Nestled on the Oakland Estuary along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay lies Jack London Square, a popular dining, entertainment and shopping district with deep roots in Oakland’s history. Named after the iconic American author Jack London, who spent his youth along Oakland’s bustling 19th century waterfront. Jack London Square offers visitors a taste of the city’s maritime past alongside modern amenities.
History of Jack London Square
The land on which Jack London Square sits has long played an integral role in Oakland’s growth and economic development. Back in the 1850s when Oakland was just becoming incorporated as a town, the estuary served as a major shipping thoroughfare critical for transporting people and goods to and from San Francisco via ferry boats. Wharves, landings and ferries dominated the waterfront landscape.
As Oakland entered the 1860s at the height of the California Gold Rush, the formerly sparse area along the estuary transformed into a hub of industrial activity. Warehouses, factories, railroad tracks and shipyards sprang up to support the rapid expansion of commerce and transportation. Writers like Jack London and Robert Louis Stevenson, who both lived in Oakland as children, got some of their first glimpses of adventure listening to sailor,s stories and watching steamships along the busy industrial Oakland waterfront.
By the early 20th century, the Oakland estuary had become the port for the growing city. In 1918, a young entrepreneur named Franklin Delano Roosevelt leased a sight at the foot of Broadway facing the estuary’s Brooklyn Basin to build an 11,000 square foot retail complex housing shops, restaurants, offices and amusements. This complex opened on December 31, 1918 as Freeman’s Ocean Beach Park, named after FDR’s financial backer, Charles H Freeman. For over 30 years, Freeman’s served as a popular dining and entertainment destination for Oaklanders.
As freight shipping declined across Oakland’s waterfront in the 1950s with the rise of highways. Trucking and air transport , talks began around redeveloping parts of the aging port land for public use. With Freeman’s lease set to expire on December 31, 1950, the City of Oakland took ownership of the property and in 1957 opened Jack London Square, named in honor of Oakland’s famous literary son.
Modern Development and Attractions
Since it’s dedication over 60 years ago, Jack London Square has expanded into a bustling, pedestrian-friendly district lined with shops, casual eateries, fine dining establishments, bars, a seasonal farmer’s market and outdoor gathering spaces. Many restaurants feature waterfront views of the estuary, with Oakland’s iconic Port cranes visible just across the water. Popular attractions include:
Yoshi’s Jazz Club
This intimate jazz venue hosts acclaimed artists throughout the year along with a sophisticated dining menu. Yoshi’s helped establish Oakland as a thriving hub for jazz along the west coast.
Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 1880s-era bar was built from an old whaling ship. It’s one of two buildings that remain from artist Jack London’s days frequenting Oakland’s waterfront. Patrons can visit the very barstool where London did some of his early writing.
Jack London Cabin
This reconstructed cabin offers visitors a glimpse into Jack London’s humble beginnings. The original cabin where London lived as a youth burned down, but the Jack London Square reconstruction allows you to walk inside and see where one of America’s most acclaimed writers developed his literary passion.
Jack London Square Farmer’s Market
Every Sunday from 9am to 2pm, local farmers and artisan food vendors sell a variety of fresh produce, baked goods and ready-to-eat fare at Oakland’s oldest farmers market. Enjoy live music and family activities while taking in views of the estuary.
Jack London Ranger Boat Tours
From May through October, boat tours depart for 90-minute cruises exploring Oakland Estuary. Learn more about the port’s history from knowledgeable guides detailing the shipping lanes and infrastructure that served as the lifeblood of Oakland’s growth since the Gold Rush era.
Ferry Service
Catch a ferry at Jack London Square for direct service to San Francisco Ferry Building, Alameda or AT&T Park for Giants baseball games.
Future Developments
Plans are underway for major expansion at Jack London Square to enhance community space and access to the waterfront. Expect new dining and entertainment venues, office spaces, a large rooftop park, enhanced marinas and the restoration of a historic railroad roundhouse building.
Things to do in Jack London Square in Oakland
- Visit Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon – This historic bar, constructed from an old whaling ship, is one of the few remaining buildings that Jack London frequented in his youth. Stop in for a drink and soak in the atmosphere that inspired some of London’s early writing endeavors.
- Tour the Jack London Cabin – Get a glimpse into London’s humble beginnings by walking through a replica of the cabin he lived in as a youth along the Oakland Estuary. Imaginative plaques inside the cabin detail what life was like for the iconic writer in the late 1800s Bay Area.
- Listen to live music at Yoshi’s Jazz Club – Catch a jazz show at this intimate club that books world renowned artists year-round. Yoshi’s helped cement Oakland’s reputation as an epicenter for west coast jazz. Enjoy music with some Japanese inspired dishes.
- Go sailing on the Jack London Ranger boat tour – Enjoy 90-minute cruise along Oakland’s waterfront and estuary as guides detail the port’s history since the Gold Rush era. This unique vantage point offers great views of port infrastructure and sites important to Jack London’s upbringing.
- Browse the Jack London Square Farmer’s Market – Every Sunday from 9am to 2pm, shop locally grown produce and artisanal eats while listening to live music and enjoying the views. It’s a fun family activity for the weekend.
- Watch the sunset over the water – Grab a blanket and unwind on the grassy knolls surrounding Jack London Square as the day winds down. Watch ferry boats glide through the estuary and the lights of downtown Oakland sparkle at dusk.
Jack London and his Impact on Oakland
Perhaps the most influential figure in putting Oakland’s waterfront on the map, Jack London remains the city’s most widely recognized historical identity. His fame as one of America’s preeminent writers brought worldwide attention his hometown by the bay.
The Early Years
London spent most of his childhood along Oakland’s bustling wharves working low wage jobs or participating in petty crime to get by. When not seeking adventure along the waterfront, London frequented Heinold’s Saloon where he listened to sailors share stories from around the world. The people and experiences that colored his youth provided rich inspirational fodder London tapped into throughout his writing career. His novels and tales transported readers into the gritty realities he witnessed along Oakland’s industrial waterfront.
Many of London’s acclaimed writings like The Sea Wolf and The Call of the Wild contain glimpses of settings modeled off of 19th century Oakland. The harsh conditions of the Klondike Gold Rush were not entirely foreign to London given some of the brutal economic realities he faced growing up in Oakland as an adolescent. London’s travels later in life never diminished his attachment to his city by the San Francisco Bay. Shortly before his death in 1916, he uttered his famous last words: “I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.” London’s adventurous spirit and lust for life blazed brightly like Oakland’s inner fire.
Lasting Contributions to Oakland’s Identity
By naming it’s redeveloped waterfront attraction after favorite writer. Oakland paid tribute to the adventuresome, independent spirit Jack London personified in his works. The name also cemented London’s legacy in drawing worldwide attention to the city he loved. Through both his writing and namesake locale, Jack London gave Oakland recognition on the world’s stage while shaping outsider’s perceptions of the city’s culture for over a century. Vestiges of Oakland’s industrial shipping heyday live on thanks to preserved sites like Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon within Jack London Square.
While many American cities sanitized their historic ports and wharves to erase the working-class grit of less prosperous eras. Oakland’s preservation of sites like Jack London Square retains authentic bridges to the city’s past as visitors enjoy modern amenities. By retaining links to Oakland’s history as a bustling industrial port, Jack London Square merges the city’s rebellious, creative spirit with it’s promising future. From the Gold Rush era until now, Jack London Square stands as Oakland’s crown jewel where trendy innovation melds fluidly with enduring identity.
FAQs
Jack London Square is located along the Oakland Estuary waterfront in downtown Oakland, California. It sits at the foot of Broadway, bordered by Water Street with easily accessible public parking areas.
Jack London Square has long been an important commercial hub along Oakland’s waterfront dating back to the Gold Rush era. The land originally housed warehouses, shipyards and wharves. In the 1950s, the city renovated the area and renamed it Jack London Square to honor Oakland’s famous writer Jack London in 1957.
Jack London (1876-1916) was a pioneering American author best known for adventure novels like White Fang and The Call of the Wild. He grew up along Oakland’s crowded Gold Rush-era waterfront and wharves working low wage jobs. The experiences and stories London absorbed in his youth provided inspiration for much of his literary works.
Yes, Jack London Square is conveniently accessible via public transportation including BART trains, Amtrak and ferries. The closest BART stop is 12th Street Oakland City Center on the corner of Broadway and 12th street, an easy 10 minute walk to the waterfront. Ferries also dock directly at Jack London Square.
