California, Alameda County, Berkeley
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City of Berkeley Landmark
designated 1985 The Farm Credit Administration built this structure to house federal agricultural banking and financial agencies, including one of the 12 Federal Land Banks that assisted Depression-era farmers. Features of the Moderne-style building include a gateway and an entrance court at the west elevation and distinctive zigzag stair towers. Inside and out, the structure reflects the era’s focus on creating public buildings that were useful, attractive, and affordable. The modest lobby is notable for its Art Deco detailing.
One of the two major entrances faced west in anticipation of the creation of a civic center park. In 1940 Berkeley voters passed a bond issue for development of the present park. In 1976 the building was purchased by the City of Berkeley to house municipal offices. Renamed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Building in 1983, it was seismically retrofitted in 1999. In keeping with architect Plachek’s original plans, a partial sixth floor was added.
(Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
City of Berkeley Landmarkdesignated 1985 The Farm Credit Administration built this structure to house federal agricultural banking and financial agencies, including one of the 12 Federal Land Banks that assisted Depression-era farmers. Features of the Moderne-style building include a gateway and an entrance court at the west elevation and distinctive zigzag stair towers. Inside and out, the structure reflects the era’s focus on creating public buildings that were useful, attractive, and affordable. The modest lobby is notable for its Art Deco detailing.
One of the two major entrances faced west in anticipation of the creation of a civic center park. In 1940 Berkeley voters passed a bond issue for development of the present park. In 1976 the building was purchased by the City of Berkeley to house municipal offices. Renamed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Building in 1983, it was seismically retrofitted in 1999. In keeping with architect Plachek’s original plans, a partial sixth floor was added.
(Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
City of Berkeley Landmark
City of Berkeley Landmark
Here stood one of a line of
Dedicated to the memory of
Memorial to 
The northern
America's most spectacular gusher blew in here on March 14, 1910. Initially 18,000 barrels per day, the flow later reached an uncontrolled peak of 100,000 barrels per day, completely destroying the derrick. This Union Oil Company well produced nine million barrels of oil in 18 months.
City of Berkeley Landmark
In Memoriam
Nearby stood Chestnut Hill, the home of Charles Lynch, Sr. He was the father of John Lynch, the founder of Lynchburg, and of Charles Lynch, Jr., a Revolutionary officer. Charles Lynch, Sr., died in 1753 and is believed to be buried at Chestnut Hill. The wooden house was later owned by Judge Edmond Winston and then by Henry Langhorne, during whose occupancy it burned. Members of the Lynch family were among the first Quaker settlers in the area.
The out break of the Revolutionary War in 1775 inflamed existing divisions within the Mohawk Valley's European communities and eventually affected individuals as well as tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy of the Six Nations. Forced to choose sides in the conflict, neighbors fought against neighbors and brothers against brothers. Men suspected of supporting the King were required to sign oaths of loyalty to Congress and the Revolutionary cause. Those who refused were harassed and sometimes badly beaten. Many fled with their families to Canada for safety.
