A Message from CEO & President Richard Harker: The Restoration of the Oakland Gate
Oakland's main western gate is one of the Cemetery's most recognizable symbols. For over a hundred years, visitors have walked through the grand archway on their way to a service, to visit a loved one, to attend a walking tour or event, or simply to stroll Oakland's lush 48 acres.
How many of you have stood (precariously) in the intersection right outside the gate and posed for a photo?
Built in 1896, forty-six years after the Cemetery's founding in 1850, in the heyday of the Cemetery's infrastructure improvements at the turn of the twentieth century, "the gate"—as most of us know it—marks the beginning of something special: time spent in Oakland exploring, learning, enjoying, and discovering. Transported from the concerns of our daily lives to a place that soothes the soul and nourishes the body and mind.
Have you taken a look at the gate recently?
It's not quite looking as good as it used to. White stains all over the old red bricks might at first look like paint or discoloration are in fact the result of efflorescence: the crystalline deposit of salts left on the surface of porous building materials, like brick, after water evaporates. There is also a certain amount of environmental grime that needs to be cleaned from the brickwork, as well as fresh pointing, and new top caps added to the top of the gate to restore it to its former glory and protect it from future water intrusion.
It sounds like a lot, right? And it is. The majority of this work, in addition to being delicate and detailed, will have to happen on a lift, high off the ground. Preservation that's not for the faint of heart.
All of this means that preserving and restoring Oakland's beautiful gate is an expensive project, and we need your help. This Giving Tuesday, we're asking you to help us raise the funds to restore Oakland's main gate so that visitors will be able to enjoy it in its full glory for decades to come.
Now, the good news is that we've had some incredibly generous early support which means we have only $15,000 to raise. Every gift from $5, to $50, and $500 will push us towards being able to make this project happen as soon as possible and ensure that Oakland's main gate will stand proudly for another century and longer.
Thank you in advance for your support, so much of what we do at Oakland is possible because of the generosity and love and support of our friends, neighbors, and supporters. We are beyond grateful to be able to do this work for you to enjoy today and for future generations to enjoy long into the future.
With my gratitude and best wishes,
Richard Harker
President & CEO
Historic Oakland Foundation
