Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge
National Historic Landmark

Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge

Oakland, Alameda County, California
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
66000205

About this property

Lake Merritt is a lake located in a large tidal lagoon basin in the center of Oakland, California, just east of Downtown. It is named after Samuel Merritt, Oakland's mayor in 1867–1869, who had the lagoon dammed turning the varying tidal lagoon into a stable salt-water lake. It is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. Historically significant as the first official wildlife refuge in the United States, designated in 1870, the lake has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1963. The circumference of the lake is 3.4 miles (5.5 km), with an area of 155 acres (63 ha). The lake features grassy shores, several artificial islands intended as bird refuges, and an interpretive center called the Rotary Nature Center at Lakeside Park. There is a small fairy-tale themed amusement park called Children's Fairyland and The Gardens at Lake Merritt is also in the park. A popular walking and jogging path runs along the lake's perimeter.

Location

Oakland, Alameda County, California
37.80488, -122.25663

Categories

CONSERVATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Nearby Historic Sites

The Bellevue-Staten
Industrial
0.3 mi
Cameron-Stanford House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Main Post Office and Federal Building
Early Republic
0.6 mi
Oakland Hotel
Industrial
0.6 mi
Harrison and Fifteenth Sts. Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge listed on the National Register?

Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge?

Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge?

The period of significance for Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1867.

Can I research the history near Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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