Downtown Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Makkeweks

"Makkeweks" Ohlone/Rumsen for "Sea Monster"

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 21, 2020

1. Makkeweks Marker

Inscription.
Lake Merrit, once a tidal marsh system and estuary with an inlet to the Bay, was home to a variety of wildlife including leopard sharks and bat rays. Sightings of these creatures likely inspired the stories of sea monsters in the Lake. Such stories originated with the Ohlone and persist in our imagination today.

As Lake Merrit's habitat is enhanced and tidal exchange increases, marine wildlife will become more abundant. Makkeweks is an homage to the Lake's renewal and a harkening of the return of resident fauna. Inspired by the bat ray, leopard shark, pipefish and goby, Makkeweks is a sea monster perhaps as imagined by the Ohlone or by early European settlers, or by future generations upon glimpsing a mysterious fin or hump rising from the estuary.

Erected 2019.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Native Americans.

Location. 37° 48.47′ N, 122° 15.837′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in Downtown Oakland. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Harrison Street and Lakeside Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oakland CA 94612, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The War With Spain Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away);

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USS Maine Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Paramount Theatre (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bowling Greens and Clubhouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Children's Memorial Statue (approx. 0.3 miles away); Breonna Taylor (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Lathams (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lake Merritt (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted to a waist high monument in Snow Park directly in front of the Makkeweks sculpture, just steps away from Lake Merrit.

Also see . . . Measure DD at Work: Lakeside Green Streets Project Grand Opening (City of Oakland, June 2019). "The Bay Area artist team of Wowhaus (Scott Constable & Ene Osteraas-Constable) created a monumental bronze sculpture for the Measure DD-funded Lakeside Green Streets project, located adjacent to the new Snow Park Promenade at 20th & Harrison Streets. Sited in a sunken ‘rain garden’ that reclaims and treats storm water runoff, the 16’ long sculpture depicts a fantastical sea monster

Makkeweks Marker - wide view, with Makkeweks visible in the grass "pool" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 21, 2020

2. Makkeweks Marker - wide view, with Makkeweks visible in the grass "pool"

inspired by an Ohlone folktale. Sculpted by Scott Constable, Makkeweks combines elements of the leopard shark, bat ray and other species common to the Bay, in celebration of Lake Merritt’s restoration and the subsequent return of native animal life...." (Submitted on December 22, 2020.)

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 21, 2020

3. Makkeweks

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 220 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 22, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.