Oakland, CA

Fronting a natural estuary leading to San Francisco Bay, Jack London Square was the heart of Oakland’s port operations and remains part of a busy, working waterfront. The area is named after the famed writer whose youthful adventures as an oyster pirate and sailor inspired stories such as The Sea-Wolf. London often made notes for future books while sitting at the tables of the nearby Heinhold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, built in 1883 from the timbers of a whaling ship.

The present Amtrak station, a modern facility completed in 1994, sits at the eastern corner of the square. It was built after a 1989 earthquake damaged the old 16th Street Station (now called Central Station) designed by well-known Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt. Opened in 1912, it originally had served as the principal facility of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

When Spanish explorers arrived in the area in 1772, they encountered tribes of the Ohlone people. By the early 19th century, the Oakland and East Bay area were deeded to Luís María Peralta for his Rancho San Antonio. In those days, the area was forested with oak trees, thus its later name. Development continued after 1848, when the land was ceded to the United States from Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

In 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad (CP) constructed the Oakland Long Wharf at Oakland Point, the site of today's port. The Long Wharf served as both the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad and of the local CP commuter trains. At West Oakland, the railroad established one of its largest rail yards and servicing facilities, and it later operated under the successor Southern Pacific Railroad.

Transformed into an economic powerhouse during the early 20th century, Oakland boasted industries including metals, canneries, bakeries, automobiles, and shipbuilding. During World War II, the East Bay area welcomed many war-related industries. Among these, the Kaiser Shipyards in nearby Richmond were the genesis of today’s giant HMO, Kaiser Permanente, which still maintains its home office in Oakland.

Oakland remains an important transportation and shipping hub, and a quick glance at a map gives an idea of the railroads, highways, and shipping corridors that converge on the port. Residents and visitors enjoy a bevy of festivals that take place throughout the year. These run the gamut from ethnic celebrations centered on food, crafts, and dancing, to more specialized events focused on jazz, wine, and fine art. One of the most popular is the Oakland International Film Festival, which takes place in the spring.