A Morning in Old Oakland

One of the many things to do in Oakland which I usually forget about is the free historic walking tours. This Saturday I finally caught the Old Oakland tour, a neighborhood I particularly like with all its old brick buildings. About a dozen people turned out for the tour, all locals. The tour guide, was a fountain of information though I thought he rambled a bit. He told us about first mayor and my favorite Oakland scoundrel Horace Carpentier, the doctor and developer Samuel Merritt, and Borax King Francis Marion Smith among others. In past summers I've gone on some of the Oakland Museum's history bike tours so many of the names and stories were familiar. I always enjoy hearing about the growth of Oakland, and every tour guide gives a different take on things.

We briefly stopped in the Pacific Coast Brewing Company. I've always admired the bar in the place, which I learned came from an old bar Cox's in San Francisco which when demolished gave the bar to the OMCA. After being in storage for many years the bar and some of the stainedglass from Cox found a new home at Pacific Coast. The Washington Inn, which has a completely new interior sports some nice old photos of Oakland on its walls and a very pretty little old elevator hidden away in the corner.

The tour was two hours, which I thought was a bit long for the small area covered. I enjoy hearing about all the old buildings, how and why they were built. It's hard to believe it was once thought a good idea to cover up all the beautiful brick work with stucco, I'm glad they have been restored so meticulously. All in all an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning.