

Best known for its scenic vistas, colorful neighborhoods and high-tech businesses, the Bay Area has also played an important role in the emergence of steampunk culture. It's the headquarters of Burning Man; the unofficial capital of the Maker Movement; and birthplace of iconic projects such as the Steampunk Treehouse and the Nautilus Submarine Art Car. The area is also home to Clockwork Alchemy, one of the largest steampunk gatherings on the West Coast, and the Edwardian Ball, a two-day celebration that takes place in an alternate world inspired by illustrator Edward Gorey.

Steampunks who visit or live here will find a wealth of attractions, including steampunk-themed eateries; the arcade machines of Musée Mécanique; and preserved steam-powered ships at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

You'll find these places and lots more in the listings below, which include the entire nine-county Bay Area from Sonoma and Napa counties in the north to Santa Clara County in the south, plus the neighboring counties of Lake, Mendocino, San Benito and Santa Cruz.

Check out the "Steamiest Places" section for attractions likely to be of greatest interest to steampunks.

Stories

Edwardian Ball Reveals 2023 Lineup, With Last Rosin Coven Appearance

Staff Report | Dec 10, 2022

The event will feature the the final Edwardian Ball performances of Rosin Coven, the dark cabaret music ensemble that launched the first Edwardian Ball in 2000. It’s scheduled for Feb. 3-4, 2023 at the Regency Center in San Francisco.

Gallery: Mad Hatter Fest 2022

Steampunk art cars, Burning Man creations, and more at the holiday festival in Vallejo

Staff Report | Dec 8, 2022

Drizzly weather wasn’t enough to keep Steampunk Santa from his appointed rounds as the Mad Hatter Holiday Festival returned to Vallejo, California on Dec. 3. As before, the centerpiece was a parade through the city’s downtown.

Scenes from SiliCon 2022

Now under the guidance of Adam Savage, the event took on aspects of a maker exhibition

Staff Report | Aug 31, 2022

SiliCon, previously known as Silicon Valley Comic Con, happened Aug. 27-28, and since it was within hailing distance of The Steampunk Explorer World Headquarters, we hopped on our airship (cleverly disguised as a BART train) to take a gander.

Scenes From Obtainium Cup 2022

A celebration of “the steampunk world that’s based here in Vallejo,” said the former mayor

Staff Report | Aug 2, 2022

The Obtainium Cup rally returned to Vallejo, California, featuring hand-built art cars and other vehicles that navigated an obstacle course consisting of Alice in Wonderland characters, battle robots, flying monkeys, and ravenous zombies.

A Visit to the Oddities Market

Scenes from a Victorian-themed artisan market held at an 1880’s house museum in Oakland

Staff Report | Jul 26, 2022

Scenes from the second annual Victorian Oddities Market, held July 10 at Oakland’s historic Camron-Stanford House Museum. It was a great opportunity to see costumes, meet artisan vendors, and tour an 1880’s-era mansion.

Steampunk Makers in Silicon Valley: An Afternoon at Steamy Tech

Staff Report | Jul 24, 2022

The kinetic art studio is best known for wooden steampunk accessories, but lately they’ve been ramping up and branching out with new creations, virtual Maker Nights, and a service that provides access to their production equipment.

Neverwas Haul Once Again Open for Tours on Vallejo’s Mare Island

Staff Report | Jun 9, 2022

Tours will be available every other Sunday at the Haul’s new temporary location in Vallejo, California. Obtainium Works, which created the steampunk icon, also revealed new details about this year’s Obtainium Cup Rally.

Scenes from The Edwardian Ball

The event returned to San Francisco’s Regency Center after a year off due to Covid-19

Staff Report | Apr 6, 2022

Hundreds of costumed revelers turned out April 1 and 2 for music, art, circus acts, and more. The Ball serves as a tribute to writer and illustrator Edward Gorey, and each night culminated with a stage adaptation of Gorey’s The Wuggly Ump.