The Emperor Norton Trust

2023

4 February
Emperor Norton’s 205th

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | 164th Anniversary of Emperor Norton’s Public Reign

Dedication and Celebration of Emperor Norton Place
For this Empire Day, The Emperor Norton Trust — at the invitation of the office of San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin — joined with the Supervisor’s office and the San Francisco Historical Society in planning the official event to dedicate and celebrate “Emperor Norton Place” as the City and County of San Francisco’s new commemorative name for the 600 block of Commercial Street — where the Emperor is documented to have lived between 1865 and his death in 1880.
Original announcement here.

10 December
THE 11th ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST

2022

4 February
Emperor Norton’s 204th: A Birthday To Cheer, A Bridge Name This Year! (Zoom)

22 March
”EMPEROR NORTON BRIDGE” IN 2022? | On the 150th Anniversary of Norton’s “Bay Bridge Proclamations,” New Life for an Old Dream (Mechanics’ Institute talk via Zoom)
Original announcement here

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | 163rd Anniversary of Emperor Norton’s Public Reign
BE NORTONIAN | A Call for Empire Day Photos & Videos
Original announcement here

11 December
The 10th Annual Tannenbaum Toast (Zoom)
Original announcement here

2021

4 February
Emperor Norton’s 203rd: An Historical Birthday Toast & Convivium (Zoom)

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | 162nd Anniversary of Emperor Norton’s Public Reign
BE NORTONIAN | A Call for Empire Day Photos & Videos

12 December
The 9th Annual Tannenbaum Toast (Zoom)

2020

4 February
Emperor Norton’s 202nd Birthday Toast

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | 161st Anniversary of Emperor Norton’s Public Reign (Zoom)
Original announcement here. The Trust marked Empire Day with a special talk, EMPEROR NORTON IN BLACK SAN FRANCISCO: Empire Day Notes on SF's Monarch of the Marginalized, co-hosted with the Mechanics Institute.

25–27 September
San Francisco History Days
This annual event was a virtual affair this year. The Trust’s profile page on the event’s website featured the pre-recorded video of our Empire Day talk, Emperor Norton in Black San Francisco (see above).

13 December
The 8th Annual Tannenbaum Toast (Zoom)
Original announcement here.

2019

4 February
Emperor Norton’s Actual Factual 201st Birthday Party
Original announcement here.

3 –4 March
San Francisco History Days at the Old Mint

4 April
Golden Gate International Exposition 80th Anniversary Party
San Francisco’s Treasure Island was built for the “world’s fair” of the Golden Gate International Exposition, which launched in 1939. The island was built — and the fair was held — in large part to celebrate the opening of the Emperor Norton Bridge in November 1936. The Campaign was a promotional partner in producing and tabling at this wonderful party at the Mechanics’ Institute. Details.

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | Celebrating the 160th Anniversary of the Emperor’s Reign.
Original announcement here.

8 December
THE 7th ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST | The House of Shields
Original announcement here.

2018

January – March
EMPEROR NORTON AT 200
The Emperor's Bridge Campaign's series of exhibits, talks, toasts and other special events to mark the bicentennial of Emperor Norton's birth on 4 February 2018. For details, participating institutions and sponsors, visit EmperorNortonat200.org.

3–4 March
San Francisco History Days at the Old Mint 2018

27 July
Emperor Norton, Friend of the Chinese Immigrant
Presentation by Campaign president John Lumea at U.S.-China Forum San Francisco dinner celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Burlingame Treaty normalizing relations between the United States and China.

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | Welcoming the 160th Year of the Nortonian Realm

28 September
The Emperor’s Bridge Campaign’s 5th Anniversary Absinthe, Gin & Cake Party
Original announcement here.

9 December
THE 6th ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST | The House of Shields

13 December
THE EMPEROR’S RIDE | Notes on a Famous Photograph
Joint talk at The Battery with Emperor’s Bridge Campaign founder John Lumea and Mechanics’ Institute librarian Taryn Edwards

2017

4 February
PARTY LIKE IT'S 199! | Emperor Norton's 199th Birthday Party
Original announcement here.

4-5 March
San Francisco History Days at the Old Mint 2017

23 March & 2 April
LIGHTS! CAMERA! NORTON! Three Emperor Norton Films
Original announcement here.

4 June
FIELD TALK #3 | His Majesty's Ink: The Boutique Printers of Emperor Norton's Bonds & Decrees, 1870–1880
Original announcement here.

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | Ferry Trip to Oakland — Emperor Norton's "Summer Capital"
Original announcement here.

6 October
Did Emperor Norton Sleep on the Peter Macchiarini Steps?
Presentation by Campaign president John Lumea at First Friday event hosted by Macchiarini Creative Design & Metalworks Gallery, in North Beach.

7 November
Emperor Norton: A Brief History
Presentation by Campaign president John Lumea at meeting of the California Fact & Legend section of the American Association of University Women – San Mateo branch.

10 December
THE 5th ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST | The House of Shields

2016

4 February
THE EMPEROR'S 198th | A Birthday Party in Salute of Emperor Norton
Original announcement here.

4-6 March
San Francisco History Days at the Old Mint 2016.  

5 April
CHAMBER TALK #3 | The Good Emperor: The Best Proclamations You've Never Heard Of
Original announcement here.

20 April
MECHANICS' INSTITUTE LECTURE | The Emperor's Ride: Notes on a Famous Photograph
Original announcement here.

1 May
THE EMPEROR'S RIDE | Bike Ride & Picnic
Original announcement here.

12 June
BENEFIT WALKING TOUR | Emperor Norton's Neighborhood
Original announcement here.

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | Welcoming the 158th Year of the Nortonian Realm
Original announcement here.

17 September
FIELD TALK #2 | Before the Palace: Norton's Habitats, 1849-1863
Original announcement here.

13 October
MY EMPEROR, MY MUSE | Artists in Conversation About Emperor Norton
Original announcement here.

12 November
RINCON + RED'S | The Emperor Norton Bridge Turns 80
Original announcement here.

11 December
THE 4th ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST
Original announcement  here.

2015

3 February
FUNDRAISER | The Emperor's 197th Birthday: A Party and Presentation of Recent Findings
Original announcement here. 
Our post-event write-up here.

28 February – 1 March
5th Annual San Francisco History Expo

22 March
FIELD TALK #1 | The Street Where He Lived: An Illustrated History of Emperor Norton's Commercial Street
Original announcement here.

29 April
HAPPY HOUR | A Drink with the Emperor's Niece
Original announcement here.

3 May
PLAQUE-LAYING CEREMONY | Home of Peace Cemetery, Colma, Calif.
Original announcement here.

7 May
OPEN HOUSE @ MECHANICS' INSTITUTE | Bay Area Heritage Exchange
Original announcement here.

30 May
HISTORY FAIR | Annual Meeting of Conference of California Historical Societies

6 September
CAMPAIGN BENEFIT TOUR | Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine
Original announcement here.

17 September
EMPIRE DAY | Welcoming the 157th Year of the Nortonian Realm
Original announcement here.
Partial transcript of public remarks here.

6 October
CHAMBER TALK #2 | The Emperor in the East Bay: The Imperial Diplomacy of Norton I in Oakland & Berkeley
Original announcement here.

13 December
THE 3rd ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST | The House of Shields

2014

6 January
Anniversary of Emperor Norton's First Bridge Proclamation (6 January 1872)
A TOAST | Comstock Saloon

23 March
Anniversary of Emperor Norton's Second Bridge Proclamation (23March 1872)
FIELD TRIP TO THE BAY BRIDGE: A WORK IN PROGRESS, 1933-1936 | de Young Museum

21 September
Anniversary of Emperor Norton's Third Bridge Proclamation (23March 1872)
THE EMPEROR'S GARDEN PARTY | Picnic at Jefferson Square Park

14 December
THE 2nd ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST | The House of Shields

2013

8 December
THE 1st ANNUAL TANNENBAUM TOAST | The House of Shields