Interesting Facts

Originally built in 1926 and restored in 1959, the Berkeley Pier was the first pier to be funded by the Wildlife Conservation, and is one of the Bay area's most popular spots for angling.
Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, and Tom Hayden � names synonymous with the political unrest in Berkeley in the late 1960s � spearheaded the drive to turn a vacant lot into People's Park. Although the land was, and still is, owned by the University of California, thousands of people over the years have been injured in the fight to keep the site public open space. In 1969, park protests turned ugly when then-Governor Ronald Reagan called in the National Guard. The ensuing riots saw over a hundred people injured, and one person dead. Despite several subsequent attempts to turn the space into sports fields, student housing, and a parking lot, the land has always been returned to use as a public park. Today, the park's future is uncertain, but the tradition of free speech and peaceful protest continue.
Berkeley loves jazz. Virtually every night of the week it's possible to hear live jazz performed somewhere in town, whether it's a big concert hall or a small club, or even a public park. There's even a jazz school, one of only a handful across the US.
Perhaps the most liberal city in the US, Berkeley has a history of activism and open-mindedness that has influenced every facet of its development. The population is one of the most diverse in the country, meaning you'll find at least one restaurant and one grocer for every type of cuisine you can imagine.
Berkeley is one of the most environmentally aware cities in the country. Recycling is the name of the game, which explains the abundance of second hand stores. Whether its books, records, clothing, appliances, or furniture, there's at least one store in town that specializes in it.
The University of California Berkeley was founded in 1868, and today has over 33,000 students. Among the 1800 or so faculty members, there are seven Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, and 28 MacArthur Fellows.
Rock climbers love the Berkeley area, and one of the best places to try it out is Indian Rock Park. It's been a park since 1917, and is where the "father of modern rock climbing," Dick Leonard, first honed his skills. There are several other rock parks in the area � Contra Costa, Cragmont, Mortar Rock, and Grotto Rock to name just a few.
Berkeley is quite conscious of environmental issues, so it should come as no surprise that it's also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. There are bike paths and trails throughout town, and most public events offer free valet bike parking!
If your idea of a great vacation is browsing through endless antiques shops, Berkeley can certainly oblige. There's a large concentration of antique dealers on the south side of town around the intersection of Ashby and Adeline, near the BART station. If books are more your thing, Berkeley is ideal. There are over fifty bookstores in town, the majority of which are independently owned.
Aquatic Park has so many resident egrets that people often call it "Egret Park." Several different varieties call the park home, including snowy, green and great egrets. There are also a number of other avian residents, such as herons, pelicans, various ducks, and even the occasional parrot.