Events › Gertrude Stein’s Oakland: when there was there and when it wasn’t or was it

Gertrude Stein grew up in Oakland and became a world-famous author while living in Paris. She may be best remembered locally as the person who said “there’s no there there” about her former hometown. That quote, taken out of context, has been used to insult Oakland for years. Generations of Oaklanders have tried to counter that Stein didn’t really mean it that way. So what did she really mean? What was Oakland like when Stein lived here, and what did she find when she returned for a visit after being away for 30 years? Come see this exhibit to put Stein's life in Oakland, and her famous quote, back into context.