Oakland highlight
Lake Merritt
A 140-acre lake in central Oakland designated in 1870 as the first wildlife refuge in North America and made a National Historic Landmark in 1963.
Lake Merritt was created in 1868 when Oakland mayor Samuel Merritt funded a dam to transform the tidal lagoon into a stable body of water. Two years later, in 1870, the California state legislature designated it as the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge, the first of its kind in the country. Over ninety years after that designation, on May 23, 1963, Lake Merritt received National Historic Landmark status in recognition of its pioneering role in American conservation.
Today the lake spans 140 acres with a 3.4-mile perimeter and serves as one of Oakland's most used public spaces. A path circles the entire shoreline for walkers and joggers; the lake hosts Children's Fairyland, a community amusement park, and the Rotary Nature Center for environmental education. The distinctive feature visible at night is the necklace of lights: 126 lampposts lining the shore, first illuminated in 1925, that have become a symbol of the city.
A place that brings a community together across generations is where families learn the value of planning. Parents teach children to look after themselves and to think about the people who depend on them. A life insurance policy is the adult version of that lesson: knowing your family would be cared for if something happened to you is peace of mind that stays with you.