5000 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
Private Tour of Mountain View Cemetery
Member Gaye Lenehan will lead an exploration of an Oakland gem. The walking tour of Mountain View Cemetery will start promptly at 10:00 a.m. – everyone should gather in front of the main office. If Mother Nature cooperates, attendees should witness a spectacular show since the tour has been timed to occur when the tulips are in full bloom.
Founded in 1863, Mountain View was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, renowned landscape architect of New York City’s Central Park. The historic, not-for-profit cemetery is nestled in the foothills of Oakland and Piedmont. Gaye will tell a bit of history of the cemetery and lead us past the final resting places of some interesting people. She’s including a climb up the hill to Millionaires’ Row.
Please note: Walking shoes are recommended; the tour covers almost two miles on hilly terrain. It is not suitable for those with walkers, canes or the need to sit down frequently. There is plenty of parking along the roads in the cemetery. If it is a nice day bring a brown bag and plan for a picnic. In case of rain, the tour will be rescheduled for the following Wednesday, March 30, 2010. Please E-mail [email protected] or call the libary at 510-663-1358 to register for this event.
Gaye is one of two society members who serve as docents at the cemetery. The upcoming schedule includes:
February 27 — Free Docent Tour led by Gaye Lenahan, 10 a.m., Black History Month Tour.
April 24 — Free Docent Tour led by Chris Pattillo, 10 a.m., The Trees of Mountain View. (If you can’t make this, Chris has a self-guided tour on her blog, Historic American Landscapes Survey.
Learn more about the cemetery at Michael Colbruno’s Lives of the Dead: Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland – a Graveyard Rabbit Association blog.
