{"product_id":"oakland-california-holiday-ornament-pole-gnome","title":"Oakland California Holiday Ornament - Pole Gnome","description":"\u003c!-- Oakland California Holiday Ornament - Pole Gnome\n     Oakland CA Crystal Ornament — Pole Gnome | oakland-california-holiday-ornament-pole-gnome | Version: R4.3SP | Fri Nov 6 2026\n     Keywords: 49 | Tags: 21 | existing copy retained; canon order (hook, sell, stories, specs last), QUICK FACTS and mc-meta added\n     Content audit: PASS \n     Buttons: four-slot standard written in position, Fri Nov 6 2026 (top: home collection + sibling\/next ring; bottom: next ring + Shop All where a slot is free); theme splitter not used --\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:14px;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/collections\/oakland-ca-retro-apparel-hats-home-goods\" style=\"display:block; width:100%; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-weight:600; padding:12px 16px; border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:0; background:#B3B3B3; color:#0B0B0B;\"\u003eMore Oakland CA Items\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/collections\/crystal-glass-town-ornaments\" style=\"display:block; width:100%; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-weight:600; padding:12px 16px; border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:0; background:#B3B3B3; color:#0B0B0B;\"\u003eSee All Town \u0026amp; Animal Ornaments\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"hook\" style=\"scroll-margin-top:120px\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA garden gnome in a red cap at the base of a utility pole, holding an acorn almost as big as his head. Oakland's smallest public art, and its most numerous.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2012 someone began gluing tiny painted gnomes, each a few inches tall, to the base of utility poles around Lake Merritt. Within a year there were more than two thousand. The utility company announced it would remove them, the city objected loudly, and the company changed its mind. Nobody ever took credit. The gnomes are still there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe oak is Oakland's name and its emblem, and an acorn in a gnome's arms is the city's symbol in the hands of its joke.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA town that fought a utility for its gnomes is a town with its priorities straight. The red cap is the holiday touch and the one bit of color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Oakland gnomes on the poles around Lake Merritt are the city's best secret: two thousand garden gnome figures nobody claims. Garden gnome history is old, but this one belongs to Oakland. This gnome ornament is an Oakland Christmas ornament and Oakland souvenir, with the Oakland oak behind it, for anyone from the Bay Area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Oakland ornament ships ready to give. Hang it on the tree, in a window, off a lamp, or send one to the person who misses Oakland most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3-inch faceted crystal glass ornament, white-backed print, line-drawn in 1880s engraving style, your choice of white or gold gift box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mc-facts-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"quick-facts\" class=\"mc-travel-title\" style=\"scroll-margin-top:120px\"\u003eQUICK FACTS — OAKLAND CA CRYSTAL ORNAMENT — POLE GNOME\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003eTown: Oakland, California\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003eFounded: May 4, 1852\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003eKnown for: The Town; Lake Merritt, the first U.S. wildlife refuge (1870); western end of the Transcontinental Railroad (1869); the Paramount Theatre (1931)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003eArt: Pole Gnome, original Merlin Classics engraving\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003eBlank: 3-inch (76 mm) round clear crystal glass ornament, faceted gem-cut edge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003ePrint: white-backed for contrast; red ribbon hanger\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003ePackaging: white or gold gift box, chosen at checkout\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mc-fact\"\u003eMade to order in the USA\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:14px;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/collections\/california-items\" style=\"display:block; width:100%; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-weight:600; padding:12px 16px; border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:0; background:#B3B3B3; color:#0B0B0B;\"\u003eMore California Items\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/pages\/all-products\" style=\"display:block; width:100%; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; font-weight:600; padding:12px 16px; border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:0; background:#FFFFFF; color:#000000;\"\u003eShop All Towns \u0026amp; Items\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e.mc-facts-box{background:#f3f4f6;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:8px;padding:16px 20px;margin:0 auto 1.6em;max-width:620px;font-size:.92rem;line-height:1.55;color:#374151}.mc-facts-box h2{font-size:.95rem!important;letter-spacing:.06em;text-align:center!important;margin:0 0 .8em 0!important;color:#374151!important}.mc-fact{margin:0 0 .55em 0;position:relative;padding-left:1.25em}.mc-fact::before{content:\"\\203A\";position:absolute;left:.15em;top:-.05em;color:#1B2A4A;font-weight:700;font-size:1.05em}\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mc-meta\" style=\"display:none\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta name=\"keywords\" content=\"oakland, oakland california, oakland ca, oakland ornament, oakland ca ornament, oakland gift, oakland souvenir, oakland merch, oakland apparel, vintage oakland ornament, retro oakland ornament, christmas ornament, crystal ornament, glass christmas ornament, town ornament, city ornament, hometown ornament, heritage ornament, animal ornament, dog ornament, holiday ornament gift, christmas ornament gift box, garden gnome, oakland oak, garden gnome history, gnome ornament, california ornament, garden gnome ornament, oakland acorn, oakland history, bay area gifts, christmas in oakland, garden gnome christmas ornament, garden gnome gift, oakland christmas, oakland christmas ornament, oakland christmas ornaments, oakland gifts, oakland gnome, oakland gnomes, oakland souvenirs, california, ca, holiday ornament, merlin classics, gift box, ornament, town series, vintage retro\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"oakland\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"oakland ca\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"california\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"ca\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"oakland gift\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"christmas ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"crystal ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"holiday ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"merlin classics\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"gift box\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"oakland ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"california ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"garden gnome\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"gnome ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"oakland california\"\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Oakland CA\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/collections\/oakland-ca-retro-apparel-hats-home-goods\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"name\": \"Oakland California Holiday Ornament - Pole Gnome\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/products\/oakland-california-holiday-ornament-pole-gnome\"}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How big is the ornament?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"3 inches (76 mm) across, faceted crystal glass with a red ribbon hanger, in a white or gold gift box.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is Oakland, California known for?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Being The Town, named for its oak groves, home of Lake Merritt, the first wildlife refuge in the United States, and the western end of the Transcontinental Railroad.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Who made the Oakland gnomes?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Starting in 2012, thousands of tiny painted gnomes appeared glued to utility poles around Lake Merritt in Oakland. The artist has never been publicly identified, and the city fought to keep them.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is this a good Oakland souvenir or Christmas gift?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. It is a Oakland Christmas ornament built on one true local story, made for people from Oakland and people who love it. It ships ready to give in a white or gold gift box.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Merlin Classics","offers":[{"title":"One size \/ Circle + White Gift Packaging","offer_id":50684770844889,"sku":"20435763675778386263","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"One size \/ Circle + Gold Gift Packaging","offer_id":50684770877657,"sku":"49704423259275877059","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0768\/9374\/9465\/files\/16021478796392791601_2048.jpg?v=1791921646","url":"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/products\/oakland-california-holiday-ornament-pole-gnome","provider":"Merlin Classics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}