Shell Mound Park

In 1877, across the railroad tracks from here, Edward Wiard built a dance pavilion on top of an ancient shell mound, either oblivious to, or choosing to ignore, its cultural significance to the indigenous people. Thus, Shell Mound Park was created. Eventually, the park had picnic grounds, two dancing pavilions, beer gardens, a carousel, shooting ranges, and a track for foot and bicycle races with a 3,000-seat grandstand. Shortly after it opened, the Northern Railway began running excursion trains to Shell Mound Park from Oakland's Long Wharf, where passengers arrived by ferry from San Francisco. An outing to the park was typically an all-day affair. During almost 50 years of operation, the park hosted hundreds of events for all types of unions, clubs, and societies. In 1924, the park was closed, and the shell mound was leveled to make way for industrial development. Today, the Bay Street mixed use center occupies the site of Shell Mound Park. A "memorialization park" along Temescal Creek commemorates the ancient shell mound and the indigenous people of the area, who still live on this land.

Emeryville, California · United States