Neon signs were once found all over Oakland and the U.S. While many have disappeared, this tour highlights some of the neon and other classic signs that still exist along MacArthur Blvd. in the Dimond and Laurel districts. Even before MacArthur Blvd. was created in 1942, this was part of U.S. 50 and one of …
Feature Archives:
Black Liberation
Black Spaces Matter. The Black Liberation Walking Tour (BLWT) is a community-led cultural asset map celebrating Hoover-Foster’s multi-generational Black history and culture. It asserts resident voices and documents sites of cultural and historical significance in the neighborhood. It celebrates belonging through the 100+ year narrative ribbon leading from the early West Coast civil rights movement through the second wave of the …
Black History
Welcome to a Black History Tour of Oakland. This tour is an expanded version of the city of Oakland’s New Era, New Politics tour, and was first given in 2017 by the city walking tour program and Oakland Urban Paths as a celebration of Black History Month. Of course, Black history isn’t confined to a …
Once Upon A Time, Happily Ever After… #3
This is part 3 of 3. See part 1 for more information. The estimated distance and time are for this part only.
10,000 Steps #2
This is part 2 of 2. See part 1 for more information. The estimated distance and time are for this part only. The 10,000 Steps project explored Oakland’s city squares, past and present. It culminated in a permanent meandering neighborhood narrative, ‘Walking the Invisible City’. This looped walk, marked with permanent conversational sidewalk stepping stones, reveals the city …
Once Upon A Time, Happily Ever After… #2
This is part 2 of 3. See part 1 for more information. The estimated distance and time are for this part only.
Once Upon A Time, Happily Ever After… #1
Through a mixture of field recording, interviews, music and narration, the Once Upon A Time, Happily Ever After… audio tour explores the natural, social, and economic forces that have shaped, and continue to shape, Lake Merritt and its surroundings. The tour is part of a larger, 3-part public art project by Scott Oliver. Visit the official Once …
10,000 Steps #1
The 10,000 Steps project explored Oakland’s city squares, past and present. It culminated in a permanent meandering neighborhood narrative, ‘Walking the Invisible City’. This looped walk, marked with permanent conversational sidewalk stepping stones, reveals the city within the city: hidden local lore, architectural and cultural history, and points of urban transformation all centered around these historic …
Old Oakland
Welcome to a walking tour of the Old Oakland neighborhood. Although this is not the oldest part of Oakland, it does have many of the oldest buildings still standing in Oakland. The town of Oakland was incorporated in 1852, and started mostly with buildings near the waterfront. It became a city in 1854, and rapidly …