Posts Tagged ‘history’
Oakland historical tours are in season starting in May
The different tours include two which focus on the history and leaders of the Asian and African American communities
Read MoreCommons Archive is collecting family histories at Golden Gate Library
At a time when Oakland neighborhoods are gentrifying, Sue Mark, founder of Commons Archive, hopes to share the stories of residents in the Golden Gate neighborhood and bring together neighbors to form stronger community bonds.
Read MoreFruitvale neighborhood hosts Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day celebration
On May 7, people gathered in Oakland’s Fruitvale district to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, commemorating the Mexican Army’s victory, despite the odds, against the French at the Battle in Puebla in 1862. The event, hosted by Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo (District 5) and the City of Oakland, began with a Mother’s Day mural dedication.
Read MoreAfricana studies community research center has a welcome debut
Guests could hear music and laughter the moment they walked through the entrance of Building L at Merritt College one chilly March evening. They were here for the community open house for the new Africana Studies Community Research Center and Curriculum, which focuses on educating the public on African-American Studies and history. Every inch of…
Read MoreThe Tribune Tower: Behind one of Oakland’s main attractions
In 1923, world-renowned escape artist Harry Houdini came to Oakland. He hung 112 feet above the ground from one Oakland’s most iconic buildings—then nearly brand-new—to entertain thousands of spectators as he escaped from handcuffs and a straightjacket. Ninety-two years later, the Tribune Tower continues to be one of the main attractions in the city’s downtown…
Read MoreHistoric Lady Washington tall ship sails into Oakland’s Jack London Square
The 1700s sailed into port at Oakland’s Jack London Square aboard the brig Lady Washington for a nine-day stay this month. With a crew of 13 at her helm, the 112-foot wooden ship, a replica of its namesake from the American Revolutionary War, has been a tour and education site while docked in Oakland. Capt.…
Read MoreRockridge: Then and Now
Compare historical photos of Rockridge to those taken in 2012.
Read MoreGolden Gate: Then and Now
Take a tour of Golden Gate in the 1950s and earlier, and the neighborhood today. While some buildings have remained intact, most retail stores have been replaced by new businesses. What do you think of the changes in the neighborhood?
Read MoreTemescal: Then and Now
Take a look at Temescal in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – a place where rail lines ran across Telegraph Avenue, and businesses thrived on the side – and Temescal today. What has changed? What has survived?
Read MoreFairview Park residents rally to restore stone pillar
On a normal day in Oakland, most passing drivers probably wouldn’t pause to think about the pairs of stone pillars marking the entrances of four streets in the Fairview Park neighborhood. The worn, 100-year-old pillars have long been a visual anchor in the area. But yesterday it was hard to miss them: two of the monuments were decked in huge, lime green bows.
Read MoreForgotten Trains of the Bay Area: The Key System
Before there was AC Transit or BART, there was the Key System. A privately-owned mass transit company that operated electric railcars, street cars, and ferries, the Key System linked ten East Bay cities and San Francisco, and it shaped the development of this area.
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