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| Landmark #107 | Alameda County | Visited: May 31, 2014 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A park containing the house and monument work of poet, Joaquin Miller! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Joaquin Miller, ‘”Poet of the Sierras,” resided on these acres, which he called “The Hights,” from 1886 to 1913. In this building, The Abbey, he wrote “Columbus” and other poems. He planted the surrounding trees and he personally built, on the eminence to the north, the funeral pyre and the monuments dedicated to Moses, General John C. Frémont, and Robert Browning. “The Hights” was purchased by the City of Oakland in 1919.
OTHER TIDBITS: Joaquin Miller was born Cincinnatus Hiner, but didn’t like that name as much as the one belonging to notorious outlaw, Joaquin Murietta! He came to California hunting for gold, with which he bought his home and purchased the Eugene City Democratic Register newspaper. Unfortunately, his first two poetry books were widely scorned, so he went to England, where miraculously, the life that seemed so common in California was exotic and exciting to the Brits! He was a smash success in Europe! When he returned to the States, he actually built the forest called “The Hights” to replace the native chaparral, which he found distasteful! Some of his titles you may recognize are Song of the Sierras, My Life Among the Modocs, Crossing the Plains, and The Yukon! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Joaquin Miller Park NW corner of Joaquin Miller Rd and Sanborn Dr Oakland, CA 94602 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~368mi (593km) — 6.2hrs |
| When should I go? | I’d recommend going between sunrise and sunset! |
