San Francisco’s Cliff House: See the famed – and doomed – building through the years

The Victorian-era Cliff House

This early version of San Francisco’s Cliff House was destroyed by fire in 1894

A later version of the first Cliff House, after some expansion

The Cliff House & Ocean Beach – 1899

The Cliff House – 1900

ALSO SEE: 19th century San Francisco skyline: From a brand-new city to busy metropolis

The Cliff House and a passing ship, as seen from Sutro Heights (colorized)

Opening of the Sutro Railway & Cliff House (1896)

The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, Calif.) February 2, 1896

The new Cliff House opened: The new road to the cliff

Formal opening of the Sutro Electric Street Railway yesterday

Celebrated the event — Waving flags by day and big bonfires by night at Richmond

Handsome appointments and furnishings of the big palace that overlooks the sea

The national colors waved over Sutro Heights and the Richmond district yesterday to celebrate the opening of the Sutro Railroad and the dedication of the new Cliff House.

The opening of the new road was an epoch in the history of San Francisco. It punctuated the time when the domination of the Market-street Railway Company ceased and the rights of the people began.

The fare to the Cliff House, at the extreme western side of San Francisco, was originally 10 cents. Mayor Sutro sought to have it reduced. He wanted all the people to enjoy the privilege of traveling from the ferries to the heights for a nickel. The street railroad company objected, and then began the fight, which was continued with ceaseless energy down to this time.

At the outset, Mr Sutro charged an entrance fee to the grounds of the cliff. This act naturally injured the traffic of the railroad. The result was that a little more than a year ago the street railroad combined to reduce the fare to the cliff to 5 cents. But this was after the Mayor had decided to build a street railroad independent of what he calls the “octopus.”

This road was formally opened to the public yesterday. And there was great rejoicing along the line. The property owners and inhabitants were jubilant over the dawn of a new era. Flags waved from house tops and bunting floated to the breeze. It was indeed a gala day; a day of rejoicing, a day of deliverance.

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The new road is well-equipped. It is an electric line and excellent time is made. There was a great contrast yesterday, exemplifying the feeling of the people between the crowded cars on this road and the empty vehicles of the octopus.

Mr Sutro seemed very much pleased over the opening of the road to which he has given much time and invested a large sum of money. The people along the route lighted bonfires at night as an evidence of the pleasure within them.

There were great crowds at the opening of the new Cliff House yesterday. It is a magnificent building, handsomely proportioned and richly furnished. The reception-rooms, parlors, billiard-rooms and dining-room and observatories all overlook the sea.

There was a band concert throughout the day, given by Cassasa’s band. A banquet was tendered the guests in the large banquet hall at the new Cliff House. Members of the Board of Supervisors, City officials, men of affairs and other prominent citizens were in attendance.

The table extended the whole length of the long room, and the menu included everything worth eating. It was a feast for the gods. In addition to the soup, fish and fowl there were long sentences of white whine, and extended paragraphs of red liquor.

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Mr Sutro sat at the head of the table. He looked as contented as Caesar after he had carted his own and other people’s fortunes across the turbulent sea. The fact is the Mayor is at home at a luncheon. Having dined with several of the crowned heads and a few of the Presidents, Senators and generals of the United States, he is entirely on speaking terms with the polite requirements and duties of a host.

Of course the Mayor made a speech. He said many nice things about struggling humanity, and excoriated the few individuals who are striving to control the destiny of the great people of California. The Mayor was sarcastic, severe and vicious. He denounced the “octopus” and cried long live the people.

“The building of this little one-horse road,” said the Mayor, “is of little importance, yet it involves a principle. The octopus has long dominated this country, and as great things sometimes grow from small circumstances there is no knowing what may be the end.”

Tourists at Ocean Beach (1897)

Old Cliff House and Seal Rocks from Sutro Heights (c1900)

Sailors at the beach by SF Cliff House (1901)

On the beach by SF Cliff House (c1901)

Tourists at Ocean Beach by San Francisco Cliff House (c1903)

The Victorian Cliff House burning (1907)

The third Cliff House (1930s-1940s)

DON’T MISS THIS: San Francisco’s Victorian marvel: The huge swimming pools at Sutro Baths