Tribune Tower (Oakland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tribune Tower |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 409 13th Street Oakland, California |
| Coordinates | 37°48′11″N 122°16′14″W / 37.8031°N 122.2705°W |
| Opening | 1906 |
| Owner | CallSocket |
| Height | |
| Roof | 305 ft (93 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 22 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | D. Franklin Oliver, Edward T. Foulkes |
|
Invalid designation
|
|
| Designated: | 1976 |
| Reference #: | 15 |
The Tribune Tower is a tall, 22-story building in downtown Oakland, California. It stands 305 feet (93 meters) high. The main part of the building was built in 1906. The famous tower part was added in 1923.
When it was finished, the Tribune Tower was the tallest building built in Oakland during the 1920s. Today, it is the 11th tallest building in the city. Its design was inspired by the St Mark's Campanile in Venice, Italy. You can see a similar style in The Campanile at the UC Berkeley campus.
The building officially opened on January 1, 1924. It became the home of the Oakland Tribune newspaper. The Tribune Tower is a well-known symbol for both the newspaper and the city of Oakland.
Contents
History of the Tribune Tower
The story of the Tribune Tower began with Joseph Knowland. He was a former U.S. congressman. In 1915, he bought the Oakland Tribune newspaper. At that time, the newspaper was located in an old hotel.
Building the Tower
Joseph Knowland wanted a much better home for his newspaper. He found a good spot at Thirteenth and Franklin streets. This place used to be a furniture store. Knowland bought the property and moved the Tribune there.
The six-story base of the Tribune Tower was designed by D. Franklin Oliver. It was finished in 1906. The well-known clock tower was added later in 1923. Edward T. Foulkes designed this part. He mixed French and Italian styles. The top of the tower has a green copper roof.
Newspaper Home and Radio Station
From 1924, the Tower was shown on the newspaper's masthead. This is the part of the newspaper that lists its name and details. The very top floor of the tower also housed a radio station called KLX. It operated there from the tower's opening until 1959.
The radio station was sold to help pay off debts. These debts came from a political campaign in 1958. Joseph Knowland's son, William Knowland, ran for governor of California. Joseph Knowland was a political guide for his son. He also guided other politicians like Earl Warren, who became a California governor.
Famous Events at the Tower
The Tribune Tower became famous in 1923. The magician Harry Houdini performed an amazing trick there. He escaped from a straitjacket while hanging upside down from the ninth floor! It only took him five seconds to get free.
The building was recognized as an important city landmark on May 4, 1976. Sometimes, a flag with the word "THERE" was flown from the building. This was a playful nod to a famous quote about Oakland.
Changes in Ownership
In 1979, a company called Gannett Company bought the newspaper and the Tower. Later, Gannett sold the Tribune to its editor, Robert C. Maynard, and his wife, Nancy Hicks Maynard, in 1983. This was a big moment because they were the first African Americans to own a major daily newspaper in the United States.
The Tower was damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. This forced the Tribune newspaper to move to new offices. The Tower was empty for a few years. In 1995, John Protopappas bought it. His company fixed up the Tower in the late 1990s.
The Tribune newspaper moved back into the building in 1999. In 2006, Protopappas sold the Tower. The Tribune newspaper moved out of the Tower permanently in 2007. It is now located in a different building.
Restoring the Clock and Roof
The clock parts were rebuilt in 1999. The clock faces were also fixed and repainted in late 2006. On December 22 of that year, the clock faces and the famous "TRIBUNE" letters were lit up again. The top of the Tribune Tower now shines brightly. It acts like a guiding light for people coming into downtown Oakland.
Unique Features of the Tower
The building was once planned to be a landing spot for Zeppelin airships. The airship was supposed to tie to the flagpole. A ladder would come down to the 20th-floor walkway. The 21st and 22nd floors have a water tank. This tank holds water for the fire system.
The roof of the building is covered in bronze. This metal turns green over time because of a natural process called oxidation. The roof also has an 86-foot flagpole and a civil defense siren.
Current Use of the Tower
Even though the Oakland Tribune newspaper moved out in 2007, the building is still busy. It has offices inside. There is also a restaurant called the Tribune Tavern and a cafe called Modern Coffee on the ground floor. The main entrance of the Tower still shows the newspaper's famous logo.
The building was bought by Tom Henderson in 2011. Later, in 2017, Harvest Properties, Inc. bought the building. This company started big renovations to the building in 2017.
