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.