Liberty Hall (Oakland, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Liberty Hall
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 Location in Oakland, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1483--1485 8th St., Oakland, California |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000199 |
| Added to NRHP | March 30, 1989 |
Liberty Hall is a special building in Oakland, California. It was a very important meeting place for African-American groups. This historic hall is located at 1483-1485 8th Street.
The building was first built in 1877. It started as a store with homes above it. Liberty Hall was designed in the beautiful Italianate style. This means it has fancy details like decorative edges and a special roof shape.
A Home for Important Groups
In 1925, an important group bought the building. This group was called the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The UNIA was a large organization for African Americans. It was started by a famous leader named Marcus Garvey.
The Oakland chapter of the UNIA was called Local 188. It was the biggest UNIA group in northern California. When they bought the building, they gave it a new name: Liberty Hall. All UNIA meeting places were called Liberty Hall.
The UNIA Story
The UNIA used Liberty Hall for many things. They held their meetings there and planned activities. They also celebrated special holidays, like Lincoln's Birthday and Garvey Day. It was a busy and important center for the community.
Sadly, a fire damaged the roof in 1931. After that, the UNIA's activities in Oakland slowed down. The organization sold the building in 1933.
The Peace Mission
After the UNIA left, another group moved into Liberty Hall. This was a religious movement called the International Peace Mission movement. It was led by an African-American preacher named Father Divine. He was from New York.
Father Divine was known for helping people during the Great Depression. He often hosted free meals at his home. His followers believed he was a very special spiritual leader. The International Peace Mission used Liberty Hall until the 1950s.
A Historic Landmark
Liberty Hall is a very important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1989. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history.
