The Cliff House is a San Francisco landmark restaurant perched on the headlands on the cliffs just north of Ocean Beach on the western side of San Francisco, California.
It has more history then most of San Francisco. The Pacific Ocean waters below it have wreeked havoc to the maritime world for centuries. Rumour has it more then 30 ships have
met their maker in the tricky waters. In fact the Cliff House
was first built in 1895 from timbers of a ship that wrecked on the cliffs below.
It overlooks the site of the former Sutro Baths and is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, operated by the National Park Service.
In 1896, Adolph Sutro built a new Cliff House, the same year he built the Sutro Baths below. The Sutro baths have always been a marvel of wonder as in "I wonder
why anyone would do that". The Sutro Baths included six of the largest indoor swimming pools north of the Restaurant that included a museum, skating rink and other pleasure grounds.
The Sutro Baths did last for about 70 years, and we in California are known for our hedonism and wanton love of water. (Hot Tubs).
Current Architecture Designed by: Robinson Mills and Williams
160 Pine St # 509
San Francisco, CA , 94111-5517
415-781-9800
FAX: 415-788-5216 www.rmw.com
Go back in time and take a ride on the Sutro Train through Land's End in San Francisco in 1902. Watch the area and tunnel that no longer exists due to land slides. This is one of the earliest films ever recorded of Land's End. It's priceless.
On March 14, 1896 the Sutro Baths were opened to the public as the world's largest indoor swimming pool establishment. The Baths were built on the sleepy western side of San Francisco by wealthy entrepreneur and former mayor of San Francisco (1894-1896), Adolph Sutro. The breathtakingly vast glass, iron, wood, and reinforced concrete structure was mostly hidden, and literally filled a small beach inlet below the Cliff House which was also owned by Adolph Sutro at the time. Both the Cliff House and the former Baths site are now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and operated by the United States National Park Service.
A visitor to the Baths not only had a choice of 7 different swimming pools—one fresh water and six salt water baths ranging in temperatures—but could visit a museum displaying Sutro's large and varied personal collection of artifacts from his travels, a concert hall, seating for 8,000, and, at one time, an ice skating rink. During high tides, water would flow directly into the pools from the nearby ocean, recycling the 2 million US gallons (7,600 m³) of water in about an hour. During low tides, a powerful turbine water pump, built inside a cave at sea level, could be switched on from a control room and could fill the tanks at a rate of 6,000 US gallons a minute (380 L/s), recycling all the water in five hours.
The baths struggled for years, mostly due to the very high operating and maintenance costs, and eventually closed. A fire destroyed the building in 1966 shortly after, while in the process of being demolished. All that remains of the site are a labyrinth of cement skeletal remains, blocked off stairs and passageways, and a dark tunnel with a deep crevice in the middle. The Sutro Bath ruins are open to the public, but a warning sign advises strict caution, as visitors have been swept off by large waves and drowned at the site.
Currently, visitors coming to the Sutro Baths from the above parking lot are presented with a sign that describes the history of Sutro Baths starting from its construction and glamorous opening to the public in 1896. Another sign describes the later years of the site's history up until its demolition and complete destruction by fire in 1966. As one walks up out of the ruins toward the historic Cliff House, home to two full service restaurants: "Sutro’s at the Cliff House" and "The Bistro", as well as the "Terrace Room", a private Dining/reception room, one can find other pictures, paintings, and relics from the golden age of Sutro Baths’ functional operation
SF Bay Waterfront Restaurants
Gaylords - Sausalito
201 Bridgeway
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 331-0172
Located on a historic landmark dock dating back to rum running days and Sally Strafford's Operation. Location for the filming in the black and white film
"China Girl" starring Robert Blake. Different vibe now with great sitar music and wonderful indian food.
gaylords.com
