Tribune Tower, Oakland, CA, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Tribune Tower is a clock tower at 409 13th Street in downtown Oakland, California, built in 1923 on top of an older base as the home of the Oakland Tribune. For much of the twentieth century it was the newspaper's headquarters and one of the best-known landmarks on the city skyline. Today it is an easy and rewarding stop for anyone exploring downtown Oakland on foot.

The story behind it

The building's lower section dates to 1906. In 1923 architect Edward T. Foulkes added the clock tower that gives the building its look. The paper was run by publisher Joseph R. Knowland, and for decades the Tribune was written, edited and printed here. The tower became shorthand for Oakland's newspaper voice. The newspaper's radio station, KLX, also had its studios in the building.

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the tower, and the newspaper later moved out to Jack London Square. The building then sat empty for a time before it was restored and brought back into use. Its lighting has been refreshed, so the clock faces glow over downtown again after dark.

What to look for

• The clock tower rising above the older, lower base shows two building campaigns, with the 1923 crown added to a structure from 1906.
• The clock faces near the top are the building's signature feature and are easiest to appreciate from a few blocks away, where the whole tower fits in view.
• The Tribune name in lettering on the tower is a reminder of the newspaper that made this address famous.
• After dark, look up at the lit clocks, which stand out against the downtown skyline.

Tips for your visit

• Ten to fifteen minutes is enough to look at the exterior and take photos, longer if you are combining it with a walk around downtown.
• Dusk and early evening are the best times, when the lighting on the tower comes into its own.
• It is an office building rather than a visitor attraction, so plan to enjoy it from the street and check current access if you hope to see inside.
• Frank Ogawa Plaza and Oakland City Hall are a short walk away, so it fits easily into a wider stroll through the center of the city.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Oakland, CA brings you to Tribune Tower on foot as one stop on a longer route through downtown. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Ghost Hunt in Oakland, CA is a spooky way to see the tower and the streets around it. You walk from place to place, hear the story of each one and solve a puzzle on the spot, all at your own pace with no guide. One ticket covers the whole group.

Oakland, CA Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. suits anyone who likes a detective theme with their sightseeing. The tower is one stop on a self-guided route, where the app shares the background of each place and gives you a puzzle to solve right there. One ticket covers the whole group.