About 20 years ago, Joey Santore went from illegally riding freight trains across the country to working as a “train... more

“Contrary to popular belief, most Native American people in the United States live in urban areas and not reservations.” Those... more

Many communities in the East Bay’s flatlands are built in areas that were either wetlands or completely underwater less than... more

Although Oakland has one of the highest concentrations of lesbians in the country, the history—and impact—of this community is relatively... more

Idora Park was much more than just the largest amusement park that ever existed in Oakland. Developed by real estate... more

Before the 1960s, coffee was a faceless commodity: hot brown beanwater with caffeine. Alfred Peet began a revolution in America’s... more

The 16th Street Station was built in 1912 to serve as the western depot for Southern Pacific’s transcontinental railroad. For... more

In 1949, a group of pacifists launched America’s first listener-supported radio station. Despite government repression, infighting, and countless financial crises,... more

With the weather warming up, now is the perfect time for a deep dive into Lake Merritt (not literally!). First,... more

There’s a small stretch of Oakland’s shoreline unlike any place else. Nestled between the restaurants of Jack London Square and... more

It would be easy to overlook the significance of Indian Rock and Mortar Rock, two relatively modest outcroppings located in... more

After spending more than three decades working in the underground economy, Titus Lee Barnes compiled his stunning stories of “the... more

Emeryville is a tiny town – less than 2 square miles. It’s nestled between Oakland and Berkeley, right at the... more

In 1970, Dr. Marcus Foster was hired as the first Black superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District. Widely recognized... more

When Oakland’s most prominent graveyard celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015, SF Gate honored the occasion with this description: “There... more

19-year-old Laura Brown started the Oakland Feminist Women’s Health Center in 1972. In the early days, Laura would answer the... more

These days the East Bay’s waterfront is lined with parks, restored wetlands, marinas, and beaches, but for most of the... more

Long before BART or AC Transit, East Bay commuters relied on the Key System, a network of electric streetcars, for... more

Up until the 1850s, the East Bay was home to hundreds of grizzlies and some of the tallest redwoods in... more

As a librarian at the Oakland History Center, Dorothy Lazard helped countless patrons research their connections to the past. In... more