Oakland: Wine and Silicon

Bay Bridge

ORIENTATION

Oakland is located on the east side of San Francisco Bay in northern California. Berkeley lies six miles (ten km) to the north while San Francisco is to the west, across the Bay Bridge. The city is surrounded by five East Bay Regional Parks which offer an array of recreational activities to those in Oakland and the surrounding area. Lake Merrit is located in the city and offers leisure and watersports to visitors. Located in the very center of Oakland is the independent city of Piedmont.

HISTORY

American Indians have inhabited the Oakland area for over 5,000 years. The Ohlone Indians once lived throughout the area where they would hunt, fish and live off the fertile land. Spanish explorers visited the region in the 1770s, and eventually claimed domination in the area. Within the next fifty years Asians, Africans and many northern Europeans settled in the area.

	Chinatown

In 1822 California gained independence from Spain and joined Mexico. On its way to becoming an independent state, Mexico ceded California to the United States of America in 1848, shortly after the Mexican American War.

After California became a state, it did not take long before many of the cities, including Oakland, experienced a population increase. Many businesses flourished with the California Gold Rush and the city continued to prosper.

Oakland was granted a charter on May 4, 1852, and two years later became an incorporated city with an elected Mayor and Council. Comprised of the area west of Lake Merritt, Oakland was the home of numerous manufacturing industries, including automobiles, metals and ship building by the 1920s. This area is now known as Chinatown.

The Central Pacific Railroad ran daily through the city and in the 1860s and 1870s, Oakland became a major rail center. As a booming economic city, the Central Pacific Railroad selected Oakland as the terminus of the new Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed in 1869 and provided a vital link to the east for trade and distribution of goods.

CLIMATE

Oakland's average temperature of 55°F (13°C) is a little lower than many other California cities. With its location directly inland from the Golden Gate Bridge, the city gets a significant amount of nighttime fog during the summer. Oakland's average high is 62°F (17°C) and the average low is 48°F (9°C) with the warmest month being September, and the coldest month being January. An average of 584 milemetres (23 inches) of rain falls each year, almost all of it between October and May.

TRANSPORTATION

	Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

Getting to Oakland is relatively easy due to the great number of transportation options. The Oakland International Airport makes flying to the city convenient and accessible. Alaska Airlines, Aloha, American, Continental and Delta are just some of the many airlines that operate out of the Airport. The Bay Area Rapid Transit light rail (BART) connects the city to nearby destinations and offers service from 43 stations all over the city. Amtrak has a modern passenger train station making it a great transportation option for visitors.

Driving is another way to access Oakland, with Interstates 24, 80, 580 and 880 all intersecting in the city. The Oakland International Taxis are plentiful from the airport as well as throughout the city and it is easy to catch a shuttle bus to downtown and other parts of the Bay Area. A number of car rental companies also service Oakland and offer everything from economy vehicles to luxury cars.

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

Neighborhoods
Oakland's Jack London Square commemorates the famous author who once called the area home. A popular destination along the waterfront of the city, the Square features venues for world-class jazz performers as well as the Jack London Cinema, which offers a choice of first-run films.

The Downtown Oakland Broadway District is home to a number of buildings constructed between 1900 to 1949. The 21-story Tribune Tower offers Renaissance/Baroque style with Spanish and colonial influences. The beaux arts Broadway Building constructed in 1909 was once considered a skyscraper but today is best known for its Gothic Revival architecture. Examples of classic Art Deco-style are visible all around town, but none is as grand as the Paramount Theatre which opened in 1931 with 3,000 seats. Nearby, the neon sign and marquee of the Fox Theatre at Telegraph is a popular attraction that draws visitors around the corner from the Paramount.

At the heart of Oakland in the the late 1800s, Old Oakland offers several blocks of hotels built to house people traveling from the east coast on the Transcontinental Railroad. These buildings are among the finest examples of Victorian commercial architecture on the west coast, and the area is now home to a unique collection of restaurants and shops. Also found in Oakland is Swan’s Marketplace, a major shopping destination that was built in several stages between 1917 and the1940s. Every Friday a farmer's market is hosted in the Swan's Market Place.

The 25-block commercial and cultural district of Chinatown is a broad reflection of Oakland's diverse Asian community. The district offers specialty shops, restaurants, markets, bakeries and attractions. This area attracts over 100,000 visitors annually. A great way to learn about and experience Asian culture is to visit the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, one of the largest pan-Asian cultural centers in the country.

City Square Plaza in Oakland

Museums
Oakland's many museums are a great place to learn about the history and activities of the city. At the Oakland Museum of California, visitors find exhibits of national importance, including the USS Potomac, once the floating White House of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The African American Museum and Library is dedicated to researching, preserving, interpreting and sharing the historical and cultural experiences of Black Americans in California and the West. Children enjoy the Museum of Children's Art, that feature hands-on exhibits and a number of galleries.

Arts and Entertainment
Oakland boasts a flourishing arts and cultural scene, which visitors experience first hand at the Oakland East Bay Symphony and the Oakland Ballet. All types of music including jazz, blues and hip-hop can be heard at the Paramount Theatre.

Sports fans can enjoy watching the NBA's Golden State Warriors at Oakland Arena where they play their home games. The Oakland Raiders please football fans throughout the fall season at the McAfee Coliseum.

Attractions
There are many historic homes and estates in Oakland. Dunsmuir House and Gardens Historic Estate features a turn-of-the-century mansion, carriage house, farm buildings and landscaped grounds, all located in a secluded valley in the Oakland Hills. The 37-room home was built in 1899 by Alexander Dunsmuir for his wife Josephine Wallace. The 16,000 square foot mansion features a Tiffany-style dome, ten fireplaces and inlaid parquet floors, and is one of the best examples of Colonial Revival architecture in the Bay Area.

The historic Children’s Fairyland was created in 1950 for the educational benefit of children. The ten-acre outdoor park and educational facility brings children’s literature to life through fairy tale exhibits, animals and talking storybooks.

A recreational haven nearby the city of Oakland is the saltwater Lake Merritt. Its surrounding park boasts the nation's first wildlife refuge, founded in 1870, and one of Oakland's original theme parks, opened in 1950. Visitors have the option of participating in lawn bowling and walking amongst the many show gardens. The lake area also features a children's art and science center that hosts events throughout the season. Boat rentals and water sports are available at the lake front and a light show is on display every evening.