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

United States Post Office

Oscar Wenderoth, Architect; 1914

— Listed on the National Register of Historic Places —

United State Post Office Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

1. United State Post Office Marker

Inscription. City of Berkeley Landmark
designated in 1980 Berkeley’s elegant Main Post Office is representative of the Second Renaissance Revival style, also called Neo-Classical Revival. Government buildings constructed in this era were designed to “educate and develop the public taste and eventually elevate it to a higher plane.” Classical motifs decorate the building’s exterior and interior. The exterior terra cotta arches that are supported by plain tuscan columns are repeated on the inner wall of the loggia and again in the wall between the lobby and the main workroom. The mural over the door of the original Postmaster’s office, which depicts figures from California’s Spanish and pioneer periods, was painted in 1936-1937 by Suzanne Scheuer for the Treasury Relief Art Project during the Depression.

Erected 1998 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1980.

Location. 37° 52.134′ N, 122° 16.205′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Downtown Berkeley. It is on Allston Way east of Milvia Street

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, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2000 Allston Way, Berkeley CA 94704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Berkeley Y.M.C.A. (within shouting distance of this marker); Elks Club Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Berkeley High School Alumni: Chinaka Hodge, Phil Lesh, Joshua Redman, The Lonely Island (within shouting distance of this marker); Armstrong College Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Federal Land Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Berkeley Public Library (about 500 feet away); Jos. H. McCourt / Bruno L. Putzker (about 600 feet away); Veterans Memorial Building (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.

United State Post Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

2. United State Post Office

The marker is on the post office wall above the rear end of the black automobile.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

3. United State Post Office

The marker is on the post office wall above the hood of the white car.

Interior Arches image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

4. Interior Arches

Exterior Terra Cotta Arches image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, July 25, 2023

5. Exterior Terra Cotta Arches

Mural Over the Door of the Original Postmaster’s Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, July 25, 2023

6. Mural Over the Door of the Original Postmaster’s Office

<i>Post Office Activities</i> - a sculptural relief by David Slivka, 1937 image. Click for full size.

April 1, 2012

7. Post Office Activities - a sculptural relief by David Slivka, 1937

Commissioned by the US Treasury Department, this WPA-era mural is found at the east end of the post office's loggia. Of note: 1) in one of the postal worker's hands is an envelope addressed to "All Mankind, Truth Abode on Freedom Road", 2) in the lower left of the relief is an envelope addressed to the sculptor, David Slivka, with a December 1937 date, 3) the bent-over figure about to lift a mail sack is the noted sculptor Ralph Stackpole, a former teacher of Slivka.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,162 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 9, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on September 28, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5, 6. submitted on July 26, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 7. submitted on April 15, 2012. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.