Preservation Park

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a workshop held in the Nile Hall building of Preservation Park. Oakland, California in general has had a difficult time holding onto its historic buildings; so this collection is particularly remarkable.

Of the 16 Victorian homes arranged as a pocket neighborhood, 5 existed on the site and the rest were transported from other parts of the city. All have been restored to their aesthetic best, with some upgrades for accessibility and modern convenience. Several of the buildings are available for rent for classes, meetings, and events (including weddings). The rest house the offices of non-profits and small businesses.

Visitors to the area can easily walk to Preservation Park from the 12th St/ City Center BART stop, or drive to 13th and ML King and park nearby. If I could change just one thing about this marvelous neighborhood, it would be to eliminate the on-street parking on the two interior drives. Having 21st century autos in my photos of 1890's houses requires more photo-shopping than pleases me. But still, I strive to be a good guest. As should we all.
Visit the SteamTour Flickr page to view the full 22-photo set from Preservation Park (in high resolution).