Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon was Jack London’s personal study and is constructed using wood from an old whaling vessel.
The floor of Heinold's Saloon is noticeably slanted, a result of the 1906 earthquake settling the foundation.
The square sits on land that was formerly part of the bustling 19th-century waterfront where the transcontinental railroad met deep-water shipping.
The USS Potomac, Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'Floating White House,' is periodically docked at the square as a museum ship.
The Jack London Cabin was moved here from the Klondike region of the Yukon, where the author spent time during the gold rush.
The area is an active transit node for the San Francisco Bay Ferry, which provides commuter service to San Francisco and Alameda.
Jack London Square is a historic waterfront district located on the Oakland Estuary, named after the author who frequented the area's maritime haunts. The site serves as a mixed-use hub featuring a high density of restaurants, bars, and retail spaces. It is home to the Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, a structure built from the remnants of an 1880s whaling ship. The area remains an active port location with ongoing maritime activity and ferry terminals. Visitors have access to public promenades along the water that offer views of the Port of Oakland's shipping cranes and the San Francisco skyline. The square frequently hosts community events and seasonal farmers markets on the waterfront. It serves as a docking point for the San Francisco Bay Ferry, connecting the mainland to various points across the bay. The architecture blends modernized commercial facilities with conserved historic maritime elements.
The waterfront boardwalk near the Jack London Cabin, looking back toward the skyline and the Port of Oakland cranes.
Walk the full length of the waterfront promenade for the best views of the industrial Port of Oakland cranes.
Check the ferry schedule in advance if you plan to travel by water to avoid long wait times.
Combine your meal with a stop at the historic saloon to see the original 19th-century interior fixtures.
Assuming the area is a swimming beach, as it is a working commercial harbor and port facility.
Casual dress is standard; typical social norms for a waterfront dining district apply.
