Often overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger and more glamorous twin, Oakland has a fascinating history of its own. From serving as a major transportation hub to forging a dynamic manufacturing sector, by the mid-twentieth century Oakland had become the urban center of the East Bay. Hella Town focuses on how political deals, economic schemes, and technological innovations fueled this emergence but also seeded the city’s postwar struggles.
Podcast:
East Bay Yesterday - Episode 80 - The mixed legacy of Oakland’s ambition
Zoom Presentations:
Hella Town - Oakland's History of Development and Disruption (Oakland History Center)
Oakland: The Good, the Could Have Been Good, the Sort of Bad, and the Very Bad (Oakland Heritage Alliance)
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