Lounge Lizards Unite! Join a pub crawl through some of Oakland’s historic and not-so-historic drinking spots. Non-strenuous! Non-alcoholic! Gluten free!

Judge Charles Smiley presents his research on the history of California laws, the struggle for African-American pioneers in the state to access justice, and the local heroes who laid a foundation for future generations to create change within legal systems.

Join us as we celebrate our 2024 Partners in Preservation Awards winners.

Judge John Sutter was a trailblazer for conservation in the East Bay, advocating for the environment and outdoors long before it was fashionable. The East Bay native passed away in 2021 at the age of 92 after a long and distinguished career in public service, including stints as an East Bay Regional Park District Board Member, Oakland City Council Member, and Alameda County Superior Court Judge.

A remarkable nonprofit nursery, urban tree farm, aquaponics farm, and pay-what-you-can commercial kitchen work together as an ecosystem. An oasis in east Oakland, Planting Justice provides sustainable living-wage jobs, food access,and holistic programming for communities impacted by mass incarceration. Flat walking on earthen paths.

Texas Ranger Jack Hays settled along the banks of Temescal Creek in 1852 and called his home “Fernwood.” Oaklanders have been attracted to this park-like enclave of hills and ravines ever since. This walk explores Fernwood from its earliest settlement to development in the 1920s as Oakland’s forested suburb. No sidewalks, wear comfortable shoes, a few moderate hills.

Oakland’s Chinatown is a vibrant home and hub for immigrants and communities across the Asian diaspora. Learn about the development, displacement and dynamics of this historic neighborhood, starting in the 1850s during California’s Gold Rush. We’ll visit key cultural locations of culture, meet local leaders, and learn about Asian American social movements over the decades, while discussing current efforts and issues in the community. Come early for dim sum, or stay after to enjoy the delicious cuisines! A level walk with some stairs and indoor visits.

Join two knowledgeable locals in Central East Oakland near Mills College to explore the legacy of 1920’s housing developer and architect, Hillen & Dixon. Their ‘Modest Mansions’ first appeared a century ago along Morse Drive, then two years later culminated with a unique collection of homes on Picardy Drive a block away. Picardy Drive, called Normandy Gardens in that era, retains much of its original design and Storybook Bungalow charm; it’s also considered Oakland’s Christmas Tree Lane for its annual holiday lighting traditions. We’ll see excerpts from Hillen & Dixon’s published works—with photographs and plans—of College Court homes, and visit inside a few homes to observe the interior details. A level walk.

Join a walk that will explore the south side of Lake Merritt and follow its evolution since the incorporation of Oakland. Assisted by photographic documentation, the walk will initially review the history of the 12th St. Dam from its inception, and the intake of Lake Merritt. The second objective will be to delineate the location of the Key System’s Central Carbarn. Related to this, the path of the two private right-of-ways approaching the carbarn between 1st Ave. at International Blvd. and Park Blvd. at E. 20th St. will be evaluated. Along the way, a stop at one of Oakland’s art treasures, and a visit to an award winning architectural structure will highlight several unique features of this rapidly evolving area.

Nestled between the Glenview and Dimond neighborhoods, Oakmore was developed starting in 1926 with the completion of the Leimert Bridge. This “residential park” is filled with examples of charming storybook and period revival home styles and lovely gardens. We’ll see the recently daylighted Sausal Creek in Dimond Park, and learn about some of the builders and architects who contributed to the area’s character.

Experience the history and culture of the area along the 14th street corridor designated by the City of Oakland as the Black Arts Movement Business District. Start with a guided tour of the historic African American Museum and Library and wander past a variety of small businesses to the Black Panther Museum, Joyce Gordon’s Gallery and Geoffrey’s Inner Circle (once the all-white men’s Athenian Nile Club).

We will start at the Cohen Bray House, a huge single building built from 1883 to 1884 that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We will see a range of buildings from the 1890s to the 1930s. Five are designated historic buildings, but many others are not, such as those from the 1890s that line East 16th Ave. We will return to the Cohen Bray House after touring this neighborhood. Optional interior tour at conclusion.

As Oakland took root and grew, it built itself up by using, and using up, its abundant natural resources inherited from its indigenous caretakers and from the Ice Ages before human times. Starting near the 19th Street BART station and ending at City Hall, our 2.5-mile walk around central Downtown will visit remnants of those first decades as we witness Oakland's changing fashions in building stone along the way.

Adams Point’s varied residential neighborhood includes Victorian, Craftsman and Prairie Style residences, Earl Warren’s house, and 20th century apartment buildings. This moderately hilly stroll on sidewalks features a Julia Morgan house, and a vintage hitching post.

We will start across the street from our beautiful seven-story building that is over 100 years old. We will work our way up the hill to Haddon Lane, with the huge mansions. Then we will walk down to Athol Ave where you have a tiny bit of commercial buildings among the residential. As we work our way down Hanover and Lester Ave, there are an incredible variety of homes from the late 1890s to the new 2020 buildings.

Want to finally understand what’s really at the top of Piedmont Avenue? What’s the difference among those gorgeous places— Chapel of the Chimes, Mountain View Cemetery, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Home of Eternity? Learn about the merchants leading Oakland in the 1860s, the victims of the Spanish Flu in 1918, the brightest lights of the Jewish community and a few rascals too. Dispel a few rumors about Gertrude Stein, Judah Magnes and others. Find out why Dr. Spock’s Vulcan hand gesture appears at some graves, and decode the symbols on many others.

Hike 1.5 miles through Redwood Park Regional Park from Roberts Recreation Area to Redwood Bowl (near Chabot Science Center) and return. Learn how sea captains in the early 1800’s used the tallest trees to navigate away from the treacherous Blossom Rock and about the sleuthing that resulted in a State Historic Landmark designation. Become acquainted with the history and evolution of the current redwood forest. Visit the “World’s Tallest Tree”.

Old Oakland Airport (North Field) was dedicated by Charles Lindbergh and often visited by Amelia Earhart. One of the nation’s most historic aviation sites, its original facilities–five hangers, an administration building, and a hotel, built between 1927 and 1929–are largely intact.

Poet/author Joaquin Miller spent his last decades on his 75-acre estate, The Hights, planting about 75,000 trees, farming, entertaining, writing. Learn about his life with his wife Abigail, and daughter Juanita. Visit the Abbey, the Follies, and monuments that survive, more than 100 years later.

Walk into the past in California’s most historic cemetery to meet some of our state’s early movers and shakers along with the monuments that preserve their memory. Charles Crocker, Domingo Ghirardelli and Samuel Merritt are among those you will encounter.

Visit the site of Arbor Villa, Francis Marion “Borax” Smith’s palatial estate. Smith founded an international industry (“20-Mule Team Borax”), established the Key Route System, and became one of Oakland’s most famous, colorful entrepreneurs. The tour visits the site of Oak Hall, the 9th Ave. palm trees, the Mary R. Smith Cottages and other historic houses, including ones designed by Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan.