Where the World Comes to Oakland
The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 made way for new trade routes that led to a shipping boom in the post-war world of the 1920s. By 1925, Oakland was ready to capitalize on growing international commerce. On November 10, the people of Oakland approved a $9,960,000 bond measure to fund major improvements to the city's harbor.
Five year's later, the city opened the 9th Avenue Terminal. For decades, it was used to load and unload break-bulk cargo - cargo that isn't transported in standardized containers - like lumber and steel. Though its relevance diminished after containerization took over the world of shipping in the 1960s, the remains of the 9th Avenue Terminal building have been preserved as an homage to the history of the site, as well as a gathering place for the people of Oakland.