Northern California was home to nearly 300,000 indigenous people prior to the arrival of Russian and Spanish Europeans in the 1700s with the major tribe being the Ohlone, also known as the Costanoan. European arrival, the establishment of missions and the Gold Rush in 1849 caused the native population to dwindle from approximately 300,000 to less than 25,000 and become marginalized in northern California.
The Gold Rush ended in 1855 and 13-years later, on March 23, 1868, the first campus of the University of California was established at Berkeley. The campus was named in honor of George Berkeley an 18th-century Irish philosopher. The land was originally purchased in 1866 by the private College of CA. It merged with the state’s Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College and became the University of California. Situated bayside the institution is regarded as a top public university in the country based on academic excellence, impressive faculty and reputation as a liberal bastion of free and innovative thinking. It boasts 22 Nobel Laureate Professors and 30 Nobel winning alumni and has won a greater number of Nobel Prizes than any other public university. Nobel prize winning faculty members are given a designated parking space. www.berkeley.edu
The most expeditious way to learn about the university and aspects of the region is to take a guided, free campus tour. Tours are offered daily and reservations are recommended. They leave from the Koret Visitor Center where displays and interactive exhibits provide an orientation. There are seven sites that you must see on the campus tour. www.Visitberkeley.co
Berkeley’s Campanile is the institution’s iconic symbol and the 3rdhighest bell and clock tower worldwide. A 360-degree observation deck provides outstanding views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the surrounding area. Concerts are given daily.
The Neoclassical Doe Memorial Library connects two other campus libraries via tunnels. Inside the North and Morrison Reading Rooms are beautifully appointed student study spaces.
Free Speech Movement Café (FSM) honors Mario Savio and the Free Speech Movement through photographic displays on the walls and tables. Exterior bulletin boards showcase current copies of newspapers. The menu focuses on foods that aremade with sustainable, organic and local ingredients.
In 1901 The Hearst Museum of Anthropology was founded to study international cultures. The 3.8-million object permanent collection covers 2-million years and 6 continents. The collection includes 400,000 Native American artifacts inclusive of 12,000 Native American bones the ownership of which is currently steeped in controversy. www.Hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu
Valley Life Sciences Building’s 1st floor dinosaur exhibit, though small, is worth a visit. The focal point of the displays of fossils is a mounted Tyrannosaurus Rex.
People’s Park, the site of Bloody Thursday, is one of the most famous campus locations. On May 15, 1969 Governor Reagan ordered the highway patrol and city officers to clear the park because the students and community members there were “communist sympathizers, protesters, and sex deviants”. This action led to a riot in which 239 people were injured.
In 1964 the Free Speech Movement (FSM) was born here as an outgrowth of the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War protests. Berkeley students protested the imposition of an on-campus protest ban and demanded free speech and academic freedom. The main protest site was Sproul Plaza and Mark Savio was an acknowledged leader. Students were suspended and arrested in efforts to stop the protesters.
Berkeley was incorporated in 1878 after having been known as Ocean View. The city, like the university, was always innovative. The first lie detector machine was used there in 1923 and it was the site of the first bike patrol. There are specialized tours that provide background information. A Berkeley Historical Tour App. Is available at www.telegraphtour. The self-guided Berkeley Pathways Tour leads you through 137 charming footpaths and the downtown Berkeley Poetry Walk displays 3-tons of poems inscribed in 128 cast-iron, 55-pound, poetry panels. Curbside panels are 2-ft. square.
Check out what is playing at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, exactly the type of theatrical venue one would expect in Berkeley. The ensemble, Theater Lunatico, is dedicated to fostering unique opportunities for women. The nontraditional casting is both thought-provoking and an impetus for experiencing classics in a new way. info@theatrelunatico.org
The first gourmet coffee shop in the nation was Peet’s Coffee, still a city staple . Alfred Peet opened Peet’s in 1966 as his response to the poor quality of American coffee. www.peets.com
The Free House Restaurant’s main dining room was a site of Mario Savio’s meetings in the 60s. The restaurant is decorated with pictures from the FSM, dark woods and a central communal table conducive to conversation and debate. Creative pub fare is served both inside and outdoors. www.berkeleyfreehouse.com
Skates on the Bay is located in the Berkeley Marina. The service is impeccable and the menu consists of the freshest seafood possible. As you dine you are treated to unmatched views of the sunset, San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. www.skatesonthebay.com
Situated in the 52-acre Berkeley Marina and close to the university and downtown is the DoubleTree by Hilton Berkeley Marina. The 378 accommodations have all the deluxe amenities including Sweet Dreams by Doubletree bedding and the Fitness Center outfitted with Precor cardio equipment. Rooms have views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline. A complimentary shuttle is available to take guests to nearby locations. Special offerings, information and booking details are available online. www.doubletree3.hilton.com
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