Heinhold's First and Last Chance Saloon, Oakland
Landmark: Oakland Landmark #3 ; NATIONAL LITERARY LANDMARK; NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Heinhold's First and Last Chance Saloon,
Jack London's Rendezvous in Oakland
Oakland, Calif.– Heinhold's First and
Last Chance Saloon along the waterfront
at Jack London Square is a shack. Some
even call it a dive bar. Built out of
the wood remnants of an old whaling
vessel in 1880, the humble establishment
has been in existence since 1883,
serving tourists, locals and prominent
guests such as Jack London who was
merely a young student doing his
homework at the same three tables still
used in the bar today!
Other prominent guests have included President William Howard Taft,
Robert Louis Stevenson, author
Earle Gardner, Erskine Caldwell, Ambrose
Bierce, and Rex Beach, Joaquin
Miller, Robert Service and Charles E.
Markham,
While newer boutique hotels, seafood
restaurants and high-rise complexes
surround this little building, much
credit goes to the city of Oakland and
those who have lovingly kept it
operating as a saloon to this day. To
miss this gem on a stay in downtown
Oakland is a shame. If you have a half
hour to spare, drop by for a beer and
sit amongst memorabilia while listening
to guests and the bartender chat about
the history of the First and Last Chance
Saloon. Sure, the floor sinks miserably.
Sure the wood hasn't seen a shine in a
very long time. But that's the charm of
this historic place. It's age and wear
are what make it the incredible
experience you'll cherish with new
friends.
If you seek seclusion, you may want to
find another place to go. Heinhold's
First and Last Chance Saloon is for
those who embrace Oakland's living past.