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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

Oakland is a major West Coast port city in California. It has a mild, Mediterranean-type climate with warm sunny summers and cool winters. The area was inhabited by Costanoan Indians in the 18th century when the Spanish invaded.

In the early-1970s, unemployment, poverty, and crime rates were high in Oakland. The city began to experience serious problems with gang-controlled dealing of heroin and cocaine when drug kingpin Felix Mitchell created the nation’s first large-scale operation. The murder rate rose to twice that of San Francisco or New York City. In the 1980s Oakland remained as one of America’s most crime-ridden cities Things began to change in the 1990s, much of the city center was rebuilt, and many run-down neighborhoods were gentrified.

Here below are some amazing vintage photos of Oakland by Dave Glass from the 1970s and 1980s that will take you back.

#1 Homes in West Oakland, 1974

Homes in West Oakland, 1974

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#2 West Oakland, 1975.

West Oakland, 1975.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#3 Island Auto Movie, Alameda, 1983.

Island Auto Movie, Alameda, 1983.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#4 The Remillard House, located in Preservation Park,Queen Anne victorian near 12th Street and Martin Luther King, Oakland, 1980s.

The Remillard House, located in Preservation Park,Queen Anne victorian near 12th Street and Martin Luther King, Oakland, 1980s.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#5 Eli’s Mile High Club, back entrance, Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, 1988.

Eli's Mile High Club, back entrance, Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, 1988.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#6 A bridge damaged by an earthquake at Highway 880, October 1989.

A bridge damaged by an earthquake at Highway 880, October 1989.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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  1. My then husband John was a manager for Amtrak at the time, he went down to the station and handed out emergency supplies, including blankets and water. What a terrible earthquake it was.

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#7 Cooking BBQ in the Coliseum parking before an Oakland Raiders football game, Oakland, 1980.

Cooking BBQ in the Coliseum parking before an Oakland Raiders football game, Oakland, 1980.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#8 Nasan Market, Adeline Street, Oakland

Nasan Market, Adeline Street, Oakland

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#9 Automobile graveyard beneath the Nimitz Freeway, near 34th St and Wood, Oakland, 1986.

Automobile graveyard beneath the Nimitz Freeway, near 34th St and Wood, Oakland, 1986.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#10 Looking down 3rd street, near the Oakland Produce Terminal, 1979.

Looking down 3rd street, near the Oakland Produce Terminal, 1979.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#11 1957 Buick at intersection of 15th Street and Peralta, Oakland, 1979.

1957 Buick at intersection of 15th Street and Peralta, Oakland, 1979.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#12 Tailgate banquet before Raiders, Oakland, 1980.

Tailgate banquet before Raiders, Oakland, 1980.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#13 American Bag Company3rd and Harrison, Oakland, 1976.

American Bag Company3rd and Harrison, Oakland, 1976.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#14 Oakland Fox TheatreTelegraph Avenue, Oakland, 1978.

Oakland Fox TheatreTelegraph Avenue, Oakland, 1978.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#15 Derelict victorian flats,1610 14th Street, Oakland, 1980s.

Derelict victorian flats,1610 14th Street, Oakland, 1980s.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#16 Sagging flats, 317-323 Castro Street, Oakland.

Sagging flats, 317-323 Castro Street, Oakland.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#17 West Oakland, row of houses before demolition, 1975.

West Oakland, row of houses before demolition, 1975.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#18 Economy shop Suey, Oakland, 1988.

Economy shop Suey, Oakland, 1988.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#19 Hansen Coffee Company, 327 Clay St. Oakland, 1985.

Hansen Coffee Company, 327 Clay St. Oakland, 1985.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#20 45th and Martin Luther King streets, Oakland, 1987.

45th and Martin Luther King streets, Oakland, 1987.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#21 Sidewalk sale, West Oakland, 1977.

Sidewalk sale, West Oakland, 1977.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#22 Cadillac in a debris box, 20th century salvage, West Oakland, 1975.

Cadillac in a debris box, 20th century salvage, West Oakland, 1975.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#23 1947 Dodge 4-door sedan13th and Center Street,West Oakland, 1981

1947 Dodge 4-door sedan13th and Center Street,West Oakland, 1981

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#24 Sutter HotelJefferson and 14th StreetDowntown Oakland.

Sutter HotelJefferson and 14th StreetDowntown Oakland.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#25 Lectric Washouse24-Hour laundromat, local institutionTelegraph and 59th Street, Oakland, 1987

Lectric Washouse24-Hour laundromat, local institutionTelegraph and 59th Street, Oakland, 1987

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#26 Hill Castle Apartments1431 Jackson Street, Oakland.

Hill Castle Apartments1431 Jackson Street, Oakland.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#27 Looking south-east down 2nd StreetNear the new Oakland Amtrak stationOakland, 1983.

Looking south-east down 2nd StreetNear the new Oakland Amtrak stationOakland, 1983.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#28 Tip’s Soul Food, 1445 Center Street in West Oakland, 1984.

Tip's Soul Food, 1445 Center Street in West Oakland, 1984.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#29 1961 Rambler American, Oakland, 1982.

1961 Rambler American, Oakland, 1982.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#30 Washington and 9th Street, Oakland.

Washington and 9th Street, Oakland.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#31 Abraham’s Market,Washington and 9th Street,Oakland.

Abraham's Market,Washington and 9th Street,Oakland.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#32 17th Street between Telegraph and San Pablo Ave. Oakland 1989

17th Street between Telegraph and San Pablo Ave. Oakland 1989

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#33 Demolition of the earthquake damaged section of Interstate-880 known as the Cypress Structure. 14th Street & Mandela Pkwy, Oakland, 1989.

Demolition of the earthquake damaged section of Interstate-880 known as the Cypress Structure. 14th Street & Mandela Pkwy, Oakland, 1989.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#34 Storage building near the Port of Oakland, 1985.

Storage building near the Port of Oakland, 1985.

This building has been converted into Phoenix Lofts 737 2nd, completed in 1999.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#35 Golden Gate Adult Books, 1905 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, 1982.

Golden Gate Adult Books, 1905 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, 1982.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#36 Vertical Parking, Oakland, 1980s.

Vertical Parking, Oakland, 1980s.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#37 West Oakland,15th and Peralta, Oakland California, 1989.

West Oakland,15th and Peralta, Oakland California, 1989.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#38 Ironworks district, Oakland, 1976.

Ironworks district, Oakland, 1976.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#39 Phoenix Iron Works, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

Phoenix Iron Works, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#40 Vinnell Steel, Oakland, 1976.

Vinnell Steel, Oakland, 1976.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#41 Wood Street, west Oakland, 1981.

Wood Street, west Oakland, 1981.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#42 10th and Wood Streets, West Oakland, 1987.

10th and Wood Streets, West Oakland, 1987.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#43 Adaline street, Oakland, 1987.

Adaline street, Oakland, 1987.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#44 West Oakland,Alameda County.

West Oakland,Alameda County.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#45 Vacant lot in West Oakland, 1984.

Vacant lot in West Oakland, 1984.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#46 Rail infrastructure and gas storage tanks, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

Rail infrastructure and gas storage tanks, near the Port of Oakland, 1976.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#47 1958 Cadillac interior, Oakland, 1984.

1958 Cadillac interior, Oakland, 1984.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#48 M.L.King Street, Oakland, 1975.

M.L.King Street, Oakland, 1975.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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#49 Peralta and 14th Street, Oakland, 1980s.

Peralta and 14th Street, Oakland, 1980s.

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Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Oakland Looked Like In The 1970s and 1980s

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  1. This photo is not from the 80s.
    Oscar Grant III was a 22-year-old African-American man who was killed in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2009 by BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, Cali

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Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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