INCLINE PRESS
2 Townsend St., 2-213
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 284-0127






Homepage





SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOS






San Francisco's OTHER BRIDGES









Market Street's MOVIE ROW









The Hotel Whitcomb









Crystal Palace Market









Sutro Baths









The Emporium (Downtown)









Movie Theaters #1 >> #2









Movie Theaters #3 > #4 > #5









Mystery Theaters









Mystery Photos #1 >> #2





BOOKS






ABOUT OUR BOOKS









FROM "THE TOP OF THE HILL"









CALIFORNIA DRAWBRIDGES









ARCH RIVALS









CABLE CARS









RAILWAY ADVENTURES









RAILWAYS REVISITED









Drawbridges newspaper articles









Arch Rivals newspaper articles









Cable Cars newspaper articles









Railway Adventures newspaper articles









Railways Revisited Newspaper Articles















NON-SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOS






WELCOME ARCHES Northern California









WELCOME ARCHES Central California









The Alameda Connection #1









South Bay Drawbridges









North Bay Drawbridges





OTHER STUFF






Other interesting sites









  INCLINE PRESS: Sutro Baths







 
The Original Sutro Baths c1900.

During the years between the time it opened in 1898, and when it closed in 1966, Sutro Baths was a very special place to many thousands of people - including myself.
With its several swimming tanks which ranged in temperature from the "soup" tank to the "ice" tank, it was never a boring place.
There was also a very large pool for serious swimmers and a diving pool for serious divers.
In addition to the swimming, there was a great museum and many beautiful tropical plants inside the huge buildings.
In 1938, the large pool was converted to an ice skating rink leaving only five of the smaller tanks for swimming. It remained that way until 1957, when swimming was eliminated altogether.
The skating rink was popular place for several more years, but by 1966, the condition of the buildings was so bad and business so poor, the whole place was shut down. Sutro Baths closed forever on February 27, 1966.
In November of that same year, a fire destroyed almost all of the complex. What was left after the fire was demolished.



Sutro Baths in 1952.

This view from the hill across the street shows Sutros at about the time it was sold to Whitney Bros. 9-1-52. At the time, there was great concern that it might not sell and would be closed. Whitney Brothers owned Playland at the Beach, another favorite place for San Franciscans.



Sutro Baths promonade.

Sutros was reportedly the world's largest natatorium. Tropical plants thrived inside the buildings.



Small pools (tanks)


Swimming was the only activity at Sutro Baths from 1898 until 1937-38 when ice skating was added. When the "baths" closed in 1966, swimming had been absent from the scene for more than a decade.



Big and little pools.

This photo shows the big pool and to the right can be seen a glimpse of the smaller tanks, as they were called. In 1938, part or all of the big pool was covered over and made into an ice skating rink.



Ice Skating under the palms.

This c1938 photos looks down on the ice rink at Sutro Baths.



Sutro Baths from the west in 1966.

Taken in 1966 after the baths were closed, but before the fire, this photo serves as a good comparison to the final photo of this series and also to the fire scene.



Sutro Baths on Fire.

In November of 1966 fire destroyed Sutro Baths, putting an end to nearly seven decades of enjoyment for San Franciscans. Although the baths had been closed for nine months, the fire removed all hope that it would ever open again.



Site of the former Sutro Baths.

This very recent photo, taken from the rear of the Cliff House, is little changed from 1967 after the charred remains of the baths had been removed.


















mibgda-2day@sfchangehappens-books.com

Homepage  |  San Francisco's OTHER BRIDGES  |  Market Street's MOVIE ROW  |  The Hotel Whitcomb  |  Crystal Palace Market  |  Sutro Baths  |  The Emporium (Downtown)  |  Movie Theaters #1 >> #2  |  Movie Theaters #3 > #4 > #5  |  Mystery Theaters  |  Mystery Photos #1 >> #2  |  ABOUT OUR BOOKS  |  FROM "THE TOP OF THE HILL"  |  CALIFORNIA DRAWBRIDGES  |  ARCH RIVALS  |  CABLE CARS  |  RAILWAY ADVENTURES  |  RAILWAYS REVISITED  |  Drawbridges newspaper articles  |  Arch Rivals newspaper articles  |  Cable Cars newspaper articles  |  Railway Adventures newspaper articles  |  Railways Revisited Newspaper Articles  |   |  WELCOME ARCHES Northern California  |  WELCOME ARCHES Central California  |  The Alameda Connection #1  |  South Bay Drawbridges  |  North Bay Drawbridges  |  Other interesting sites