Location
4770 Lincoln Avenue
Oakland, California 94602-2535
United States
Contact
Telephone: (510) 531-3200
Facsimile: (510) 531-2646
Distribution Services: (510) 531-9767
Details
Announcement: 23 January 1961
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: 26 May 1962 by David O. McKay
Public Open House: 5–31 October 1964
Dedication: 17–19 November 1964 by David O. McKay
Site: 18.3 acres.
Exterior Finish: Reinforced concrete faced with Sierra white granite from Raymond, California.
Ordinance Rooms: Four ordinance rooms (stationary) and seven sealing.
Total Floor Area: 95,000 square feet.
Temple Locale:
Commanding a sweeping view of the San Francisco Bay Area, the 170-foot Oakland California Temple is a highly recognized East Bay landmark. The magnificent grounds are distinguished by a creek-style water feature running from fountain to fountain in front of the temple entrance—lined with colorful gardens and towering palm trees. On site is a public visitors' center, which includes numerous displays and an inspiring reproduction of Thorvaldsen's Christus statue. Also on the grounds is the East Bay Interstake Center—open to any who wish to attend Sunday services.
Temple Facts:
The Oakland California Temple was the second temple built in California, following the Los Angeles California Temple (1956).
The Oakland California Temple is one of only three temples with a central tower surrounded by four corner towers. (The others are the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple and the Provo City Center Temple.)
The Oakland California Temple was originally named the Oakland Temple.
The Oakland California Temple was originally built with two large ordinance rooms each seating 200 persons.
The exterior of the Oakland California Temple features two 35-foot sculpted panels depicting Jesus teaching in the Holy Land (north side) and Jesus appearing to the Nephites (south side), which can be seen up close from the terrace garden that surrounds the temple, occupying the main floor roof. Below the sculpture on the north side is an enchanting waterfall that drops into an inner courtyard.
In 1942, the site for the Oakland California Temple was purchased after 14 years of negotiations due to various obstacles that blocked its purchase.
President Heber J. Grant announced the purchase of the site for the Oakland California Temple in the April 1943 General Conference: "I am happy to tell you that we have purchased in the Oakland area another temple site. The negotiations have been finally concluded and the title has passed. The site is located on the lower foothills of East Oakland on a rounded hill overlooking San Francisco Bay. We shall in due course build there a splendid temple."
Construction of the Oakland California Temple was officially announced by President David O. McKay at a special meeting held at the Hilton Hotel near the San Francisco airport. Area stake presidents from Fresno on the south, Klamath on the north, and Reno on the east, were invited to the meeting. Overjoyed by the announcement, they pledged to raise $500,000 toward the construction of the temple. They succeeded in raising $635,000.
Over 347,000 visited the Oakland California Temple during its month-long open house. Even on the final Saturday, people stood in line for almost two hours in the rain waiting to get inside.
On October 30, 1990, the Oakland California Temple reopened after being closed for nearly two years for refurbishing and renovation.