Editing Sutro Baths

{{short description|Abandoned saltwater swimming pool complex in San Francisco}}
{{use American English|date=June 2017}}
{{Coord|37|46|48|N|122|30|49|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[File:Sutro Baths in San Francisco.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|The baths {{circa|1896}}]]
[[File:Sutro Baths interior, circa 1896.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|Sutro Baths interior, {{circa|1896}}]]
[[File:Sutro Baths, no. 1 (1897).webm|thumb|upright=1.55|1897 film of the baths by [[Thomas Edison]]]]

The '''Sutro Baths''' was a large, privately owned public saltwater swimming pool complex in the [[Lands End, San Francisco|Lands End]] area of the Outer [[Richmond District, San Francisco|Richmond District]] on the [[West Side (San Francisco)|West Side]] of [[San Francisco]], [[California]].<ref name="nps" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|author=Staff|url=http://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/upload/sutro_history.pdf|title=The History and Significance of the Adolph Sutro Historic District|website=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=June 20, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817033457/https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/upload/sutro_history.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Built in 1894, the Sutro Baths was located north of [[Ocean Beach, San Francisco|Ocean Beach]], the [[Cliff House, San Francisco|Cliff House]], [[Seal Rocks (San Francisco, California)|Seal Rocks]], and west of [[Sutro Heights Park]].<ref name="nps" /> The structure burned down to its concrete foundation in June 1966; its ruins are located in the [[Golden Gate National Recreation Area]] and the [[Sutro District|Sutro Historic District]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Staff|url=http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/sutro-historic-district.html|title=Sutro Historic District|website=[[Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy]]|access-date=June 20, 2016|archive-date=June 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609191034/http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/sutro-historic-district.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
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 western side of San Francisco by wealthy entrepreneur and former mayor of [[San Francisco]] (1895–1897) [[Adolph Sutro]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web  |last=Staff  |title=Sutro Baths History  |publisher=[[National Park Service]]  |url=https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/sutro-baths.htm  |access-date=May 5, 2018  |archive-date=July 22, 2018  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722213552/https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/sutro-baths.htm  |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The structure was situated in a small beach inlet below the [[Cliff House, San Francisco|Cliff House]], 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]], operated by the [[National Park Service|United States National Park Service]]. The baths struggled for years, mostly due to the very high operating and maintenance costs. Eventually, the southernmost part of the baths was converted into an [[ice skating rink]], with a wall separating it from the dilapidated swimming pools,<ref>[http://www.cliffhouseproject.com/environs/sutrobaths/sutro_baths.htm "Sutro Baths" (Search for "Click above for a photographic tour of Sutro Baths", see slides 49, 50 and 51] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227060423/http://www.cliffhouseproject.com/environs/sutrobaths/sutro_baths.htm |date=2019-02-27 }}) ''Cliff House Project''</ref> until 1964 when the property was sold to developers for a planned high-rise apartment complex.

In addition to financial struggles, the Sutro Baths became the focus of a significant civil rights battle in 1897. John Harris sued Adolph Sutro after being denied entry to the baths because of his race. Harris won the case, making it a landmark victory against racial segregation in public facilities. This case set an important precedent for future civil rights actions, underscoring the growing demand for equal treatment and access to public spaces.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Harris Sues Adolph Sutro for Discrimination |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/john-harris-sues-adolph-sutro-discrimination.htm |website=National Park Service |access-date=November 6, 2024}}</ref>

A fire in 1966 destroyed the building while it was in the process of being demolished. All that remains of the site are concrete walls, blocked-off stairs and passageways, and a tunnel with a deep crevice in the middle. The cause of the fire was determined to be [[arson]]. Shortly afterwards, the developers left San Francisco and claimed insurance money.<ref>{{cite web|author=Glassburg, Max|title=The Dramatic History of San Francisco's Sutro Baths|url=http://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/california/articles/fire-and-water-the-history-of-san-francisco-s-sutro-baths/|website=The Culture Trip|date=September 30, 2016}}</ref><ref name="nps">{{cite web|author=Staff|title=Golden Gate: Sutro Baths History|url=https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/sutro-baths.htm|website=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=September 13, 2016|archive-date=September 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920211244/https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/sutro-baths.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Infrastructure and facilities ==
The following statistics are from a 1912 article written by J.&nbsp;E. Van Hoosear of [[Pacific Gas and Electric]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=Van Hoosear, J. E.|url=http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist2/baths.html|title='Pacific Service' Supplies the World's Largest Baths|newspaper=P.G.&E. Magazine|date=September 1912|access-date=2016-06-20|archive-date=2016-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701032753/http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist2/baths.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Materials used in the structure included {{convert|100000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}} of glass, 600 tons of iron, {{convert|3.5|e6board feet|lk=in}} of lumber, and {{convert|10000|yd3|abbr=off|sp=us}} of concrete.

During high tides, water would flow directly into the pools from the nearby ocean, recycling the two million US gallons (7,600&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>) 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&nbsp;L/s), recycling all the water in five hours.

Facilities included: 
* Six [[Seawater|saltwater]] pools and one freshwater pool. The baths were {{convert|499.5|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} long and {{convert|254.1|ft}} wide for a capacity of {{convert|1.805|e6usgal|m3}}. They were equipped with seven slides, 30 swinging rings, and one springboard. 
* A museum displaying an extensive collection of stuffed and mounted animals, historic artifacts, and artwork, much of which Sutro acquired from the [[Woodward's Gardens]] estate sale in 1894<ref>{{Cite news|author=Hartlaub, Peter|url=http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Woodward-s-Gardens-comes-to-life-in-book-3990569.php|title=Woodward's Gardens comes to life in book|date=October 30, 2012|newspaper=[[SFGate]]|access-date=2016-06-20|archive-date=2016-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025019/http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Woodward-s-Gardens-comes-to-life-in-book-3990569.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A 2700-seat [[amphitheater]], and club rooms with capacity for 1100
* 517 private dressing rooms
* An ice skating rink

The baths were once served by two rail lines. The [[Ferries and Cliff House Railroad]] ran along the cliffs of Lands End overlooking the [[Golden Gate]]. The route ran from the baths to a terminal at [[California Street (San Francisco)|California Street]] and Central Avenue, now Presidio Avenue.<ref>[http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/co-ferries-cliffhouse.html "The Ferries & Cliff House Railway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805144738/http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/co-ferries-cliffhouse.html |date=2017-08-05 }}  ''Cable Car Museum San Francisco''</ref><ref name="FCRR"/> The second line was the Sutro Railroad, which ran electric trolleys to [[Golden Gate Park]] and [[downtown San Francisco]]. Both lines were later taken over by the [[Market Street Railway (transit operator)|Market Street Railway]].<ref>[https://www.streetcar.org/tag/sutro-railroad/ "Sutro Railroad"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805102006/https://www.streetcar.org/tag/sutro-railroad/ |date=2017-08-05 }} ''Market Street Railway''</ref>

==In popular culture==
*Media stored by the [[Library of Congress]] as part of the "American Memory" collection and available for viewing online:
** ''Sutro Baths, no. 1'' and ''Sutro Baths, no. 2'', filmed in 1897 by [[Thomas A. Edison, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(edmp+1425))+@field(COLLID+edison))|title=Search results for Inventing Entertainment: The Early Motion Pictures and Sound Recordings of the Edison Companies, Edmp 1425|website=[[The Library of Congress]]|access-date=2016-06-20|archive-date=2007-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302183339/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem%2Fpapr%3A%40filreq%28%40field%28NUMBER+%40band%28edmp+1425%29%29+%40field%28COLLID+edison%29%29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(edmp+0005))+@field(COLLID+edison))|title=Search results for Inventing Entertainment: The Early Motion Pictures and Sound Recordings of the Edison Companies, Edmp 0005|website=[[The Library of Congress]]|access-date=2016-06-20|archive-date=2007-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302183130/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem%2Fpapr%3A%40filreq%28%40field%28NUMBER+%40band%28edmp+0005%29%29+%40field%28COLLID+edison%29%29|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Leander Sisters, ''[[The Yellow Kid]] dance''<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Leander Sisters, Yellow Kid dance |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/00694233/ |medium=Motion picture |website=[[The Library of Congress]] |publisher=[[Edison Manufacturing Company|Edison Manufacturing Co.]] |date=1897 |access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref>
** Panoramic view from a steam engine on the Ferries and Cliff House Railroad line route along the cliffs of Lands End, starting at the Sutro Baths depot, filmed in 1902 by Thomas A. Edison, Inc.<ref name="FCRR">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/collection/san-francisco-earthquake-and-fire-1897-to-1916/?q=lcmp003%2520m3a34536|title=Search results for Before and After the Great Earthquake and Fire: Early Films of San Francisco, 1897 to 1916|website=[[The Library of Congress]]|access-date=2016-06-20|archive-date=2016-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823021608/https://www.loc.gov/collection/san-francisco-earthquake-and-fire-1897-to-1916/?q=lcmp003%2520m3a34536|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Panoramic view from the beach below Cliff House at Sutro Baths, filmed in 1903 by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?papr:11:./temp/~ammem_3T87::|title=American Memory|website=[[The Library of Congress]]|access-date=2016-06-20|archive-date=2017-08-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805104342/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?papr%3A11%3A.%2Ftemp%2F~ammem_3T87%3A%3A|url-status=live}}</ref>
*The climax of the film ''[[The Lineup (film)|The Lineup]]'' was shot at the ice skating rink in 1958.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Lineup (1958)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051866/trivia|website=IMDB|access-date=30 December 2017|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924171715/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051866/trivia|url-status=live}}</ref>
*A scene from the film '' [[Harold and Maude]]'' was shot at the ruins of the Sutro Baths.
*Some parts of ''[[Earthquake Weather (novel)|Earthquake Weather]]'', the last piece of the ''Fault Lines Trilogy'' by [[Tim Powers]], are set in and near the Sutro Baths.
*Part of the 2019 fantasy novel ''Middlegame'' by [[Seanan McGuire]] is set in the Sutro Baths.
*Key scenes from the [[Cory Doctorow]] young adult novels ''Little Brother'' and ''Homeland'' are set in the ruins of the Sutro Baths.

== Ruins gallery ==
<gallery class="center" widths="375" heights="287">
File:Aerial view of Sutro Baths in San Francisco crop.jpg|Ruins, 2016
File:2017 Sutro Baths 1.jpg|Ruins, 2017
File:Lands End - Sutro Baths - March 2018 (4856).jpg|Ruins looking South with  [[Cliff House (San Francisco, California)|Cliff House]] in distance, [[Seal Rocks (San Francisco, California)|Seal Rocks]] to right, 2018
File:Sutro Baths, 2021.jpg|Sutro Baths, 2021
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[49-Mile Scenic Drive]]
* [[Lurline Baths]]
* [[Natatorium]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sutro Baths}}
* [http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm NPS−Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Visiting Lands End]
* [http://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/lands-end.htm NPS-GGNRA: Lands End History and Culture]
* [http://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-lands-end.htm NPS-GGNRA: Vestiges of Lands End] — ''digital guidebook''.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080216214359/http://www.nps.gov/goga/upload/sb-clho-2008.pdf NPS-GGNRA: Sutro Bath and Cliff House webpage]
* [http://www.cliffhouseproject.com/environs/sutrobaths/sutro_baths.htm Sutro Baths Photographs]

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{{San Francisco Attractions}}
{{Golden Gate National Recreation Area}}

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[[Category:Former buildings and structures in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Former public baths]]
[[Category:Golden Gate National Recreation Area]]
[[Category:Ruins in the United States]]
[[Category:Swimming venues in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in California]]
[[Category:Landmarks in San Francisco]]
[[Category:History of San Francisco]]
[[Category:Richmond District, San Francisco]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1886]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1966]]
[[Category:1886 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1966 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Public baths in the United States]]
[[Category:1966 in San Francisco]]