Originally constructed in 1880 from the remnants of a whaling ship, this building was purchased and coverted into a saloon in 1883 by Johnny Heinhold. The name refers to the first and last place sailors could get a drink before hitting the open sea, and the pub was frequented by sailors and adventurers.

After Jack London returned from a fishing trip to Japan and gold-prospecting in the Klondike, the 17-year-old would study at the bar to complete his high school education. London told Heinhold of his desire to attend college to become a writer, and Heinhold lent him the money to attend the University of California at Berkeley.

Although London only finished one year at the university, London used many figures from his time at Heinhold's in his writings (including Captain Alex MacLean, who became Wolf Larsen in The Sea Wolf).

view full location details...

John Griffith "Jack" London (born John Griffith Chaney) was born at this location on January 12, 1876.

The American author who wrote the novels The Call of the Wild and White Fang, and the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life", spent the early years of his life at this location.

The home burned down in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake fire, and the plaque celebrating London was placed here in 1953.

view full location details...