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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Oakland

30 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Oakland, California

Updated February 22, 2023

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Architecture 8
Architectural Oddities 5
Unique Restaurants & Bars 4
Food 3
Monuments 3
Sacred Spaces 3
Black History 3

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Stories About Oakland

William Selig’s 1898 short film Something Good-Negro Kiss is considered one of the earliest black films depicting black intimacy on screen.

7 Unforgettable Stories for Black History Month

Meet some of the artists, archivists, students, and descendants rediscovering and preserving the past.
by April White
Cowboy Jordan Miller rides in the Black Cowboy Association’s 45th annual parade, held in 2019 in Oakland.

Inside America's Premier Black Rodeo, A Celebration of Cowboy Culture

A photographer captures perseverance and pride over a decade of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.
by Gemma Tarlach

Podcast: Women of the Black Panther Mural

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Women of the Black Panther Mural

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
Clara Loeper’s remains were buried at—and stolen from—Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California.

The Unfortunately Action-Packed Afterlife of a California Grave-Robbery Victim

Nearly 140 years after being snatched, almost dissected, and eventually reburied, Clara Loeper may finally get a headstone.
by Erika Mailman
Behold: a minty-fresh monster.

Oakland's Favorite Monster Is Back—and Greener Than Ever

A restoration project has given a once-iconic sculpture a new lease on life.
by Sabrina Imbler
A design for the rebooted Doggie Diner that Atchley hopes to build.

The Quest to Revive the Bay Area's Fabled Doggie Diners

One man is determined to get these giant dachshunds smiling down on customers once more.
by Matthew Taub

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