Tourist Activities Near Jack London Square
People enjoy making fun of tourists, with their sandals and socks and brightly colored shirts. There are many perks to being a tourist, though: 1) You’re on vacation, and 2) You have an excuse to learn the interesting history of the area you’re visiting, something many residents don’t ever take the time to do. For those lucky tourists visiting the Oakland area, check out these ways to learn more about Jack London Square.
Jack London History Walk
When taking a leisurely walk around the square, you may notice something strange in the sidewalk: wolf tracks! The tracks are there to denote interesting places and historical facts relating to Jack London, the history of Oakland, and the area in general. Take a walking tour, and you’ll learn about them all. The tour begins at London’s old haunt, Heinold’s Saloon, and end up at FDR’s U.S.S. Potomac. Telephone 510-645-9292 to reach the Jack London Square Association, and find out the times and dates of the tours.
Farmer’s Market
Interested in seeing Oakland residents in action? Stop by the farmer’s market, held every Sunday in the square. You can find everything from locally made honey to artisan ice cream to fresh veggies in its many booths. The Pacifica Coast Famer’s Market Association puts on this affair, which lasts from 9am-2pm, rain or shine.
Floating Lighthouse Tours
Sure, you’ve heard of lighthouses, but … lightships? Yep, these floating navigational aids were an important part of America’s waters for over 100 years, from 1829-1983. 174 of these lightships manned the Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts. You can see one of these restored vessels, named the RELIEF, docked at Jack London Square, right next to the U.S.S. Potomac. The ship is open on weekends, 11-4, but call ahead to ensure that it’s open (510-272-0544).
Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon
Take a step back in history by visiting Heinold’s Saloon. The wooden bar looks pretty similar to the way it did when it was constructed in 1883, out of the wooden beams of an old whaling ship. Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon got its long-winded name in the 1920s, when nearby Alameda was a dry city—people traveling by ferry from Oakland to Alameda had their first and last shot at a cold beer at this port-side bar.
Later on, Jack London would study at the bar’s tables and write notes that would lead to his famous novels. Besides London, President William Howard Taft and writers Robert Louis Stevenson and Ambrose Pierce sought refreshments at Heinold’s. So, why not take a breather while touring the square and stop in, have a brewsky, and make your own historic mark? The bar is located at 48 Webster St.
Sources:
History. (2011) Heinold’sFirstAndLastChance.com
Play/Enjoy. (2011) JackLondonSquare.com
