Jack London Ranch


Jack London's office. Jack's desk is to the left, his assistant's to the right. Note the Dictaphone machine on a stand to the left of the assistant's desk and a typewriter on top. Jack's desk has a blotter and books.

Jack London Cottage at Beauty Ranch; Authors Road
The London ranch cottage. Jack, an insomniac, had a separate sleeping porch to the left of the front door. Charmian's sleeping porch, where Jack died, was to the right.


Jack's sleeping porch, where he fell into a coma before he died. He kept notes on a clothesline above the bed, and a martini shaker on the small table.

Charmian London's Office; Authors Road
Charmian's office. She typed Jack's manuscripts until it became too difficult for her. Jack felt that the typewriter took too much effort and used ink pencils.

Jack London writing outside; Authors Road
Jack writing outside at his Beauty Ranch, probably under the big oak tree at the side of the house (left).

Jack London's grave; Authors Road
Jack London's grave is located near the Greenlaw children's graves and marked with a stone from Wolf House as he requested. Just as on the day he was buried, the cloud-cover parted and shone a single ray of sun when we visited.

London's Writing Oak; Authors Road
Looking at one of the trees where Jack used to write.

Jack London's Wolf House ruin; Author's Road
The ruins of Wolf House, which burned down just as it was finished and before Jack and Charmian could move in.

Jack London Ranch Plaque from Native Sons of the Golden West
Jack London's ranch has long been a part of California history.

Jack London's "Wake Me Up" Sign; Authors Road
Because of Jack's erratic sleeping habits, he would leave this "Wake Me Up" sign on this door for his assistant. It is on the window frame in the photo at right.

Grave Little David Greenlaw, Jack London ranch; Authors Road
"Little David Died Nov. 25, 1876"
One of the graves of the two Greenlaw children enclosed in a picket fence at the top of a knoll.

Jack and Chamian London grave plaque; Authors Road

The Jack London State Historic Park with its dedicated staff and volunteers is a real treasure. One can really get a feel for the life and work of one of the most influential writers of the 20th Century by visiting here.

We are grateful to the volunteers who showed us around the ranch and spoke with us about Jack London. Our conversation with Lou Leal felt like he was telling us about a dear friend.

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Contact: info@authorsroad.com