Mark Your Calendar: Oakland Heritage Alliance Summer Walking Tours

The Oakland Heritage Alliance just released the schedule for this year’s summer walking tours. (I’ve been on a couple of these walks in the past, and found them fun and informative -- but then I’m sort of a geek that way.)

Among the highlights:

Saturday, July 7: F.M. “Borax” Smith Estate
“Visit the remnants of Arbor Villa, Francis Marion 'Borax' Smith’s palatial estate. See the 9th Ave. palm trees, Mary R. Smith cottages, and historic houses, including examples by Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan.”

Sunday, July 8: Mountain View Cemetery
“Take a walk into the past in California’s most historic cemetery to meet some of our state’s early movers and shakers.”

Saturday, July 21: Picardy Drive: A Step Back in Time
“Visit Picardy Drive, famous for holiday lighting displays. The neighborhood retains late 1920s bungalow and period revival styles as well as community-oriented design.”

Sunday, July 22: Lake Merritt Modern
“A look at apartment houses and dwellings along the east side of the lake. Several periods and styles will be covered, but a special focus will be post-World War II architecture.”

Sunday, July 29: Eichlers of Oakland: Modernism at Home in the Hills
“Oakland has its own residential district of modern houses (1964–65) by Joseph Eichler that match the modernist buildings of downtown. The tour will reveal the wonders of modernism as applied to the family home.”

Saturday, August 4: Preservation Park to Pardee Mansion
“This historic district preserves Oakland’s 19th century character. Learn about Preservation Park. Visit the Pardee House with special guides highlighting unique aspects of its history. Bring a picnic and play croquet on the lawn.”

Saturday, August 11: Temescal
“Explore the commercial district that developed around the Oakland Street Railway car barn, built in 1870. Visit the sites of pioneering enterprises. See Victorian and early 20th century stores. Discover residential streets with period homes.”

Sunday, August 12: Laurel Neighborhood
“The Laurel district began life in 1909 when local streetcars extended service to 38th Ave. This tour highlights Laurel’s history and architectural heritage -- with its fine examples of ’20s brick and tile commercial buildings.”

Saturday, September 8: Montclair Village
“Explore the history and architecture of Montclair Village, a vibrant hill community. Montclair’s distinctive buildings -- the fire station, women’s club, recreation center, library, and more will be featured.”

Sunday, September 16: Eichlers of Oakland: Modernism at Home in the Hills
See Sunday, July 29.

Tours are $15 each, or $10 for OHA members. For the complete schedule and info, click here.

(Photos by Robert Giles, Myrtice Wong, Alan Templeton, Jerry Schmitz, Valerie Garry, and Dennis Evanosky.)