Historical Markers in
Alameda County, California

1890 Seawall 1914 Rasmussen House 1990 1920 Moving the World's Cargo 1930 Where the World Comes to Oakland 1943 Fleet City 1946 1946 General Strike 442nd Regimental Combat Team Memorial 930 Pacific Avenue 935 Hearst Avenue USS Oakland Mast A Chinese Junk Boat for Oakland A Haven for Artists A Land of Many Tribes - We Are Still Here A Working Waterfront A Zoo, a Monkey, and a Mansion Here Too! Alameda City Hall Alameda City Hall, 1895-96 Alameda County Courthouses Alameda Creek Water System Alameda Lodge No. 1015 Alameda Terminus of the 1st Transcontinental Railroad Alameda: Bay Area Aviation Center Alameda’s First Church Albany Waterfront History (Pre-1900) Albany Waterfront History(Post-1900) Albany World War I Memorial Allen F. Strutz Veterans Memorial Building Allenoke Manor Alviso Adobe Alviso Adobe Community Park Amador Valley Hotel Amelia Mary Earhart American Bag Co. American Baptist Seminary of the West - Hobart Hall American Photoplayer Co. An Era of Dramatic Change Annie and Bernard Maybeck House "Annie's Oak" Anthony Boucher: Editor and Writer Antonio Bras Columns Anza Expedition of 1776 Ardenwood Historic Farm / George Washington Patterson Ranch Armstrong College Building Asian Resource Center ATK Baseball Field Australian Aviators Autocar Sales Bank of Italy Building Barker Building Becky Temko Tot Park Benjamin Ide Wheeler House and Garden Berkeley City Club Berkeley City Hall Berkeley High School Alumni: Bobby Seale, Jean Yonemura Wing, Billy Martin Berkeley High School Alumni: Chinaka Hodge, Phil Lesh, Joshua Redman, The Lonely Island Berkeley High School Industrial Arts and Science (G and H Buildings) Berkeley Municipal Pier Berkeley Municipal Rose Garden Berkeley Piano Club Berkeley Public Library Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Original Location (1968) Berkeley Veterans Memorial Grove Berkeley Y.M.C.A. Bill's Trading Post and Gem Gallery Birthplace of Oakland Birthplace of the Asian American Movement Black Panther Party Stoplight Bowen’s Inn/Higgins Grocery Burl Toler, Sr. C. L. Dellums C.L. Greeno Co. California & Nevada Railroad California Cotton Mill Carnegie Library Carter Brothers Casa Peralta Chabot Dam Chabot Observatory Chamber of Commerce / Wells Fargo Bank Chappell Roland Hayes Charles P. Howard Terminal Charles S. Greene Library Charles W. Woodworth House Church of St. James the Apostle Church of the Good Shepherd City Hall Annex Claremont Court Gate and Street Markers Claremont Public Improvements Clark Kerr Campus Clark Memorial Bench Cleveland Cascade Cloyne Court Hotel Commemoration of Old Redwood Road from Redwood Canyon Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad Concannon Vineyard Connell Motor Company Corpus Christi Church County Courthouse Cresta Blanca Winery Crossing the San Francisco Bay Crossroads Cryer & Sons D. F. Bernal Building D.J. Murphy House Daley’s Scenic Park Street Improvenents Davis-Byrne Building Davis-Parker Whse. De Anza Expedition 1775 - 1776 De Anza Expedition 1775 - 1776 Delaware Street Historic District Dobbel Family Don Jose Maria Amador Don Pedro Fages Expedition Douglas SBD Dauntless Dr. Henry Gordon McGill House Dr. Huey P. Newton Duarte Garage Dunsmuir House Early Harbor Edward A. Brakenridge House Ehrman General Store El Camino Rancho San Antonio El Campanil Elks Club Building Ennor’s Restaurant Building Essanay Film Studio Essanay Studio Site Estuary Industry Estudillo Home Eucalyptus Amphitheater Everett and Marie Glass House Evolution of a Marine Terminal Exxon Super Service Station F.D. Chase Building Faux Bois Benches Federal Land Bank Filtration Basins First Church of Christ, Scientist First County Courthouse First Latitude Sighting of the Golden Gate First Library Building First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church Memorial Chapel First Successful Non-stop Trans-Pacific Air Flight First Transcontinental Railroad First Unitarian Church of Oakland Flanagan Family Flight 93 Memorial Food & Ships Former Safeway Headquarters Founding of Mission San Jose Fourth St. circa 1962 Fox Court Framåt Lodge #405 Frances Albrier Francis Kittredge Shattuck Building Francis Marion “Borax” Smith Francisco Solano Alviso Adobe Frank S. Fennon House Fullen Market Building Garden History Gay 90's Pizzeria General Strike! Giant Water Filters Gilman Hall Gold Creek Golden Sheaf Bakery Annex Got Salt? Without it, No Civilization or Ice Cream! Grumman F6F Hellcat Grumman J2F Duck Hayward Public Library Heinolds’ First and Last Chance Saloon Here, Over Time Heritage Park & Museums Heywood Building Hillside Club Hillside School Historic Alameda High School Historic Best Building Historic Daniel & Meta Best Home Historic "Lorin District" Historic McGee-Spaulding District Historic McGee-Spaulding District History of the Alameda Belt Line History of the Livermore Rodeo History of the Transbay Ferry Honcharenko’s Sanctuary Honor Roll Howard Automobile Company I.D.E.S. Council Hayward #14 In Memoriam (NSGW WWI Memorial) In Memory of Col. John Coffee Hays "In Tribute to Chiura Obata" Ina Donna Coolbrith, 1841-1928 Indian Rock J. Gorman & Son Building J. W. Kottinger’s Barn J.H. Wilson House Jack London Jack London Jack London Square Development Jack London’s Cabin Jean Sweeney - Alameda's "Little Engine That Could" Jefferson Square Park Jensen House Joaquin Miller Joaquin Miller’s Abbey Joaquin Murrieta and Murrieta's Well John "Alex" Alexander John Fitzgerald Kennedy Charter Day Speech John Hinkel Park John Muir School Johnston Building Jos. H. McCourt / Bruno L. Putzker Josiah John Rose-Goldsmith House Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition Campsite #98 Kennedy Tunnel Key Route Terminal Key Route Train Station Kottinger’s Barn Ky Eybright Boathouse La Loma Steps Lafayette Square Timeline Lake Chabot Historical Walk Larkin Locke House Latham Memorial Fountain Unveiled Latham Square Laughlin Moy House Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Leal Tank House Legend of Lone Tree Cemetery Leimert Bridge Leland Stanford Winery Liberty Hall Lincoln Park, 1909 Live Oak Lodge U.D Livermore Flagpole Livermore Southern Pacific Depot Livermore Town Hall Jail and Firehouse Livermore Town Jail Lone Tree Cemetery Lone Tree Cemetery Vietnam War Memorial Longfellow School Lorin Theater Lydiksen Building Makkeweks Mape Memorial Park Masonic Temple Masonic Temple Building Masters of Navigation Max Baer McCreary-Greer House Meadowlark Dairy - The Dairy Silo Meadowlark Dairy – Dairy Bunkhouse Meadowlark Dairy – Dairy Manager’s House Memorial to the Chinese Laborers Meyers Home Meyers House Mills Square Flag Pole Mission San José Moe's Books Morcom Amphitheater of Roses Mormon Pioneers / Mormon Pioneer Adobes Morse Block Mortar Rock Mountain House School Moving Shoreline Mrs. E.P. (Stella) King Building Murray-Green Homes Nevis Pavilion Niles Canyon Railway Norris Family North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church North Branch Berkeley Public Library Northbrae Public Improvements NSGW Hall - Eden Parlor No. 113 Oakland Ball Park Oakland City Hall Oakland Memorial Park Oakland Plumbing Oakland Portal Oakland Railroad History Oakland Rails Oakland War Memorial Oakland's First Public School Oakland's First Wharf Oakland’s Chinatowns Observation Pier Observatory Hill Of Fins and Flippers Ohlone Dog Park Old St. Raymond’s Church Once a Hilltop Castle Orchard Lane Original Residents: The Ohlone / Vicente Peralta's Chosen Place Origins of Oakland Pan Am China Clipper Panoramic Hill Paramount Theatre Paths Through a Varied Landscape PCR Park Peet’s Coffee & Tea Peralta Hacienda Peralta Home – Alta Mira Club Peralta House Philadelphia Quartz Company Piedmont Art Gallery Piedmont Park History Trail Piedmont Springs Clubhouse & Cafe Piedmont Springs Hotel Pioneer Schoolhouse & Chapel Pleasanton Cheese Factory Pony Express Ferry “Oakland” Poultry Producers Prehistoric Indian Mound Preservation Park Rainbow Trout Species Identified Rancho El Valle de San Jose Rancho San Antonio Rancho San Lorenzo Rear Admiral R.J. "Bear" Arnold, U.S.N. Riches from Seawater and Sun Robert Hale Merriman Residence Robert Livermore Rod R. Fallon Ron Dellums Roos Bros. Building Roots From Another Land Rose Walk Rose Wave Rowell Ranch Rumford's Pharmacy S & W Fine Foods S.H. Kress Co. Store Safeway Stores Saint Paul's Hospital San Leandro Courthouse Site San Leandro Oyster Beds San Leandro – Cherry Festivals San Leandro – Industry San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery San Pablo Tennis Club Santa Fe Railroad Tracks Santa Fe Railway Depot Seventh Street Shattuck Square Shepherd Canyon Highway That Almost Was Signs of Change Sister City Program Site of Albany Hospital Site of Albany's First City Hall Site of Albany's First Firehouse Site of Albany's First Official Public Building Site of Blossom Rock Navigation Trees Site of Charles MacGregor's Office Site of College of California Site of David Park’s Studio Site of First Post Office Site of First Public School in Castro Valley Site of Garbage Wars Site of Hunrick Grocery Store Site of John Hinkel Livery Stable, 1900 Site of Miller's Barn Site of Napoleon Bonaparte Byrne House Site of Presentation High School and Convent Site of Pump House - Peet Brothers/Colgate Palmolive Site of Reid's Records Site of Saint Mary's College Site of the Dougherty Station Hotel Site of the Kellogg School Site of the Nation’s First Successful Beet Sugar Factory Site of Thousand Oaks School Site of Veterans' Memorial Skippy Peanut Butter Soda Works Building South Berkeley Bank Spenger’s Fish Grotto St. Augustine's Episcopal Church Star Grocery Still on Patrol Stockmen's Monument Stockmen's Park Strand (Elmwood) Theater Studio Building 1905-06 Sulphur Springs Grotto Sunol Taming the Waters’ Flow Tehan Family Temple of Wings The 1923 Berkeley Fire The Black Panther's First Office The Cascade The Chadbourne Carriage House The Creation of a Park The Gables The Green Store The Heritage House The History of the Site of the Shade Tree The Japanese Teahouse The Jimmy Doolittle Pier – Alameda Naval Air Station The Kelsey Ranch The Lathams The Lawrence 37-Inch Cyclotron The Little Brown Church The Maze The McConaghy Estate The Meek Mansion The Monument Loop: A Legacy The Music They Played on 7th Street The Oakland - San Francisco Bay Bridge The Palmtag Building The Pardee House The Pleasanton Hotel The Pleasanton Sign The Poetry Garden The Port of Oakland The Railroad History of Lake Temescal The Railroad History of Shepherd Canyon The Roxy Theatre The Shepherd Canyon Corridor Plan The Shinn Family Nursery and Ranch The Shorey House The Shuman Block The War With Spain Memorial They Brought Alameda the News Thomas and Isabelle Scott Home Thousand Oaks Neighborhood and Urns Timber Wagon To Build a Dam Tolliver Airship Toveri Tupa – Finnish Hall Training Wall Transporting the Water Trestle Glen Tunnel No. 1 Control Shaft Tupper & Reed Building U.S. Maritime Officers Memorial Ukrania Ukrania Union Point United Grocers United States Post Office Uptown Saturday Night USS Maine Memorial USS Oakland CL-AA 95 USS Potomac Vallejo Flour Mill Vallejo Homesite Veteran's Memorial Building Veterans Memorial Building Vought A-7A Corvair II Voyage of the Brooklyn W.A. Mitchell House W.P. Fuller & Co. Washington Hotel Water & Rails / Brooklyn Basin Webster House Wente Bros. Winery West Oakland and Prescott Western Pacific Mole Western Pacific Railroad Depot Western Pacific RR Western States Whittier School Wild Oats Underdone Asparagas Boil William Byron Rumford (February 2, 1908 - June 12, 1986) William Keith (1836-1911) William M. Mendenhall 1823 – 1911 / De Anza Expedition Campsite Wind-Powered Archimedes Screw-Pump Working in the Salt Ponds Workingman’s Hall World War I Memorial World War II War Memorial Yem-Po: Chinese Labor Camp “A People's History of Telegraph Avenue“ “The Bankers Building”
The first European to set foot in California was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer sailing for the Spanish crown. He arrived in what is now San Diego Bay in 1542 and explored the coast for several months.
Alameda County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Ohlone people, who lived along the shores and in the hills of the region. They thrived on a diet consisting of fish, game, and a variety of plants.

In the late 18th century, Spanish explorers, led by Juan Bautista de Anza, arrived in the area. The Spanish established missions, including Mission San Jose, and began to establish settlements. The area eventually came under Mexican rule following Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821. During this period, the land was primarily used for cattle ranching and agriculture.

In the mid-19th century, the California Gold Rush brought a wave of settlers to the region, including Alameda County. Settlers came in search of gold, but many also recognized the potential for agriculture and industry in the area. The county became an important transportation hub with the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and the Oakland Long Wharf, facilitating trade and commerce.

As the 20th century dawned, Alameda County experienced significant growth and development. The city of Oakland emerged as a major urban center, with a thriving port and a diverse population. The county also saw the establishment of various industries, including shipping, manufacturing, and automobile manufacturing. Alameda County played a pivotal role during World War II as a strategic military location, hosting naval bases and shipyards.

Today, Alameda County is a vibrant and diverse region, home to numerous cities and communities. It is known for its cultural institutions, tech industry, beautiful landscapes, and diverse population. The county continues to evolve, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and quality of life for its residents.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Alameda County, California.

  • 1853: Alameda County is created from a large portion of Contra Costa County
  • 1855: The city of Oakland is incorporated
  • 1868: The University of California is founded in Oakland
  • 1872: The first transcontinental railroad connection to the East Coast is completed in Oakland
  • 1874: The city of Berkeley is incorporated
  • 1900: The city of Fremont is incorporated
  • 1906: The devastating San Francisco earthquake also affects Alameda County
  • 1916: Alameda County courthouse in Oakland is completed
  • 1936: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is opened
  • 1966: The Black Panther Party is founded in Oakland
  • 1970: The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is consolidated
  • 1997: The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory opens in Livermore