San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
MUSEUM ASKS IF AUTHOR JACK LONDON THE ‘STEVE JOBS OF HIS DAY’?
Typically, renovating a small museum shouldn’t be that difficult: some newly restored artifacts in new glass cases, interactive displays, new signs and a fresh coat of paint. Piece of cake.
Unless what you’re trying to renovate is the perception of Jack London.
When the newly revamped House of Happy Walls Museum reopens Nov. 10 in Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County, a portion of the focus will have shifted from Jack London the author to Jack London the guy way ahead of his time. “Most everybody knows him by virtue of his contribution to literature. But he was also a real social activist,” says Tjiska Van Wyk, executive director of the Jack London Park Partners. “We want to tell stories through the exhibits that tell about his contemporary relevance. There are some people who compare him to the Steve Jobs of his day.”
While London did not build a computer in his garage, he managed to pile up other accomplishments that, according to Van Wyk, tend to be less recognized. Among them: London helped start the Pan Pacific Union, an association in Honolulu based on achieving peace through racial and cultural exchange (the idea came from a club devoted to surfing, of which London was an avid fan); he was among the first photojournalists documenting the plight of the poor in London; he called for boycotts of performances that used trained animals for entertainment (in 1925, protests by the Jack London Club made the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus remove its animal acts from the show for a few years); and as an author, London started exploring science fiction and the supernatural.
Oddly, what he’s best known for isn’t necessarily his biggest contribution to the era. Because London wrote the classic adventure novels “White Fang” and “Call of the Wild,” the public’s view in modern times is often narrow, says Charles Levine, a longtime volunteer and board member for the museum.
“They think of him as a writer of dog books. Most people didn’t dig much deeper than that,” Levine says. “I think it was just a lack of broad knowledge of all his writings.”
London’s most forwardthinking contributions, says Levine, were probably most relevant to current culture: “his farming and his focus on sustainability and renewability. Before Jack London, people worked their land until it was worn out, and then they moved on to farm somewhere else.”
The author traveled through China, Japan and Korea, studying traditional farming techniques that were clearly more sustainable, Levine says. “He saw from some of his travels that there were people who could farm their land for thousands of years successfully and it didn’t have to wear out.”
The 4,000-square-foot House of Happy Walls Museum, which is also the visitor center for the state park, was built by Charmian, London’s second wife, with the intention that it become a place to house exhibits about the author.
London’s writing will still be a large part of the displayed history when the House of Happy Walls reopens next month, says Van Wyk, but in the current social climate, a broader look at the author’s life is important. “We think that right now is a good time to encourage people to speak up, be true to themselves and do what is necessary for themselves to lead a fulfilling life.”
What would Jack London think if he strolled through today’s Jack London Square?
Says Levine: “I actually think he would be shocked to see half of his Alaska cabin.”
“I think he’d be happy to see the Last Chance Saloon existed just as it did when he was there,” says Van Wyk. “He did enjoy a cocktail.”
Spud Hilton is a San Francisco Chronicle travel editor. Email: shilton@sfchronicle.com Twitter and Instagram: @SpudHilton