the sutro baths

As many of you might know, San Francisco summers tend not to be the hottest.  For most of June and July, our little part of "sunny" California is cloaked in a thick syrup of fog.  I guess it's only fair after the majority of the nation had to suffer through horrid, never-ending winters while we paraded around joyfully soaking up 70-degree days, but still - you begin to crave a little sunshine come this time in the cloud cover.

So a few weekends ago when the fog finally did lift, Stefan and I decided to take a spur-of-the-moment adventure to check out some of San Francisco's history: the Sutro Baths ruins.

Adolph Sutro - a self-made millionaire who wished to provide a healthy, recreational, and inexpensive swimming facility to San Franciscans - opened the Sutro Baths as the world's largest indoor swimming pool establishment in March, 1896.  Sitting directly on the Pacific Ocean, the Baths filled a small beach inlet right below the Cliff House - another historic icon built by Sutro right around the same time.

Then:

from here

Now:

With seven seawater pools (from ice cold to steaming), a stage, trampolines, flying rings, slides, swings, toboggan slides, diving platforms, and seating for thousands to observe the going-ons, the Baths were a full-service attraction for all ages.

The Baths could accommodate 10,000 people at one time and had 20,000 bathing suits and 40,000 towels for rent!

from here

Unfortunately, after Sutro passed away, the Baths came under tough financial times.  His heirs struggled to keep them afloat through the Great Depression.  Eventually, the Baths got closed down in 1966 with plans in place to convert the site into a residential development.  

Not too long after, however, the Baths burned down in a rather suspicious fire.  Apparently the structure had a sizable insurance policy that was paid out post-fire leading many to speculate that there had been some foul play involved.  Plans to rebuild the site were abandoned, and in 1973, it was included in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and - lucky for us - opened to the public for exploration.

Then (with then Cliff House in background):

from here

Now (with current Cliff House in background):

We explored the grounds, including a spooky tunnel leading down to the water.

We did some hiking along the trails lining the ruins, taking time to soak up the sun and enjoy the strong sea breeze.

We even got a little peek at the backside of the Golden Gate, popping up from behind the rocky cliffs of the Pacific. 

All in all, definitely worth a visit the next time you're in San Francisco! 

xoxo

KK