In the late 1870s, when the Palache and Garber families settled in Berkeley and built homes near the intersection of Claremont and Ashby, the surrounding area was largely farmland. But James Palache and John Garber were not farmers. They worked in San Francisco as businessman and lawyer, respectively.
When a streetcar line on Claremont connected the area to the Oakland Ferry and San Francisco in 1910, and the posh Claremont Hotel opened in 1915, the land became even more inviting to the well-to-do.
Our walk will tour some of the architecturally impressive homes built in the Claremont/Garber/Tanglewood/Belrose area. Houses by Coxhead, Gutterson, Maybeck and Morgan will be viewed from the outside (and in some cases the inside).
Roughly a half-mile, mostly flat.
Walking Tour Details
$10 for BHSM members, $12 for non-members. Reservations required—sign up by mail with this form or online here.
Tours start at 10:00 a.m. and generally end between 11:30 and 12:00. Sometimes they are slightly longer, so be aware if you park in a two-hour zone. Tours are limited to 30 paying participants unless noted otherwise. Pre-paid reservations are required and tickets are not refundable. Tours are conducted in rain, shine or fog.
Keep a record of your order. E-mail addresses and telephone numbers are very important for confirmations and last-minute changes. You will receive an e-mail or a phone call with each tour’s starting point 2-3 days before the tour.
For last-minute reservations, call 510-848-0181 between 1 and 4 pm on the Thursday or Friday before the tour to learn the meeting place and sign up if there is an opening.
If you have suggestions for future walking tours, please email info@berkhistory.org or leave a message at 510-848-0181.