Walk along Glen Echo Creek, one of Oakland's living creeks, where a charming residential neighborhood was developed between 1895 and the 1920s and has structures by Frederick Riemers, Julia Morgan, A. W. Smith, and C. M. MacGregor with surviving elements from the "City Beautiful" movement. Although scarred by freeway incursion, it remains a unique, tranquil setting in our city and boasts fine examples of California bungalows, Mission and Mediterranean style homes. A mostly level walk, optional pedestrian staircase at the end of tour. Wheelchair accessible before the optional pedestrian staircase.
Tour Leader: Valerie Winemiller
Meet: The pergola, Croxton Avenue and Richmond Boulevard
Bio: OHA summer tours combine two of Valerie Winemiller's favorite activities: walking and looking at old buildings. She has led the Richmond Boulevard and the Broadway Auto Row tours each several times. As an activist in the Piedmont Avenue neighborhood since 1974, Valerie has written and illustrated a number of local history articles for that neighborhood's newsletter, and some which have appeared in the OHA News as well, including a history of the innovative--but barely mourned--MacArthur Broadway Shopping Center. As an OHA member, she has advocated for preservation issues at various public hearings before city boards and the city council. She is a retired illustrator.
NOTES:
• PLEASE MEET 15 MINUTES BEFORE listed time to allow for registration.
• Comfortable walking shoes, sun hats and sunscreen are recommended. Bring water.
• Vouchers, limited-income accommodation, and any other special circumstances will be handled onsite at the starting point on the day of the walking tour. Check your email the morning of the walking tour for any last-minute changes, clarifications, or cancellation.
• Due to the ongoing presence of Covid, we will continue to make masks available. If you feel ill the day of a tour, please stay home. If after a tour, you become ill and test positive, please let us know as soon as possible. Thank you.
• If you need assistance navigating Eventbrite, please reach out to us at info@oaklandheritage.org or call our office at (510) 763-9218 and we’d be happy to help.
• Please check out the profiles of tour leaders. We are grateful for their skill and generosity.
• These tours support Oakland Heritage Alliance, a non-profit that tells Oakland’s story through walking tours, lectures, newsletters and advocacy. We welcome volunteers and new members!
• THESE TOURS ARE BASED IN PART on the research of the Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, a project of the City of Oakland Strategic Planning Division, and the resources of the Oakland History Center, 2nd floor, Oakland Main Library.