Cleveland Heights in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Cleveland Cascade
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 15, 2021
1. Cleveland Cascade Marker
There are identical versions of the marker at the bottom (Lakeshore Avenue) and top (Merritt Avenue) of the cascade. This is the upper marker, presented here because it is in better condition than the lower marker. Marker coordinates and lcation are given for the Lakeshore Avenue (lower) version because that is the one that most visitors are likely to encounter first.
History
The Cleveland Cascade - 'conceived and midwifed' in 1923 by prominent landscape architect Howard Gilkey, on the northeast shore of Lake Merritt - was a stunning water feature with a flavor of old Italy.
Cascade prior to excavation - filled and planted with rosemary bushes. Water flowed downhill over three tiers, from bowl to bowl to a pool at the bottom, where a recirculating pump returned the wate: to the top for its next gravity-powered transit. At night the cascading water was illuminated by colored lights arranged in the order of a rainbow.
Sometime probably in the 1940s the water feature fell into disrepair and was silenced. The bowls were smashed and removed. Decades later the concrete skeleton was buried and planted with rosemary bushes.
In May 2004, after discovering and being inspired by a photograph of the operational fountain circa 1923 (see right), neighbors working to beautify the park located the buried fountain and excavated it with shovels and picks over several weekends.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical month for this entry is May 2004.
Location. 37° 48.384′ N, 122° 14.994′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in Cleveland
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lakeside Park Duck Feeding Area (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lake Merritt (approx. 0.4 miles away); Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Francis Marion Borax Smith (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bowling Greens and Clubhouse (approx. half a mile away); Children's Memorial Statue (approx. half a mile away); Trestle Glen (approx. 0.7 miles away); USS Maine Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
Also see . . .
1. Cleveland Cascade (Oakland Wiki).
Excerpt: 'The Cleveland Cascade was an Italian-inspired cascading water feature, landscaped by Howard Gilkey in 1923, within Cleveland Cascade Park, just across Lakeshore Avenue from the north-eastern shore of Lake Merritt. Semi-circular bowls made for sheets of water stepping down the hillside, and at night, it was lit by colored lights.'(Submitted on November 15, 2021.)
2. History (Friends of the Cleveland Cascade). The Cascade's friends provide three pages of history for the cascade: origin, excavation, restoration. (Submitted on November 15, 2021.)
Additional keywords.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 15, 2021
2. Cleveland Cascade and Marker
The marker is visible here to the left of the bottom steps.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 15, 2021
3. Cleveland Cascade - looking up the cascade from the base
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 15, 2021
4. Cleveland Cascade - upper tier
There's 139 steps between the bottom and top. A little more than 60 to get to the top from here...
courtesy of Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division, 1925
5. Cleveland Cascade viewed from Lakeshore Boulevard in the Peralta Heights district...
This is the same photo as on the marker, albeit cropped to a lesser extent.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,021 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 15, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
