Historical Markers and War Memorials in San Leandro, California
Oakland is the county seat for Alameda County
San Leandro is in Alameda County
Alameda County(674) ► ADJACENT TO ALAMEDA COUNTY Contra Costa County(480) ► San Francisco City and County(722) ► San Joaquin County(142) ► San Mateo County(191) ► Santa Clara County(616) ► Stanislaus County(120) ►
Touch name on this list to highlight map location. Touch blue arrow, or on map, to go there.
Since the operation of Chabot reservoir in 1876, four different water companies have managed the lake. Their staff led colorful lives on this hill as they kept an eye on this valuable resource.
In 1904, William Dingee, then head of CCWC, . . . — — Map (db m71707) HM
Chabot Dam, originally called San Leandro Dam, was built by Anthony Chabot who started Contra Coast Water Company in 1868. When artesian wells and Temescal and Sausal Creeks failed to bring Oakland and surrounding cities enough water he decided . . . — — Map (db m71714) HM
Public outcry led Oakland councilman George Pardee, who later became Governor of California, to campaign Contra Costa Water Company for a clean reliable water system. The Hyatt filters were installed, along with pump houses and filtration basins, . . . — — Map (db m113822) HM
How do you climb the wall of a dam using fins? The dam blocked the natural migratory route of the steelhead trout, prohibiting them from swimming up San Leandro Creek to spawn in their natural habitat, what is now upper San Leandro Reservoir and . . . — — Map (db m71713) HM
“Aha!” exclaimed Anthony Chabot It was spring of 1866 when he saw the raging waters of San Leandro Creek collide with Grass Valley Creek. He studied the vast surrounding watershed and determined it could nourish a reservoir year-round. He had . . . — — Map (db m71712) HM
Underneath the lake lies evidence of the dam’s construction. The steps on this panel and the next one show how hands and hooves toiled to complete this engineering feat in 1892.
The rest of this marker consists of three illustrations . . . — — Map (db m71734) HM
Hydraulicing:
Hydraulics were used to widen and strengthen the dam. In this sketch drawn by John Muir in 1888, look for the metal-lined wooden flume into which workmen shoveled and sprayed earth from nearby hills that gravity would move . . . — — Map (db m71733) HM
The stone structure before you is a 157 foot vertical control shaft. It joins to Tunnel No. 1 to open and close the flow of water running through the tunnel pipes. Two known accidents took place at this site. Tunnel No. 1 collapsed on two Chinese . . . — — Map (db m71908) HM
In 1979 a renovation of Chabot dam unearthed a century-old Chinese encampment buried in the creek embankment below. California State University Hayward (now called California State University, East Bay) was contracted and students excavated over . . . — — Map (db m71711) HM
The giant drums in front of you were designed and built in 1888 as part of the filtration plant that processed water from Lake Chabot. Water was forced through these sand filters to remove impurities. Named after the engineer who designed them, . . . — — Map (db m71649) HM
In February 1874 a large Chinese work force entered this woodland setting to begin construction of San Leandro Reservoir. Later renamed Lake Chabot after its French-Canadian originator Anthony Chabot, the dam was built using techniques Chabot . . . — — Map (db m71648) HM
Many of the trees surrounding you have foreign roots, each with its own tale. In 1868 the Hayward Journal described Chabot’s plans to encircle the reservoir with “walnut, hickory nuts, butternuts, and other eastern and foreign nut trees.” These . . . — — Map (db m71650) HM
The Alameda County Historical Society dedicates this panel to:
Ah Bing – 41, Kim Yuen – 29, Toy Sing – 31, and Lock Sing – 33, who died outside this tunnel. This panel is also dedicated to the countless unnamed and unsung Chinese laborers . . . — — Map (db m71651) HM
This depot was built in 1898 by Southern Pacific. Standing just east of the tracks off Davis St., it served San Leandro until passenger service was stopped. Donated to the S.L. Historical Railway Society, it was moved here and restored – 1988. — — Map (db m209197) HM
Lt. Colonel Juan Bautista de Anza by decree of Carlos III of Spain led an expedition to this site – The mission being to colonize the San Francisco Bay Area.
In the center of the marker is a circular motif, designed by Doris Birkland . . . — — Map (db m26459) HM
This house was built by William Toler for his father-in-law Ygnacio Peralta. It may be the first brick house in Alameda County. Peralta and his brothers established the first Spanish/Mexican settlements in the northern East Bay on the land grant . . . — — Map (db m26471) HM
First brick house built in Alameda County. Constructed 1860 by W. R. Toler for Ignacio Peralta, early San Leandro Spanish settler, whose father, Don Luis Maria Peralta, received land grant from Spanish Governor Don Pablo Vicente de Sola, October 20, . . . — — Map (db m100550) HM
Governor Pablo de Solá, last Spanish Governor of California, awarded the San Antonio Grant to Don Luis Maria Peralta on August 13, 1820, in recognition of forty years of service. From this point northward the Grant embraced over 43,000 acres. Now . . . — — Map (db m100548) HM
Oysters were the mainstay of the California fishing industry at the turn of the century. Along this site (the original Mulford Canal) the San Leandro oyster beds flourished. In 1892 William Roberts field title to the beds south along San Lorenzo . . . — — Map (db m100559) HM
Three monuments honor the submarines and their crews lost during the Second World War:
U.S. Navy Submarines paid heavily for their success in World War II. A total of 374 officers and 3121 men are on board these 52 U.S. Submarines . . . — — Map (db m94812) WM
Three descendants of land grant recipient Luís Maria Peralta lived in this home. In 1926, Herminia Peralta Dargie (pictured above) remodeled the home in the style of a Spanish villa. Tiles depict the story of Don Quixote, and adobe bricks saved from . . . — — Map (db m26398) HM
The Alameda County Courthouse stood here between 1856 and 1868. In 1853 Alameda County was carved out of Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties. New Haven was its first county seat. The 1854 legislative session moved the county seat to more . . . — — Map (db m26418) HM
Site of the last home of José Joaquin Estudillo, grantee of Rancho San Leandro and his wife, Juana Martínez de Estudillo. It was built about 1850. The family founded San Leandro, built a hotel, and donated several lots, including the original site . . . — — Map (db m100549) HM
The Best Building is a significant example of commercial architecture in San Leandro and the only San Leandro Plaza building remaining from the early decades of the 20th century. As a manufacturer and inventor, Daniel Best had already contributed . . . — — Map (db m54740) HM
This home was built in the late 1870’s by Joseph Demont, a San Leandro pioneer who was active in industry and politics. Daniel Best bought the property in 1886. Best established Daniel Best Agricultural Works, which later became Caterpillar . . . — — Map (db m26380) HM
On August 21, 1909, the cornerstone (containing the lists of the Grand Officers and past Masters of Eden Lodge, documents relating to the new temple, copies of local newspapers, old coins and a Bible that had been carried by John Hamilton through . . . — — Map (db m54746) HM
The Masonic Temple Building was dedicated on April 15, 1910 and still serves as the home of Eden Lodge #113 of the Freemasons. The Eden Lodge was instituted in San Leandro in 1857, the first fraternal order established here. This three-story . . . — — Map (db m54747) HM
West side of marker:
San Leandro’s farmers expected a bumper crop of cherries in 1909. Why not celebrate and promote the city and one of its wonderful crops? The first cherry festival took place that spring. The Oakland . . . — — Map (db m26458) HM
West side of marker:
San Leandro’s first industries served the needs of farmers. In 1886, Daniel Best bought San Leandro Plow and formed Daniel Best Agriculture Works to manufacture tractors, combines, and harvesters. Best’s son . . . — — Map (db m26437) HM
Courthouse of Alameda County on this site early months of 1855. Moved here officially on March 10, 1856 by act of Legislature February 8, 1856. Site donated for county purposes by Jose Joaquin Estudillo. Courthouse move to Oakland 1873. — — Map (db m26411) HM
This building was originally the Sunday School Annex of the First Presbyterian Church of San Leandro. Built in 1867 and located on Clarke Street. The main church was moved to Ashland and later torn down. This annex was saved by the Historical . . . — — Map (db m26396) HM
