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Rare Historical Photos of Oakland in the 1860s

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Oakland’s history began in the late 1860s when the Transcontinental Railway built its western terminus on Third Street near Broadway. During this time, the City’s central district began to shift northward along Broadway, away from the waterfront. Today’s Port of Oakland was constructed at Oakland Point, where Central Pacific constructed the Oakland Long Wharf. In addition to serving as a terminus for the Transcontinental Railroad, it also served as a terminus for commuter trains run by the Central (later, Southern) Pacific. In addition, the Central Pacific established a major rail yard and service facility in West Oakland, which remained a significant employer well into the 20th century.

Three more sawmills were added by 1852 after the first steam-powered sawmill was erected in 1850. More men were cutting redwoods in East Bay towns in 1853 than there were residents. By 1860, the entire forest had been destroyed. The Redwood Regional Park is much smaller than the original forest, and the redwoods are much smaller.

In 1860, the unincorporated community, named after the abundant native oaks, already had a post office, mills, a sawmill, and a sugar mill. Oakland, however, quickly became one of Central Florida’s most prominent towns due to its convenient access to faster transportation routes.

Here are some fascinating historical photos that show Oakland in the 1860s.

#7 Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum, showing front and South side, Oakland, 1863

Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum, showing front and South side, Oakland, 1863

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#8 Evening View of the Golden Gate, from the Pacific Female College, Oakland, 1860

Evening View of the Golden Gate, from the Pacific Female College, Oakland, 1860

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#9 Jackson Street from Dr. Merritt’s grounds, looking South, Oakland, 1865

Jackson Street from Dr. Merritt's grounds, looking South, Oakland, 1865

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#10 12th Street from Harrison, looking West, Oakland, 1862

12th Street from Harrison, looking West, Oakland, 1862

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#11 The Pacific Female College, Oakland, Alameda County, 1863

The Pacific Female College, Oakland, Alameda County, 1863

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#12 14th Street, from Broadway, looking West, Oakland, 1864

14th Street, from Broadway, looking West, Oakland, 1864

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#13 Resdience of G. W. Dam, Webster Street, Oakland, 1862

Resdience of G. W. Dam, Webster Street, Oakland, 1862

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#16 Junction San Pablo and Telegraph Road, Oakland, 1861

Junction San Pablo and Telegraph Road, Oakland, 1861

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#17 General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking Northeast, 1861

General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking Northeast, 1861

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#19 Mark Twain at Piedmont White Sulphur Springs, Oakland, 1867

Mark Twain at Piedmont White Sulphur Springs, Oakland, 1867

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#20 Julia Street, looking North from 12th, Oakland, 1860s

Julia Street, looking North from 12th, Oakland, 1860s

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#21 Mrs. Blake’s Female Seminary, Washington Street, between 11th and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1860

Mrs. Blake's Female Seminary, Washington Street, between 11th and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1860

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#22 Harrison Street from 12th, looking North, showing University Buildings, Oakland, 1860s

Harrison Street from 12th, looking North, showing University Buildings, Oakland, 1860s

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#25 Mrs. Blake’s Female Seminary, Washington Street, between 11th and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1861

Mrs. Blake's Female Seminary, Washington Street, between 11th and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1861

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#26 Lake Merritt, from Eastern side, looking West, Oakland, 1862

Lake Merritt, from Eastern side, looking West, Oakland, 1862

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#27 View on Western Shore Lake Merritt, Oakland, 1865

View on Western Shore Lake Merritt, Oakland, 1865

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#28 Private residence, cor. 13th and Castro Streets, Oakland, 1862

Private residence, cor. 13th and Castro Streets, Oakland, 1862

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#30 Broadway, from the Railroad Station, looking North, Oakland, 1862

Broadway, from the Railroad Station, looking North, Oakland, 1862

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#31 Residence of John Wedderspoon, Myrtle Street, bet. 10th and 12th, Oakland, 1865

Residence of John Wedderspoon, Myrtle Street, bet. 10th and 12th, Oakland, 1865

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#33 Mansion House, College Grounds, 12th Street, Oakland, 1865

Mansion House, College Grounds, 12th Street, Oakland, 1865

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#35 Wilcox Block, Front and North side, Oakland, 1861

Wilcox Block, Front and North side, Oakland, 1861

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#36 Ferry Landing and Freight Shed–Oakland Wharf, 1865

Ferry Landing and Freight Shed--Oakland Wharf, 1865

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#39 General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking Northeast, 1865

General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking Northeast, 1865

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#40 San Francisco–From the end of Oakland Wharf, 1863

San Francisco--From the end of Oakland Wharf, 1863

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#41 Railroad Wharf–looking towards Goat Island, 1862

Railroad Wharf--looking towards Goat Island, 1862

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#42 Reflections in San Francisco Bay–From Oakland Wharf, 1864

Reflections in San Francisco Bay--From Oakland Wharf, 1864

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#43 Arrival of the Ferry Steamers and Trains at the Terminus, 1863

Arrival of the Ferry Steamers and Trains at the Terminus, 1863

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#44 Oakland Military Academy, Rev. D. McClure, Principal, 1864

Oakland Military Academy, Rev. D. McClure, Principal, 1864

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#47 Jackson Street, looking North from 12th, Oakland, 1862

Jackson Street, looking North from 12th, Oakland, 1862

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#48 Pullman’s Palace Train. Oakland Point, Western Pacific Railroad, 1869

Pullman's Palace Train. Oakland Point, Western Pacific Railroad, 1869

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#49 Private residence, cor. Castro and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1862

Private residence, cor. Castro and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1862

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#50 Jackson Street from Dr. Merritt’s grounds, looking North, Oakland, 1865

Jackson Street from Dr. Merritt's grounds, looking North, Oakland, 1865

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#53 First terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad at foot of Pacific Ave., 1869

First terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad at foot of Pacific Ave., 1869

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#56 Convent of the Sacred Heart, and Lake Merritt, Oakland, 1861

Convent of the Sacred Heart, and Lake Merritt, Oakland, 1861

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#59 View from Jackson Street, looking East, showing Dr. Merritt’s house and Lake, Oakland, 1864

View from Jackson Street, looking East, showing Dr. Merritt's house and Lake, Oakland, 1864

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#61 Arrival of the Eastern Train, Oakland Wharf, Western Pacific Railroad, 1865

Arrival of the Eastern Train, Oakland Wharf, Western Pacific Railroad, 1865

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#62 J. I. Spear’s residence, cor. Julia and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1863

J. I. Spear's residence, cor. Julia and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1863

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#63 Mansion House, Entrance College Grounds, 12th Street, Oakland, 1863

Mansion House, Entrance College Grounds, 12th Street, Oakland, 1863

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#66 General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking S. W., Goat Island in the distance, 1862

General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking S. W., Goat Island in the distance, 1862

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#67 General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking West, Alameda County, 1863

General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking West, Alameda County, 1863

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#68 General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking North, 1864

General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking North, 1864

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#69 Railroad Pier, San Francisco Bay–looking towards Oakland, 1868

Railroad Pier, San Francisco Bay--looking towards Oakland, 1868

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#70 General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking East, 1868

General View of Oakland, from Wilcox Block, looking East, 1868

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#71 Western Pacific Railroad Pier, San Francisco Bay–looking from the Ferry landing towards Oakland, 1868

Western Pacific Railroad Pier, San Francisco Bay--looking from the Ferry landing towards Oakland, 1868

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#72 Palace Drawing-Room and Sleeping Car “Woodstock.”, 1868

Palace Drawing-Room and Sleeping Car "Woodstock.", 1868

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#76 Western Pacific Railroad Pier, Goat Island and San Francisco in the distance, 1868

Western Pacific Railroad Pier, Goat Island and San Francisco in the distance, 1868

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#78 First terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad at foot of Pacific Ave., 1868

First terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad at foot of Pacific Ave., 1868

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#79 1439. A Century Plant at Maj. Kirkham’s residence, Oak Street, Oakland, 1868

1439. A Century Plant at Maj. Kirkham's residence, Oak Street, Oakland, 1868

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#82 Wilcox Block, Broadway, Oakland, Alameda County, 1868

Wilcox Block, Broadway, Oakland, Alameda County, 1868

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#86 Wilcox Block, Front and North side, Oakland, 1861

Wilcox Block, Front and North side, Oakland, 1861

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#87 Ferry Landing and Freight Shed — Oakland Wharf, 1864

Ferry Landing and Freight Shed -- Oakland Wharf, 1864

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#90 Arrival of the Eastern Train, Oakland Wharf, Western Pacific Railroad, 1860

Arrival of the Eastern Train, Oakland Wharf, Western Pacific Railroad, 1860

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#91 Harrison Street from 12th, looking North, showing University Buildings, Oakland, 1867

Harrison Street from 12th, looking North, showing University Buildings, Oakland, 1867

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#92 Convent of the Sacred Heart, and Lake Merritt, Oakland, 1867

Convent of the Sacred Heart, and Lake Merritt, Oakland, 1867

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#93 Under the Oaks, at the residence of J. B. Scotchler, Adeline and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1867

Under the Oaks, at the residence of J. B. Scotchler, Adeline and 12th Streets, Oakland, 1867

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#99 Julia Street, looking North from 12th, Oakland, 1867

Julia Street, looking North from 12th, Oakland, 1867

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#100 San Francisco — From the end of Oakland Wharf, 1867

San Francisco -- From the end of Oakland Wharf, 1867

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#101 San Pablo Road, from the Junction, Oakland, 1867

San Pablo Road, from the Junction, Oakland, 1867

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#102 12th Street from Harrison, looking West, Oakland, 1863

12th Street from Harrison, looking West, Oakland, 1863

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#103 Railroad Pier, San Francisco Bay — looking towards Oakland, 1863

Railroad Pier, San Francisco Bay -- looking towards Oakland, 1863

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16 Comments

  1. Love this! I’m actually reading a book right now on the geological history of Oakland. I find it really cool but I’m a nerd. Explains what the land used to look like, a history of the development, why different parts have different rocks essentially. But where downtown is now used to be a huge oak tree grove on top of a packed sand layer. Hence the name of the city. Cool to see these photos back where there were actual oak trees!

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