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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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Oakland is a major West Coast port city in California. It has a mild, Mediterranean-type climate with warm sunny summers and cool winters. The area was inhabited by Costanoan Indians in the 18th century when the Spanish invaded.

In the early-1970s, unemployment, poverty, and crime rates were high in Oakland. The city began to experience serious problems with gang-controlled dealing of heroin and cocaine when drug kingpin Felix Mitchell created the nation’s first large-scale operation. The murder rate rose to twice that of San Francisco or New York City. In the 1980s Oakland remained as one of America’s most crime-ridden cities Things began to change in the 1990s, much of the city center was rebuilt, and many run-down neighborhoods were gentrified.

Here below are some amazing vintage photos of Oakland by Dave Glass from the 1970s and 1980s that will take you back.

#1 Cooking BBQ in the Coliseum parking before an Oakland Raiders football game, Oakland, 1980.

Cooking BBQ in the Coliseum parking before an Oakland Raiders football game, Oakland, 1980.

17 Points
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#2 Eli’s Mile High Club, back entrance, Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, 1988.

Eli's Mile High Club, back entrance, Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, 1988.

16 Points
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#7 The Remillard House, located in Preservation Park,Queen Anne victorian near 12th Street and Martin Luther King, Oakland, 1980s.

The Remillard House, located in Preservation Park,Queen Anne victorian near 12th Street and Martin Luther King, Oakland, 1980s.

14 Points
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#9 A bridge damaged by an earthquake at Highway 880, October 1989.

A bridge damaged by an earthquake at Highway 880, October 1989.

13 Points
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#10 Looking down 3rd street, near the Oakland Produce Terminal, 1979.

Looking down 3rd street, near the Oakland Produce Terminal, 1979.

13 Points
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#11 Oakland Fox TheatreTelegraph Avenue, Oakland, 1978.

Oakland Fox TheatreTelegraph Avenue, Oakland, 1978.

13 Points
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#12 45th and Martin Luther King streets, Oakland, 1987.

45th and Martin Luther King streets, Oakland, 1987.

12 Points
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#13 1957 Buick at intersection of 15th Street and Peralta, Oakland, 1979.

1957 Buick at intersection of 15th Street and Peralta, Oakland, 1979.

12 Points
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#14 Automobile graveyard beneath the Nimitz Freeway, near 34th St and Wood, Oakland, 1986.

Automobile graveyard beneath the Nimitz Freeway, near 34th St and Wood, Oakland, 1986.

11 Points
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#17 Derelict victorian flats,1610 14th Street, Oakland, 1980s.

Derelict victorian flats,1610 14th Street, Oakland, 1980s.

10 Points
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#20 West Oakland, row of houses before demolition, 1975.

West Oakland, row of houses before demolition, 1975.

10 Points
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#23 Cadillac in a debris box, 20th century salvage, West Oakland, 1975.

Cadillac in a debris box, 20th century salvage, West Oakland, 1975.

9 Points
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#24 1947 Dodge 4-door sedan13th and Center Street,West Oakland, 1981

1947 Dodge 4-door sedan13th and Center Street,West Oakland, 1981

9 Points
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#25 Sutter HotelJefferson and 14th StreetDowntown Oakland.

Sutter HotelJefferson and 14th StreetDowntown Oakland.

9 Points
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#26 Lectric Washouse24-Hour laundromat, local institutionTelegraph and 59th Street, Oakland, 1987

Lectric Washouse24-Hour laundromat, local institutionTelegraph and 59th Street, Oakland, 1987

9 Points
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#27 American Bag Company3rd and Harrison, Oakland, 1976.

American Bag Company3rd and Harrison, Oakland, 1976.

9 Points
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#28 Looking south-east down 2nd StreetNear the new Oakland Amtrak stationOakland, 1983.

Looking south-east down 2nd StreetNear the new Oakland Amtrak stationOakland, 1983.

9 Points
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#29 Tip’s Soul Food, 1445 Center Street in West Oakland, 1984.

Tip's Soul Food, 1445 Center Street in West Oakland, 1984.

9 Points
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#31 Storage building near the Port of Oakland, 1985.

Storage building near the Port of Oakland, 1985.

This building has been converted into Phoenix Lofts 737 2nd, completed in 1999.

8 Points
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#32 West Oakland,15th and Peralta, Oakland California, 1989.

West Oakland,15th and Peralta, Oakland California, 1989.

8 Points
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#33 Hill Castle Apartments1431 Jackson Street, Oakland.

Hill Castle Apartments1431 Jackson Street, Oakland.

8 Points
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#34 Abraham’s Market,Washington and 9th Street,Oakland.

Abraham's Market,Washington and 9th Street,Oakland.

8 Points
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#35 17th Street between Telegraph and San Pablo Ave. Oakland 1989

17th Street between Telegraph and San Pablo Ave. Oakland 1989

8 Points
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#36 Demolition of the earthquake damaged section of Interstate-880 known as the Cypress Structure. 14th Street & Mandela Pkwy, Oakland, 1989.

Demolition of the earthquake damaged section of Interstate-880 known as the Cypress Structure. 14th Street & Mandela Pkwy, Oakland, 1989.

8 Points
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#37 Hansen Coffee Company, 327 Clay St. Oakland, 1985.

Hansen Coffee Company, 327 Clay St. Oakland, 1985.

7 Points
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#38 Golden Gate Adult Books, 1905 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, 1982.

Golden Gate Adult Books, 1905 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, 1982.

7 Points
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#40 Phoenix Iron Works, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

Phoenix Iron Works, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

7 Points
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#47 Rail infrastructure and gas storage tanks, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

Rail infrastructure and gas storage tanks, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

6 Points
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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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