We Almost Lost Our Hearts

~ In San Francisco ~
My daughter and I went on an extended drive
(not planned and a long, long way from our home)
Definitely not well navigated, but we laughed about it together ~
and that's what counts, right?
Now, this is longer than usual ~ so please prepare
for a history lesson, if time permits!

We drove on the Grand Highway, we passed the Cliff House,
unfortunately it does not look like this anymore...
I wanted to share some history, my Great-Grandmother used to
share with me, she so loved to talk about the old beauty and how it had changed to
something different throughout each generation.

It's funny, in that kind of way ~ today's her birthday, just noticed
while posting and looking at the date ~ Happy Birthday Ada Stewart!

I looked up this information on the Cliff House Historical site
I hope you enjoy.

If you click on the pictures below, it will take you to their site.

THE FIRST CLIFF HOUSE.

The first Cliff House was a modest structure built in 1863 by Masters Butler and Buckley. The guest register bore the names of three U.S. Presidents as well as prominent San Francisco families such as the Hearst's, Stanford's and Crocker's who would drive their carriages out to Ocean Beach for horse racing and recreation. In 1881, the Cliff House was sold to Adolph Sutro, a self made millionaire, philanthropist and later, mayor of San Francisco. Seven years later, Sutro built a railroad to bring the general public to this seaside attraction. On Christmas Day 1894, the Cliff House was destroyed by fire.

THE SECOND CLIFF HOUSE.
Sutro spent $50,000 in 1896 to rebuild the Cliff House in grandiose style. Fashioned after a French Chateau, the second Cliff House boasted 8 stories, spires and an observation tower two hundred feet above sea level. Though never a hotel, it served as an elegant site for dining, dancing and entertainment. On the third floor were a photo gallery, reception room, parlors and panoramic views from its large windows. The second floor held 20 private lunch rooms, a large art gallery and a gem exhibit. At ground level, there was a large dining room, parlor, bar, numerous private dining rooms and kitchens. This was the most resplendent and beloved of all the Cliff Houses but it was short lived. This exquisite building survived the 1906 earthquake only to succumb to a raging fire the following year.

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.

Okay - below, this is us on our way back ~ we finally managed to find
The Golden Gate Bridge - What a beautiful site, poking
out through the fog. She's a real beauty and my daughter has been
intrigued by the details of this bridge for quite a while.
It was really neat hearing when the bridge was built, certain plans
not used that were planned in the beginning. I was impressed
this all coming from my teenage daughter -
it was like being on a field trip for Moms.
An Exclusive Field Trip.

As you can see, the day we picked to get lost, was a rainy one.
But what a feeling driving along with this historical site.
Unfortunately, I only had my phone - I didn't bring
my camera since I didn't think we'd be sight-seeing.
My daughter took these lovely pictures as we
drove along - I think they turned out quite good.

Something to share a few years from now
with much laughter!

Now you know what we've been up to~
Trying to find our way back...


My home is not a place, it is people
-Lois McMaster Bujold

xoxo, Tracie