Berkeley Historical Plaque Project
Chronicling our City’s History

Welcome

The Berkeley Historical Plaque Project was established in 1997 with sponsorship from the City of Berkeley and its Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) and the Berkeley Historical Society (BHS).

“S.P. Train, Shattuck Ave.,” postcard (ca.1909), Sarah Wikander collection.

In 2002 the Project was honored by the California Preservation Foundation with its prestigious President’s Award. In that same year the Mayor and Berkeley’s City Council unanimously commended Project members for “their tireless efforts to make Berkeley’s history a vital part of our present community.”

Perhaps chance meetings with plaques have enhanced your experience of our unique city and heightened your knowledge of its history. This website augments these plaques with images and supplemental information. Since we are unable to mount plaques everywhere, we have added a section of e-Plaques—texts and images that exist solely on line.

Archway, San Pablo and University Ave. (ca.1930), BHS postcard — Archway, San Pablo and University Ave.
(ca.1930), BHS postcard

The size of our popular e-Plaque section has grown quickly. These colorful online texts document Berkeley through the eyes of its residents. E-Plaques explore the multi-layered nature of our city’s past. They document both popular, well-known aspects of Berkeley’s identity and less well-known cultural and historical ingredients. Hopefully they will inspire you to submit texts of your own.

You can now browse the site at home or use your smart phone to find nearby historical sites on our interactive map while wandering the city.

Transitions in 2023

We are pleased to announce that the Berkeley Historical Plaque Project is now a part of the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum. Thanks to the BHSM Board President, Ann Harlow, and Daniella Thompson for their assistance in the merger. We urge readers to visit berkhistory.org and support their fine work.

Memberships and other contributions will help fund our project’s efforts. Archives from the project’s first 25 years are now housed in the University of California’s Bancroft Library. The new email address for the project is plaques@berkhistory.org.

In October 2023 we were saddened to learn of the death of David Snippen, long-term Secretary and Treasurer of the Plaque Project. His declining health had been one of the reasons we thought it was time to turn over the project to the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum. We are pleased that BHSM (formerly known herein as BHS) has formed a Plaques Committee and is moving forward with projects that had been pending for some time.

Robert Kehlmann Founder, Berkeley Historical Plaque Project 2023