Devotees of vintage buildings on the Island are invited to more than a dozen activities reveling in the preservation of our architectural heritage. So many events are scheduled that the City Council is declaring April and May "Historic Preservation Season!" With more than 4000 historic structures, Alameda has a lot to show off. From those gingerbread Victorians, those delirious Queen Annes, those comfy Craftsman homes, and those sturdy Bungalows to the Art Deco of the Alameda Theater and the Art Moderne left by the Navy at Alameda Point, these rich and varied styles of architecture enrich and enliven our Island hometown.

Three organizations that thrive on history--the Historic Advisory Board, the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society (AAPS) and the Alameda Museum --have designed all manner of presentations, walks, lectures, and tours to help people understand, recognize, and enjoy evidence of our past.

Vintage buildings are tangible evidence of history readily available to us all. Local author Woody Minor describes Alameda as an open air museum. "Want to see history? Just walk outside and look around," he often says. You can join Woody on a walk that explores a nest of Queen Anne homes, those towered beauties of the 1890s, in a neighborhood called Leonardville because it was developed by Alameda entrepreneur and architect Joseph Leonard. He plans to drop by from the ethereal zone to help Woody lead the tour.

Another visitor from the ether will appear in April, when Queen Victoria inspects the artwork of hundreds of elementary students who are studying the history, homes and culture of Alameda during her reign, from 1837-1901. Local architect Richard Rutter is indulging his curiosity by developing "Secret Spaces and Private Places," a tour that journeys up (and down) into venues not usually open to the public. Cyclists can participate in a combination slide show of fancy windows by glass expert Ken Matthias, a BikeAlameda tour of historic neighborhoods, and a visit to the Meyers House Museum. Dynamic slide lectures by famous authors will include a new book, Alameda by Rail, the East Bay response to the 1906 earthquake, and some of FDR’s favorites, Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures in Alameda, such as the West End Library and the Park Street Bridge. Historic Preservation Season culminates with the 10th annual AAPS Historic Preservation Awards; dramatic before and after images of those and other acclaimed restoration projects will be on display at City Hall. To help educate Alameda residents about the history in their midst, the City of Alameda website will include stories about our official Monuments, such as City Hall, the Adelphian Club, the Old Post Office and other architectural treasures on the island.

Celebrate the legacy of historic preservation and restoration in Alameda! For additional information, pick up a flyer at the Planning and Building Department, ground floor, City Hall. Visit these websites: alameda-home-tour.org; alameda-museum.org; and alameda-preservation.org. Check the Alameda Sun, read the Park Street Business Association Newsletter, the Alameda Museum Quarterly, AAPS News, and the Chamber of Commerce insert in the Alameda Journal. Or leave a message at 748.0796 to receive a leaflet with dates and times.