In 1968 Russ Kingman, an area businessman with a passion for Jack London, headed an expedition to the Alaskan wilderness to authenticate a tiny cabin discovered in the woods on the north fork of Henderson Creek. The cabin was said to be the location where Jack London wintered in 1897-98 when he was prospecting during the Yukon gold rush. Kingman brought Sgt. Ralph Godfrey, handwriting expert from the Oakland Police Department's forgery detail, along to verify London's signature which was scratched out on the ceiling. Once the cabin was determined to be legitimate it was disassembled, packed out of the wilderness and the logs divided into two piles. Half went to Dawson City, Canada and half was purchased by the Port and came to Oakland. Two cabins were replicated from the original materials and now both cities have duplicate tributes to Jack London, world renowned author and adventurer. The Cabin was dedicated on July 1, 1970.
Donated by
The Port of Oakland
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