The Henry J. Kaiser building is an integral part of Oakland’s rich history. Since it first opened as the Oakland Auditorium in 1915, the building has housed countless performances and cultural events, from Winter pageants, to Grateful Dead concerts, to speeches by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The significance of these events is carried by the visitors who look back and tell their stories to future generations of Oakland creatives.

As The Henry J. Kaiser building reopens again as The Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, we know that this space is more than a venue – it’s a platform that connects people through space and time. Connect yourself to Oakland’s history through reading the Stories below.