About
History of the Building
Construction began on the Terminal in 1929, and was completed in October of 1930. Initially, the Terminal was 504 feet long; an addition in 1951 added 500 feet, bringing the total length to 1004 feet. In 1935, further waterfront improvements were made using over 500 laborers supplied through the Public Works Administration (PWA) and Works Progress Administration (WPA), both of which were work relief programs during the Great Depression. More improvements followed during the 1930s, including the purchase of 20 acres of waterfront land adjacent to the Terminal (1936), a 506-foot wharf extension and other additional projects completed by the WPA (1937), and more improvements funded by the PWA in 1938, such as construction of roadways and installation of sewer lines. During World War II, the Terminal was used in the war effort for shipping and was controlled by the Pacific Naval Air Base Command. Since World War II, the Terminal area has undergone changes, but the Terminal itself continues to be used by the Transmeridian Cotton Warehouse.
The Terminal is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historic Resources. The Beaux-Arts style of the building represents an important phase in Oakland architecture and city planning. It retains an overall high level of integrity. The Oakland’s Landmark Preservation Advisory Board has assigned the Terminal a rating of “A” (highest importance), and the Terminal is therefore considered listed on Oakland’s Local Register of Historic Resources.