Sutro Heights in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Sutro Home

From Modest Beginnings

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

1. The Sutro Home Marker

Inscription. Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Lands End

Adolph Sutro purchased a small cottage on this site in 1881, part of an initial purchase of 1.65 acres of land on Sutro Heights. He remodelled the cottage into his ornate, yet somewhat modest, residence by glassing in the porch and adding a rear terrace overlooking Ocean Beach. After Sutro’s death, the home fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished in 1939.

Images:
Above: View of the entry side of Sutro’s home with observation tower behind, 1894-1907
Left Top: People stand on rear terrace of Sutro’s Home with parapet behind, 1886.
Left Bottom: View across Sutro Heights showing the Conservatory and Sutro house behind, 1886

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 37° 46.648′ N, 122° 30.702′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Sutro Heights. It can be reached from El Camino Del Mar near 48th Avenue. The resin marker

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is mounted to a metal stand on the Sutro Heights Loop Trail, below the south side of the parapet. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 846 Point Lobos Avenue, San Francisco CA 94121, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Conservatory (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Carpet Beds (about 300 feet away); The Parapet (about 400 feet away); The New Cliff House (about 700 feet away); Schooner Parallel “Blown to Atoms” 1887 (about 800 feet away); Sutro Heights (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lands End (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Memory of Adolph Sutro (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . . National Park Service: Vestiges of Sutro Heights.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

2. The Sutro Home Marker

Parapet in the background.

"What would be known as the Sutro residence at Sutro Heights was built in the 1860s by James Butler, first owner of the Cliff House. It was expanded by Samuel Tetlow proprietor of the Bella Union Music Hall. Adolph Sutro purchased the house and grounds from Tetlow for $15,000."

(Submitted on November 18, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

View of the Cliff House and Pacific Ocean image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

3. View of the Cliff House and Pacific Ocean

View from the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

4. View from the Marker

Looking south along the Great Highway.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

5. View from the Marker

Dutch windmills in Golden Gate Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 799 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 18, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.