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The new
Sutro Dining Room was designed after the Old Bath House
 The
ruins just west of the Cliff House are the remains of the grand
Sutro Baths. In 1881, Adolph Sutro bought most of the western
headlands of San Francisco foreseeing the growth of the city to
the western shore. Five years later, Sutro Baths opened to a
dazzled public at a cost of $250,000. Spread over three acres,
the artistic detail and engineering ingenuity were impressive.
SWIMMING.
A classic Greek portal opened to a massive glass
enclosure containing one fresh water tank, five salt water tanks
at various temperatures and a large salt water tank at ocean
temperature. Together the pools held 1,685,000 gallons of sea
water and could be filled or emptied in one hour by the high or
low tides. There were 20,000 bathing suits and 40,000 towels for
rent as well as slides, trapezes, springboards and a high dive
for up to 1,600 bathers. Balmy temperatures and abundant plants
enhanced "California’s Tropical Winter Garden".
ENTERTAINMENT.
For those who worked up an appetite while swimming, three
restaurants could accommodate 1,000 people at a seating. There
were natural history exhibits, galleries of sculptures,
paintings, tapestries and artifacts from Aztec, Mexican,
Egyptian, Syrian, Chinese and Japanese cultures. An
amphitheater, seating up to 3,700 people, provided a variety of
stage shows. Up to 25,000 people could easily visit the
facilities each day for a mere ten cents ( twenty five cents for
swimming). Sutro’s dream was realized as the San Francisco
populous streamed to the Baths on one of three five cent
railroads connecting to the city.
THE LAST YEARS.
For all the glamour and excitement, the success of Sutro Baths
was short lived. By 1937, Adolph Sutro’s grandson realized the
baths were no longer commercially successful so he converted
the large tank into an ice skating rink. Sutro Baths never
regained its popularity and the ice-skating revenue was not
enough to maintain the enormous building. In 1966, the site was
sold to land developers who began demolition so they could build
high rise apartments. A fire quickly finished the demolition
work and thus ended the 80 year history of Sutro Baths.
TODAY.
Today you can explore the remains of Sutro Baths and imagine
the elegance of life here at the turn of the century. The Baths
became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1980
and are still popular for the scenic and recreational values
recognized by Adolph Sutro over 100 years ago. |
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