For the previous expedition I went to a few places at Lake Merritt and realized that there is a lot more to see there. This is part two and I may need two more visits!
I started at the locally famous “Mid Century Monster,” a play structure designed by a jeweler and CCAC instructor that recalls his use of lost wax process to create free forms. It was built in 1952 and restored in 2019 with the help of devoted fans. It appears on the cover of “Dance to the Music” by Sly and the Family Stone.
The Oakland Municipal Band, one of the oldest in the country, plays at the bandstand on summer weekends. They debuted in 1912 and upgraded to the bandstand, inspired by a similar one in Milan, in 1920. I need to visit this summer! I don’t know why the bandstand isn’t used for other events though.
According to an Oakland history Facebook page, this little green building was a snack bar selling pink popcorn bricks. I wish they’d bring it back. I love these trash can mosaics celebrating the Port of Oakland container loaders and the necklace of lights.
The lights date from 1925 but they were turned off during World War II for safety. Several attempts were made to turn them back on afterward but they failed and the necklace fell into disrepair. They were restored in 1985. Originally, they weren’t on every night. The bulbs were incandescent and expensive to light. They were changed to cathode bulbs and then in 2016 to LED bulbs and they light the lake nightly now.
I couldn’t visit Fairyland, which opened in 1950, because I didn’t have a child with me. 🙂 I love that this park doesn’t allow adults in otherwise! It, along with Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, were major inspirations for Disneyland. I have visited though, on a tour and an adult night event. Fairyland’s aesthetic is very humble and whimsical, not at all slick or commercial looking.
My last stop was the Veteran’s Hall across the street from the lake. It will make another appearance when I do another veteran’s hall expedition. This one now hosts a senior center and numerous dance classes. The plaque in front commemorates local infantry soldiers who apparently never saw battle. Yet, the website Wikitree notes this: “Enlisted men-died of disease, 7; suicide, 1; murdered, 1; deserted, 7”!
Glen Echo creek is daylighted next to the building. As a bonus for those who’ve read this far, last fall I saw this leucistic raccoon next to the creek. Apparently there are quite a few, since many sightings have been reported. Leucistism means all the fur coloration is muted, rather than albinism where the pigment isn’t present at all. They look like strawberry blondes!