Sutro's Crumbling Legacy

An auntie of our children gifted us a book when the kids were toddlers about "Lost Treasures" of Land’s End. The kids would pull it out every once in a while and use the interactive pieces to explore the history of this eroding architecture.

Find the book online here.

As the kids got older and their interests grew, our eldest became enamored with mythology so much that I began to research any Bay Area sites with Greek ties or other mythology as part of an upcoming birthday outing. This is where I stumbled upon a Broke Ass Stuart article about a Goddess Diana statue and Mt. Olympus, once considered the “geographical center of San Francisco”.

A wealthy resident of San Francisco from many moons ago, you’ll see the name "Sutro" reflected in many aspects of San Francisco’s landmarks from the Sutro Baths at Land’s End to Sutro Tower high atop Mount Sutro .

Adolph Sutro purchased massive plots of land in the developing San Francisco area in the late 1800s with his wealth. One area became part of the Haight-Ashbury area and was topped with a giant statue “Triumph of Light” which has been lost to time.

We drove early one morning in an attempt to avoid as many other travelers as possible along our complicated route from Sonoma, down the 101, and across the Golden Gate Bridge. We zoomed up and down the hills and began climbing ever higher in the Haight-Ashbury area. It’s pretty easy to spot with the colorfully adorned corner from the past that remains, stunning at this infamous intersection of 20th century SF History. Fitting, on our hunt for 19th century history.

At this tiny park, within sight of the Sutro Tower the next hill over, views of the city are dotted between the houses and trees all the way from the Financial District to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was such a treat for my little mythology enthusiast to experience the tiny mysterious places, albeit we had to park in a questionable space and only took a few moments to enjoy the view and snap a few photos on this crisp, early weekend morning before descending the winding, curling path onward to our other adventures of the day elsewhere in the city.

As reported in the Broke Ass Stuart article, only the base of the statue remains, bearing witness to the scant trappings of land clinging to the last breath of an era long past in this rich city’s colorful history.

Another area crumbling from the vastness of the Sutro empire is none other than Sutro Heights. Under the care of the Golden Gate Conservancy, these ruins tell the story of the change of tides, but also of the cold beauty of this area known for its dense morning fog and glorious sunsets.

It’s a fairly easy, yet steep, hike up the trail from the parking lot across from Land's End. What we did find on our foggy morning walk was the roar of the ocean, blooming flowers, and these regal lions. They are both replicas of the originals which greeted visitors upon entry at the 48th Ave and Point Lobos Ave.

The lilies growing all along the hillside blooming in the untouched jungle-like overgrowth of the Sutro Heights ruins are a haunting and beautiful touch upon this literal end of the road.

We came in search of a statue in the likeness of the Goddess Diana or a glimpse of the deer form of Acteon, yet they were long gone, vandalized beyond repair for the last time.

After walking the loop, up and around the remaining structure of The Parapet which overlooks all below.

This expansive garden was perched high above Ocean Beach and Land’s End.

When the fog lifts, expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and the shores below envelop your senses, making this a charming locale for your San Francisco ventures.

Read more about Sutro Heights' History here.

Once back to the parking lot from our Sutro Heights hike, we crossed the street to peer over the ruins of the Sutro Baths at Land’s End. You could glimpse the Camera Obscura down the street from the historic Cliff House.

I noticed the imprint of Point Lobos on the sidewalk and had to research this name a bit more. Per the NPS Golden Gate site, “The Spanish named Lands End's westernmost promontory "Point Lobos," for the many lobos marinos (sea wolves, a.k.a. sea lions) that once hauled up on the rocks offshore. Sutro actually supported creating Seal Rock as a sanctuary in 1887. According to the NPS after the Loma Preita Earthquake in 1989, the seals moved to Pier 39! Read more here

When we made a visit, it was an early morning in the winter, so fog was expected. It was present, but we had decent visibility during our hike. We weren’t able to get a decent view of the Pacific, but you could hear it. If you visit later in the afternoon, after the winds shift, you won’t be disappointed for either exploring the shipwrecks within view at Land’s End.

We continued onward to the Presidio on the same day to visit a playground, The Outpost at the Tunnel Tops and The Walt Disney Family Museum. On our trek, we were able to drive down the Great Highway to catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Park’s windmills visible from the street.