June 11, 2025 | Northbrae Walking Tour & Lantern Unveiling

Friends and neighbors:

Mark your calendars for a pair of local history events planned for Saturday, Aug. 9.

In the morning, join Friends of the Fountain and Walk on a walking tour of the Northbrae neighborhood that is home to the Fountain at The Circle and adjacent Fountain Walk.

Learn about the history of the fountain and its whimsical grizzly bear cubs, Berkeley’s first public work of art; these landmarks’ role in an ill-fated plan to make Berkeley the capital of California; and about the neighbor-led effort to restore the fountain and walk in the 1990s. The walk will also take note of the area’s earlier history and other neighborhood landmarks, both natural and architectural.

In the afternoon, newly re-created bronze lanterns that will top the century-old stone pillars at the intersection of Hopkins and The Alameda will be unveiled.

The pillars and original lanterns, like the fountain and walk, were designed by esteemed architect John Galen Howard. Originally, the intersection had four pillars, one on each corner, each topped with a large lantern and circular concrete seats below for commuters waiting for the streetcars that ran there. Darrell Owens, founder of a group called Northbrae Improvement, conceived of the project to restore the lanterns, an effort FOFW supported. According to his research, the original lanterns atop the surviving pillars were removed sometime in the 1950s.

These are separate events that will have separate registrations; precise start times and other details to be announced soon. Check BerkeleyFountain.org for updates.