tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26237609889589268542024-02-20T18:57:44.229-08:00California Landmarks in OaklandDennisEvanoskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09227175740691500839noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623760988958926854.post-84578986926451392132007-02-10T22:14:00.000-08:002007-09-10T11:26:37.718-07:00This blog is part of a larger blog at (<a href="http://oaklandmarks.blogspot.com/">oaklandmarks.blogspot.com</a>)<br /><br /><div align="left">There are thirteen state of California landmarks in Oakland. </div><div align="center"><br />State Historical Landmarks in Oakland</div><div align="left"><br />1. Site of Blossom Rock Navigation Trees</div>11500 Skyline Boulevard in Redwood Regional Park<br />Landmark #962<br /><br />Here's what the plaque says:<br /><br />#962 Site of Blossom Rock Navigation Trees<br />Until at least 1851, redwood trees on this site were used as landmarks to avoid striking the treacherous submerged Blossom Rock in San Francisco Bay, west of Yerba Buena Island. Although by 1855 the original stems had been logged, today's trees are sprouts from their stumps.<br /><br />Here's an interesting note:<br /><br />Blossom Rock was named for HMS Blossom. The Blossom sailed into San Francisco Bay on November 17, 1826.<br /><br />During a six-week stay, her captain, F .W. Beechey, mapped the Bay for Great Britian. When he did, he made an interesting switch. He renamed the Spanish Alcatraz Island "Yerba Buena Island" and the Spanish Yerba Buena Island, "Alcatraz Island." No one really knows if Beechey did this deliberately or by mistake. In any case, the names stuck and the switch became permanent.<br /><br />Beechey never admitted to striking Blossom Rock with his ship, but it's likely he did. In a diary entry he suggests lining up the northern tip of Yerba Buena Island (don't forget he made that switch, though) with two trees, "nearly the last ones south of the 'Palos Colorados,' a wood of pines situated on top of the hill over San Antonio, too conspicuous to miss."<br /><br />These trees were used only to navigate around Blossom Rock, although the urban legend persists that mariners used them to wend their way through the Golden Gate.<br /><br />2. Camino of Rancho San Antonio<br />Oakland and Santa Clara avenues<br />Landmark #299<br />The plaque is on southwest corner of Santa Clara and Oakland avenues.<br /><br />Here's what the plaque says:<br /><br />The Camino of Rancho San Antonio ran from Mission San Jose to Fruitvale and later to San Pablo by way of Oakland and El Cerrito. The word camino means trail, road, highway or line of communication that is in general or private use.<br /><br />3. Church of St. James the Apostle<br />1540 12th Avenue<br />Landmark #694<br /><br />4. Site of College of California<br />13th and Franklin streets<br />Landmark #45<br /><br />5. First Unitarian Church of Oakland;<br />685 14th Street<br />Landmark #896<br /><br />6. Joaquin Miller Home<br />The Abbey<br />Joaquin Miller Road and Sanborn Drive in Joaquin Miller Park<br />Landmark #107<br /><br />7. Mills Hall<br />Mills College Campus<br />Landmark #849<br /><br />8. Paramount Theatre<br />2025 Broadway<br />Landmark #884<br /><br />9. Pardee House<br />672 11th Street<br />Landmark #1027<br /><br />10. Peralta House<br />2465 34th Avenue<br />Landmark #925<br /><br />11. Spot Where Rainbow Trout Species Was Identified<br />Redwood Regional Park<br />(50 Yards Past Redwood Gate Entrance Kiosk)<br />Landmark #970<br /><br />12. Site of Saint Mary's College Site<br />3093 Broadway<br />Landmark #676<br /><br />13. Site of Peralta Hacienda<br />2465 34th Avenue Oakland<br />Landmark #925<br /><br /><div align="left">Here's what the plaque says:</div><div align="center"><br />Peralta Hacienda Site </div><div align="left">One of California's original Spanish colonists, Luís Peralta received the first and largest Mexican land grant. His hacienda was the nucleus of the Rancho de San Antonio, which covered the sites of seven present-day East Bay cities and reached to the Contra Costa frontier. The rancho's first permanent adobe was located here, and the 1870 Italianate frame house is one of two remaining Peralta buildings. </div>DennisEvanoskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09227175740691500839noreply@blogger.com2