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For Immediate Release
June 8, 2000
OAKLAND, CALIF.--The Port of Oakland celebrates the publication of PACIFIC GATEWAY: An Illustrated History of the Port of Oakland with a gala reception on Wednesday, June 14, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, at 54 Washington Street, Jack London Square, Oakland.
Written by Woodruff Minor, Pacific Gateway is an illustrated history of the Port of Oakland -- an integral part of the life and economy of California's San Francisco Bay Area for more than seven decades. A pioneer in containerized shipping and early aviation, the Port of Oakland oversees a major seaport, an international airport, and waterfront developments like Jack London Square. The book delves into Oakland's origins as a railroad, shipping, and aviation center in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, providing a backdrop to the Port of Oakland's story. Pacific Gateway illuminates a piece of Oakland's heritage. The over 300 historic images in the book have been culled from shoeboxes and dusty files and are brought together to provide a beautifully crafted visual dimension to the Port and its place in the history of Oakland.
"The Port of Oakland stands at an important juncture in its history," said Chuck Foster, Executive Director, Port of Oakland. "The seaport will double in size, Oakland International Airport is poised for expansion, and the waterfront has emerged as a public asset to use and enjoy. It is fitting, then, that we examine our past to gain an understanding of how to move into the future. Pacific Gateway is a very engaging and enlightening story, engendering a sense of pride in Oakland as a great California place."
Woodruff Minor, a fourth generation resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, has written extensively on Bay Area history. A former columnist with the Alameda Journal, he is the author of several books, including Historic Commercial Buildings of Alameda; On the Bay, A Centennial History of the Encinal Yacht Club; and a forthcoming history of parks and recreation in the city of Alameda. He also works as a consultant on architectural, historical and environmental studies. He resides in Berkeley, CA.
The Port of Oakland, established in 1927, is an independent department of the City of Oakland employing some 560 people. The Port extends approximately 19 miles, and its facilities include four major marine terminals covering almost 1,000 acres, the Oakland International Airport, covering over 2,500 acres, 1,100 acres of commercial, industrial, recreational lands, 950 acres of underdeveloped land, and about 9,800 surface acres of water.
Contact:
Harold Jones
(510) 627-1564
hjones@portoakland.com |
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