Water, Steel, Concrete, and Glass: The Elements That Shaped Jingletown

The Jingletown neighborhood was altered by a series of events related to transportation and opportunity. Topics to be emphasized include:

Water: the southern border of the neighborhood was created physically as the western end of the estuary canal in the 1890s providing the area with access to boat traffic.

Steel: bridges were created to span the canal and fast Southern Pacific electric suburban trains whisked residents between Oakland and Alameda, and on to San Francisco and San Leandro in the 1910s.

Concrete: the completion of Highway 880 divided the neighborhood in 1950. Subsequent seismic, retrofitting and lane modifications over the past half century created additional physical divisions and problems.

Glass: the neighborhood was revived in the first decade of the 21st century with the establishment of the Institute of Mosaic Art.

The 1.7-mile flat walk will be restricted to the southwest corner of Jingletown bordered by the 880/Nimitz Freeway, 29th Ave., the waterfront Bay Trail, and Fruitvale Ave.—Stuart Swiedler

Image Credit: George Russell Photo, Courtesy California State Lands Commission.jpg

Meeting Location: Meet at the Bay Trail sign on the waterfront at 29th Ave and the base of the Park Street Bridge.

Tour Guide: Stuart Swiedler

NOTES:

• PLEASE MEET 15 MINUTES BEFORE listed time to allow for registration.

• We kindly request you register in advance. In-person registration will be first-come-first-served on a space available basis. We cannot guarantee a spot will be available.

• We offer fee waivers for limited income residents— just ask!

• Comfortable walking shoes, sun hats and sunscreen are recommended. Bring water.

• Vouchers, limited-income accommodation, and any other special circumstances should be handled in advance. Please email info@oaklandheritage.org for assistance

• Check your email the morning of the walking tour for any last-minute changes, clarifications, or cancellation.

• If you need assistance navigating Humanitix, please reach out to us at info@oaklandheritage.org or call our office at (510) 763-9218 and we’d be happy to help.

• 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.

• 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!

Accessibility Note: Easy, a 1.7-mile flat walk.

About Oakland Heritage Alliance

Oakland Heritage Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization which advocates the protection, preservation, and revitalization of Oakland's architectural, historic, cultural and natural resources through publications, education, and direct action.