Podcasts about Sutro Baths

Remember Jake the Alligator Man? Turns out his bizarre backstory might be tangled up with one of San Francisco's most mysterious landmarks — The Cliff House. In this episode, we dig into the cursed history of this seaside icon: from explosive shipwrecks and devastating fires to ghostly apparitions, secret tunnels, and maybe even a mummy curse (?!).We'll explore how The Cliff House rose, burned, rose again (multiple times) and how the Land's End area had everything from seedy roadhouses to Victorian castles, extravagant bathhouses, amusement parks, taxidermied sea lions, forgotten cemeteries, and yes — Egyptian artifacts. We dive into the tale of Adolph Sutro, his cliffside empire, the ruins of Sutro Baths, and the eerie hauntings that still chill this foggy coastline.Is the area cursed by misplaced relics? Haunted by forgotten souls? Or just steeped in really bad luck? If you love lost history, ghost stories, and a healthy dose of weird… this one's for you.Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us at pnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link. There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

Send us a textGuess what kids?! Your favorite weird ass Hoosier girls are back in your ears. This week we hit up California for our stories. Krys leads off with the Sutro Baths. These were mainstays of San Francisco for years before shockingly taken out by a mysterious fire. Sutro had a tendency to accumulate relics from around the world, sounds like a great idea right? Oh,  can someone figure out what land this was built on? Cliff House was next up and that was another problem waiting to happen. And it did. Tori covers the Queen Mary that has been a popular Long Beach attraction at this point. This ship saw it's share of deaths and has ghost tours to this day. This luxury liner made 1001 trips before coming to port for the last time. The Grey Ghost had a more interesting past than expected. Krys rounds the episode off with the San Francisco City Hall. An earthquake managed to take that sucker out. Also proves that when you build on old cemetery, bad things may happen. Our Sources: thehauntghosttours.com, sfghosts.com, journiest.com, kqed.org, sfgate.com, amyscrypt.com, sfbaytimes.com, nancydbrown.com, nps.gov, paranormalghostsociety.org, queenmary.com, USghostadventures,com, travelandleisure.com, thehauntghosttours.com, californiahauntedhouses.com, brokeassstuart.com, thetowersatrincon.com, weddingphotographersanfranciscocityhall.comOur theme music:   Camille Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre - Busy Strings by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.Support our show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trendylobotomypodcast Find us at FB/Instagram @TrendyLobotomyPod as well as our blog trendylobotomypodcast.blogspot.com Support the show

Ask fans of GBH's Antiques Roadshow if they have a favorite appraiser and you'll hear many names, including one known for his big character, creative mustache styles and bold plaid suits. Nicholas Lowry is a poster expert and master auctioneer – two qualities that were integral to the story of a larger-than-life aquatic poster bathed in muted watery green depicting splashing swimmers and onlookers lining the balcony above, that made its way to the show during a 2004 stop in Portland. Join host Adam Monahan as he dives into the incredible story of Sutro Baths, San Francisco's 1890 engineering marvel, playground, and entertainment spot, and the poster that more than a century after its printing was offered at auction and saw a dramatic result!

In this spine-chilling episode of Unscaled Travel Show, we explore the haunted history of San Francisco. From the ghostly guests of the St. Francis Hotel to the eerie spirits of Alcatraz Island, we delve into the paranormal tales and chilling evidence behind the city's most famous haunts. We also uncover the mysteries of the Queen Anne Hotel, the Presidio's spectral soldiers, and the restless spirits at Sutro Baths. ____________________________________ S02 Ep79 ____________________________________ Connect with us on social media:  Instagram: @unscaledtravelshow Twitter: @fullmetaltravlr Facebook: @fullmetaltraveler Website: ⁠⁠https://www.unscaledtravelshow.com/ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unscaled⁠

Send us a Text Message.Voici une MÉDITATION GUIDÉE créée exclusivement pour nos abonnés adolescents et adultes. Après tout, pourquoi les plus jeunes devraient-ils être les seuls à profiter des méditations, n'est-ce pas?Ce mois-ci, notre voyage nous emmène à travers le quartier de Richmond à San Francisco, de Lands End aux Sutro Baths, en passant par le Golden Gate Park et jusqu'à l'angle spécial de Balboa Street et la 19e Avenue avec The Coffee Movement, le restaurant coréen Han Il Kwan et la boutique Wood Goods and Hot Sauce.Profitez de cette visualisation guidée en explorant l'un des quartiers emblématiques de la ville. Découvrez de nouveaux lieux ou savourez la joie d'écouter des endroits familiers.Dans cette expérience apaisante, les auditeurs sont doucement guidés vers un moment de sérénité, dirigeant leur attention vers le rythme de leur respiration tout en s'immergeant dans les tons apaisants de la méditation guidée. Parfait pour ces moments où vous avez besoin de vous détendre, de vous ressourcer et de redémarrer. Alors, trouvez un espace confortable, prenez une profonde inspiration et laissez cette méditation guidée être votre compagnon vers la tranquillité.Intro/Outro music by Jef ShadoanSupport the Show.Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is an audio program primarily for kids in English and French focusing on health and wellness, started by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. As a teacher, a parent of bilingual kids & a yoga instructor/social emotional learner facilitator and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa wants to encourage children to thrive through establishing daily health habits.Healthy Habits = Happy KidsWhile listening, kids learn techniques to increase their creativity and attention spans. By practicing mindfulness, breathing, & gratitude kids experience mini-moments of deep rest that help them to reset, restore and recalibrate. In today's busy world of multi-tasking, BBB is a place to help kids get centered, grounded and feel good. By practicing techniques learned here, kids develop their own self-care rituals, routines and habits. These tools benefit their mind, body and heart health and set them up for greater joy in their present lives, and as adults. So that kids aren't the only ones reaping these benefits, Vanessa has also included meditations specifically for older teens or adults! Join her on IG @BigBellyBreathing , on YouTube for her BookNook stories or visit www.bigbellybreathing .com!

Send us a Text Message.This is a GUIDED MEDITATION created exclusively for our teen and adult subscribers. Because why should younger kids have all the fun with meditations, right?This month's journey takes us through San Francisco's Richmond neighborhood, from Lands End, to Sutro Baths, to Golden Gate Park to the special corner on Balboa Street and 19th Ave with The Coffee Movement, Han Il Kwan Korean restaurant and Wood Goods and Hot Sauce shop. Enjoy this guided visualization as you travel through one of the city's iconic areas. Discover new places or relish in the joy of listening to your familiar haunts. In this calming experience, listeners are gently guided into a serene moment, directing their attention to the rhythm of their breath as they immerse themselves in the soothing tones of the guided meditation. Perfect for those moments when you need to unwind, restore, and hit the reset button. So, find a comfortable space, take a deep breath, and let this guided meditation be your companion to tranquility.Intro/Outro music by Jef ShadoanSupport the Show.Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is an audio program primarily for kids in English and French focusing on health and wellness, started by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely. As a teacher, a parent of bilingual kids & a yoga instructor/social emotional learner facilitator and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa wants to encourage children to thrive through establishing daily health habits.Healthy Habits = Happy KidsWhile listening, kids learn techniques to increase their creativity and attention spans. By practicing mindfulness, breathing, & gratitude kids experience mini-moments of deep rest that help them to reset, restore and recalibrate. In today's busy world of multi-tasking, BBB is a place to help kids get centered, grounded and feel good. By practicing techniques learned here, kids develop their own self-care rituals, routines and habits. These tools benefit their mind, body and heart health and set them up for greater joy in their present lives, and as adults. So that kids aren't the only ones reaping these benefits, Vanessa has also included meditations specifically for older teens or adults! Join her on IG @BigBellyBreathing , on YouTube for her BookNook stories or visit www.bigbellybreathing .com!

The ruins of Sutro Baths, at the far western edge of San Francisco, are mysterious. Clearly something big used to stand here. Today, the folks from the Bay Curious podcast take you back in time to what visiting this grand swimming facility would have been like. Episode Transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ruins of Sutro Baths, at the far western edge of San Francisco, are mysterious. Clearly something big used to stand here. Today we take you back in time to what visiting this grand swimming facility would have been like. Additional Reading: Inside Sutro Baths, San Francisco's Once Grand Bathing Palace $1.99 e-book deal available at: Amazon. Apple. Barns & Noble. Google Play. Kobo. Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Katrina Schwartz. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, and Christopher Beale Additional support from Tamuna Chkareuli, Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joshua Ling, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

Ask fans of GBH's Antiques Roadshow if they have a favorite appraiser and you'll hear many names, including one known for his big character, creative mustache styles and bold plaid suits. Nicholas Lowry is a poster expert and master auctioneer – two qualities that were integral to the story of a larger-than-life aquatic poster bathed in muted watery green depicting splashing swimmers and onlookers lining the balcony above, that made its way to the show during a 2004 stop in Portland. Join host Adam Monahan as he dives into the incredible story of Sutro Baths, San Francisco's 1890 engineering marvel, playground, and entertainment spot, and the poster that more than a century after its printing was offered at auction and saw a dramatic result!

In 1913, the Pacific Coast Swimming Championships were held on the West Side. Can you guess who was the superstar athlete and toast of the 1912 Olympics who dominated the meet? This week, Nicole and Arnold describe the exciting competition at, surprise, the Sutro Baths.

The Museum at the Cliff has reopened! There's even more Cliff House and Sutro Baths ephemera on display and has expanded beyond its Gift Shop exhibit space and into former restaurant. John Lindsey of The Great Highway Gallery, joins the pod along with photographers, Dave Glass and Rob Brodman, to talk about the new photography exhibition in the Cliff House restaurant.

In 1897, John Harris filed suit against the Sutro Baths for race discrimination. Learn about this early case that happened decades before the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The history of beloved buildings on Point Lobos Avenue seems inextricably linked to fire. John Martini joins Nicole to describe the conflagrations that destroyed cherished west side attractions like the Cliff House (twice!) and Sutro Baths.

Jerry & Tracy discuss 2 of San Francisco Bay's most haunted locations, The Sutro Baths & the Cliff House.

If you haven't already visited the Museum at The Cliff, where we are displaying many of the Cliff House and Sutro Baths historical items successfully won at action - get to it! We're open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 - 4:00 PM located at the Cliff House Gift Shop. The Museum would not have been possible but for the herculean effort by our podcast guests: Alexandra Mitchell of ACT Art Conservation and John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery in collaboration with Western Neighborhoods Project. Hear how a magical series of events had to fall into place to bring the Museum into existence.

Have you visited our Museum at The Cliff? Through mid-April 2022, see artifacts from the Cliff House and Sutro Baths, now on display (Thursday-Sundays) in our free pop up museum located at the former Cliff House Gift Shop. Some of the pieces in the museum were saved, first from the fire at the Sutro Baths, which is the topic of this podcast, and again more recently when a fundraising effort allowed Western Neighborhoods Project to acquire these items at auction. So drop by! We'd love to see you. We'll return soon with new podcast episodes.

San Francisco's Beautiful Ugly Truth “[W]however wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all” (Mk. 10). How do you know if Christianity is true? Proving that there is a personal God or heaven, the trinity or the divinity of Christ might be difficult. Arguing that our religion is the best religion seems silly. I'd much rather hear about what I can learn from other religions than debate their relative deficiencies. Instead I want to ask about perhaps the central teaching in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus is talking about status and its meaning in our life. Quite simply is it better for us as individuals and a society when people use power to dominate others, or should they act in Jesus' words like “servants.” This question concerns every aspect of our social life. You can see it built into our material world. I want to begin with two things I love about San Francisco and what they say about our history. The first is Victorian houses. Between 1850 and 1900 about 40,000 of them were built in San Francisco.[i] The writer Thomas Aidala writes that the, “city was put together out of buildings that roar with fun, that never… take themselves so seriously that they forget to smile.”[ii] Victorian houses were built using the latest technology.[iii] They were thoroughly modern and made to look old. They were mostly sold to working and middle class people. Despite all the changes in real estate markets they still feel like eccentric mansions for ordinary people. Another thing I love about San Francisco are the Sutro Baths out at Lands End.[iv] Adolf Sutro loved watching the waves at Fisherman's Cove and in 1884 he built a living 100 foot by 100 foot aquarium. By 1887 it could be emptied of 250,000 gallons of water in five minutes. In 1888 Sutro started running a steam train (that started from the corner of Presidio and California). It cost a nickel (compared to the 20 cent Southern Pacific line).[v] The Sutro Baths opened for bathing in 1896. At 500 feet long and 354 feet wide with six saltwater tanks, it was the largest indoor swimming complex in the world. Sutro had a passion for, “making amenities affordable for the common” person.[vi] But initially they excluded black people. After John Harris won a law suit in 1897 everyone was welcome.[vii] There could be as many as 8,000 visitors on a weekend day. The whole thing burned down in June 1966, but even the ruins are beautiful and available to everyone. My point is that an idea is built into this place. Even in the past we had more millionaires here than other cities, but back then people understood that radical differences in wealth destabilized community and made it harder for the ones who served others to be respected. They wanted to make the really good things in life available to everyone. I understand that our experience of inequality in this particular place is affected by markets, property arrangements and tax codes beyond our control. But something is missing at the heart of our experience of San Francisco today. The force of our gospel gets obscured because we do not know the full context of the story (which begins with Mk. 10:32). Jesus is walking along ahead of everyone. Mark explains that they are amazed and also afraid. Jesus takes his twelve closest friends aside and tells them exactly what is going to happen to him, that he will be condemned and then tortured to death. Then in the next sentence James and John, the two brothers who with Peter constitute Jesus' inmost circle, ask to be seated next to Jesus in his “glory.” We the hearers know the irony of this request because Jesus will be crucified. Despite being plainly told they still do not understand. This scene in which Jesus 1. tells the disciples what will happen to him, 2. they misunderstand and 3. Jesus tries to teach them, is repeated three times. To further emphasize the disciple's refusal to see, these three scenes take place sequentially between two stories about Jesus healing blind people.[viii] The cross, a suffering messiah who dies for the people, a new way to be human in which we no longer try to dominate others but serve them instead – this is hard for them and for us. On Saturday night we saw the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. In the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus longs for his friends to be with him they wear headphones and sleep through his moment of need. This seems like the nearly universal response to him. Jesus gives his life as a ransom for many, so that we can be free. Jesus tries to show us how to be free from the constant preoccupation with status that destroys our life. And the cross, that cynical instrument of torture and death, cannot obscure this truth. The nations have rulers who lord it over them. Their great ones are tyrants. “But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Mk. 10). Humans are not the only ones consumed by questions about status. Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky studies how various other primates (but particularly baboons) “lord it over” each other.[ix] Through MRI studies he concludes, that primates are, “fantastically attuned to status differences.” We perceive these differences subconsciously, in less time than it takes to blink our eye.[x] High levels of inequality make us less likely to believe that other people can be trusted, less inclined to join groups. Inequality erodes social capital which is the trust, reciprocity and cooperation that we need to live together in peace. High inequality makes us treat each other more poorly.[xi] Those people who scientists of have studied and who especially value prestige and power seem less able to care about those who are less fortunate.[xii] Furthermore lower socioeconomic status has an immensely detrimental effect on our health. It's not just that the poor have bad health and everyone else is doing equally well. Every step down the ladder means worse health. This is not just because poor people have less access to healthcare. This phenomenon can be observed even in countries with socialized medicine. He concludes that the problem is that “the psychological stress” of having a low socioeconomic status is what decreases health.[xiii] Sapolsky concludes writing, “When humans invented material inequality, they came up with a way of subjugating the low ranking like nothing ever before seen in the primate world.”[xiv] I began by asking how we know if Christianity is true. A central part of the Gospel of Mark has to do with the role that status plays in our life. We are like the headphone wearing disciples. We cannot hear because we cannot imagine what it would be like to really be free of our attachment to status and power. But Jesus persists in calling us back home to God. He warns us that our preoccupation with status damages us as a society and as individuals. Learning to put others first is how we realize this promise of freedom. This is not at all easy. We are entangled in so many contradictions. But church can help us to live in this new reality. We offer each other the chance to really act as if every single person has infinite value as a child of God, as if Jesus gave his life even for that person who irritates us most. On 1 April 1989 there was a funeral in St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, of the Empress Zita of Austria/Hungary, the widow of the last Emperor Charles 1 who died 70 years before. She was 96. It was a two hour service with 6000 people. They sang Mozart's Requiem. Then they went to the church of the Capuchins – the burial place of the Hapsburgs. When the procession arrived, the doors were closed. The chamberlain knocked three times and one of the friars inside called out: “Who requests entry?” The reply was formidable and spoke of a vanished Europe. “Her Majesty Zita, Empress of Austria, crowned Queen of Hungary, Queen of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galizia, Illyria, Queen of Jerusalem, Archduchess of Austria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Cracow, Duchess of Lorraine, Salzburg – the list went with over twenty more titles. There then followed her orders which were not modest. After all this the friar replied, “We do not know her. Who requires entry?” “Her Majesty Zita, Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary.” Again the reply came, “We do not know her. Who requires entry?” This time the chamberlain replied: “Our sister Zita, a poor mortal sinner.” And the gates were thrown open.[xv] There is a desire in our hearts to live in equality which I see built into the landscape of this city. But still we lose ourselves in our own ego. We hunger for recognition in a way that set us at odds with others. And yet the gates of this Cathedral are thrown open for us. I have always loved the “Brotherhood Window” in the South Transept. James and John, the brothers who were so blind to Jesus' teachings and infuriated their fellow disciples are actually honored in the window at Jesus' right and left hand. What they wanted was misguided and showed their ignorance and yet somehow their dream was realized two thousand years later in this Cathedral in a faraway land that they had never heard of. May the impossible contradictions of our life find resolution in God's holiness. Let us Pray: Dear God, give us peace in the restless slumber of our egotism. When the thought of you wakes in our hearts, let it not awaken like a frightened bird that flies away in dismay but like a child waking from its sleep with a heavenly smile. Amen.

The famed Alcatraz prison on Alcatraz Island was in operation from 1934 to 1963. For most, the thought of Alcatraz may bring up a Hollywood film or some of the most notorious criminals in America. But the island carries a different symbolism to the native coastal peoples of California. The California Ohlone Mewuk which translates to coastal people, passed down an oral history that tells us that Alcatraz was used by their Native population long before  anyone else “discovered” the San Francisco Bay. Trips would be made to the island in tule boats for gathering foods, such as bird eggs and sea-life. It was also used as a place of isolation, or for punishment for naughty members of the tribe. The island was also a camping spot and hiding place for many native Americans attempting to escape the California Mission system. In 1895, the island was being used as a US fort and military prison and 19 Hopi men served time on Alcatraz for trying to protect their children from being sent to federal Indian boarding schools, which we discussed last week.    “This is Queens of the Mines, where we discuss untold stories from the twisted roots of California. This week's episode is coming out a few days early in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day. Today we will talk about The Occupation of Alcatraz and the Red Power Movement which demanded self-determination for Native Americans to better the lives of all Indian people. To make it known to the world that they have a right to use their land for their own benefit by right of discovery. We are in a time where historians and the public are no longer dismissing the “conflict history” that has been minimized or blotted out.    In 1953, U.S. Congress established a policy towards American Indians: termination. This policy eliminated most government support for indigenous tribes and ended the protected trust status of all indigenous-owned lands. It wiped out the reservations and natives had the choice to assimilate or die out. So the BIA began a voluntary urban relocation program where American Indians could move from their rural tribes to metropolitan areas, and they would give them assistance with locating housing and employment. Numerous American Indians made the move to cities, lured by the hope of a better life. It was a struggle for them. Many struggled to adjust to life in a city with these low-end jobs, they faced discrimination, they were homesickn and they totally lost their cultural identity. Giving a person a home and a job, yet taking away everything that they are, that is defining a human only in economic terms. So, after they relocated and got job and housing placement, as soon as they received their first paycheck, the assistance was done. Termination.    This Episode is brought to you by the Law Offices of CHARLES B SMITH. Are you facing criminal charges in California? The most important thing you can do is obtain legal counsel from an aggressive Criminal Defense Lawyer you can trust. The Law Office of Charles B. Smith has effectively handled thousands of cases. The Law Offices of CHARLES B SMITH do not just defend cases, they represent people. Charles is intimately familiar with the investigative techniques the police and prosecutors use and is able to look at your case and see defenses that others can, and do, miss. Visit cbsattorney.com for more information.  Even during the gold rush, no one liked attorneys, and Charles, you will love. Now, back to Alcatraz.   When Rosebud Sioux Belva Cottier heard the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was closing in 1963 and that the property was going to be given to the City of San Francisco, she thought of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. The Treaty that allowed Native Americans to appropriate surplus federal land. So, she and her cousin Richard McKenzie retrieved a copy of the treaty and thought, if the property was surplus land of the government, the Sioux could claim it.    Belva organized a demonstration to raise awareness and planned to take court action to obtain the title to the island. On March 8, 1964 her group of Sioux activists, photographers, reporters and her lawyer landed on Alcatraz. About 40 people. The demonstration lasted only four hours. It was "peaceful and in accordance with Sioux treaty rights” but the demonstrators left under the threat of felony charges. The idea of reclaiming “the Rock” became a rallying cry for the indigenous population.   Five years later, on October 10, 1969, there was a fire that destroyed the San Francisco American Indian Center. It was a detrimental loss for the native community because the center provided Native Americans with jobs, health care, aid in legal affairs, and social opportunities.    An activist group formed, known as “Indians of All Tribes” with Pipestone Indian Boarding School graduate Adam Fortunate Eagle and the handsome, Mohawk college student Richard Oakes.  Richard had co-founded the American Indian Studies Dept at SF State and worked as a bartender in the Mission District of San Francisco which brought him in contact with the local Native American communities.    The goal was to take immediate action towards claiming space for the local Indian community and they set their sights on the unused federal land at Alcatraz, which would soon be sold to a billionaire developer.   Adam and Oakes planned a takeover of the island as a symbolic act. They agreed on November 9, 1969. Richard would gather approximately 75 indigenous people and Adam would arrange transportation to the island. The boats did not show up.   Nearby, a sailor was watching the natives waiting, some wearing traditional ceremony dress and Adam Fortunate Eagle convinced him, the owner of a three-masted yacht to pass by the island with him and 4 friends on board. As the boat passed by Alcatraz, Oates and two men jumped overboard, swam to shore, and claimed the island by right of discovery. At this moment, Richard became the leader of the movement. The five men were quickly removed by the Coast Guard.    Later that night, Adam, Richard and others hired a boat, making their way back to the island again, some students stayed overnight before they were again made to leave. Richard Oakes told the San Francisco Chronicle, “If a one day occupation by white men on Indian land years ago established squatter's rights, then the one day occupation of Alcatraz should establish Indian rights to the island.”   Eleven days later on November 20, 1969, Richard and Adam met 87 native men, women and children, 50 of whom California State University students at the No Name bar in Sausalito just after closing at 2, met with some free-spirited boat owners and sailed through San Francisco Bay towards Alcatraz, not knowing if they'd be killed, ignoring warnings that the occupation of the island was illegal. Indians of All Tribes made one last attempt to seize Alcatraz and claim the island for all the tribes of North America using unarmed, body and spirit politics. As they disembarked onto the island an Alcatraz security guard yelled out, may day! May day! The Indians have landed! Three days in, it became clear - this wasn't going to be a short demonstration.    Richard Oates soon addressed the media with a manifesto titled “The Great White Father and All His People.” In it, he stated the intention was to use the island for an Indian school, cultural center and museum. Oates claimed Alcatraz belonged to the Native Americans “by right of discovery”. He sarcastically offered to buy the island back for “$24 in glass beads and red cloth”, the same price that Natives received for the island of Manhattan.    Now I'll read the manifesto   “We feel that this so-called Alcatraz Island is more than suitable as an Indian Reservation, as determined by the white man's own standards. By this we mean that this place resembles most Indian reservations, in that: It is isolated from modern facilities, and without adequate means of transportation. It has no fresh running water. The sanitation facilities are inadequate. There are no oil or mineral rights. There is no industry and so unemployment is very great. There are no health care facilities. The soil is rocky and non-productive and the land does not support game. There are no educational facilities. The population has always been held as prisoners and kept dependent upon others. Further, it would be fitting and symbolic that ships from all over the world, entering the Golden Gate, would first see Indian land, and thus be reminded of the true history of this nation. This tiny island would be a symbol of the great lands once ruled by free and noble Indians.   “We hold the Rock”   The Nixon administration sent out a negotiator, and as the two sides debated, the natives continued to settle onto their new land. Native American college students and activists flocked to join the protest, and the population of Alcatraz often swelled to more than 600 people. They moved into the old warden's house and guards' quarters and began personalizing the island with graffiti. Buildings were tagged with slogans like Home of the Free, Indian Land, Peace and Freedom, Red Power and Custer Had It Coming.   This episode is brought to you by Sonora Florist. SONORA FLORIST has been providing our community with beautiful flower arrangements for whatever the occasion since the early 1950s. You can visit sonoraflorist.com, or search Sonora Florist on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. There is a special website for wedding florals, visit sincerelysonoraflorist.com to see their wedding work, read reviews, or to book a consultation with one of their designers if you are getting married in the area. Thank you Sonora Florist. And if you have not checked out the mural on the side of the shop, on the corner of Washington and Bradford in downtown Sonora, in honor of the local Chinese history, do so! It was a fight to get it up, and it was worth it!   This episode was also brought to you by our main Sponsor Columbia Mercantile 1855, Columbia Historic Park's Main street grocery store. Teresa, the owner, carries a mix of quality international and local products that replicate diverse provisions of when Columbia was California's second largest city after San Francisco. I love the selection of hard kombucha, my favorite. It is common to hear, "Wow! I didn't expect to find that here in Columbia". The Columbia Mercantile 1855 is located in Columbia State Historic Park at 11245 Jackson Street and is a great place to keep our local economy moving. At a time like this, it is so important to shop local, and The Columbia Mercantile 1855 is friendly, welcoming, fairly priced and accepts EBT. Open Daily! Now, back to Alcatraz   The occupation sought to unify indigenous peoples from more than 500 nations across America, the Western Hemisphere and Pacific. Everyone on the island had a job. The island soon had its own clinic, kitchen, public relations department and even a nursery and grade school for its children. A security force sarcastically dubbed the “Bureau of Caucasian Affairs” patrolled the shoreline to watch for intruders. All decisions were made by unanimous consent of the people. A Sioux named John Trudell hopped behind the mic to broadcast radio updates from Alcatraz under the banner of “Radio Free Alcatraz.” “ We all had things to offer each other,” resident Luwana Quitquit later remembered. “Brotherhood. Sisterhood.”    The federal government initially insisted that the protestors leave the island and they placed an inadequate barricade around the island. The demonstration was a media frenzy and the protestors received an enormous amount of support. There was a call for contributions  and a mainland base was set up at San Francisco's Pier 40, near Fisherman's Wharf. Supplies such as canned goods and clothes were shipped in. Visitors and volunteers were sailing in, and thousands of dollars in cash were pouring in from donors across the country. The Black Panther Party had volunteered to help provide security and celebrities like Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda and Merv Griffin visited the island in support. The band Creedence Clearwater Revival gave the Indians of All Tribes a boat, which was christened the “Clearwater.”    Things started to change in early 1970, there was a leadership crisis.  The organizers and a majority of the college students had to return to school. Many vagrants who were not interested in fighting for the cause moved in, taking advantage of the rent free living and drugs and alcohol, which were originally banned on the island, started to move freely among a select crowd.     Then tragically, Richard and Annie Oakes's daughter Yvonne fell 5 stories to her death from one of the prison's stairwells in the guards quarters. Oakes and his wife left Alcatraz in the wake of the accident, leaving groups of warring activists to fight it out for control of the island.    In May of 1970, the Nixon administration cut the electricity to Alcatraz, hoping to force the demonstrators out. Let's face it, the government was never going to meet the demands of the Indians of All Tribes. Next, they removed the water barge which had been providing fresh water to the occupiers. Three days following the removal of the water barge, a fire was started on the island, destroying the warden's house, the inside of the lighthouse which was important for SF bay navigation and several of Alcatraz's historic buildings. No one knows who started the fire. It could have come from either side. Was it - Burn it down? Or get them out?   Two months later, President Richard Nixon gave a speech saying, “The time has come…for a new era in which the Indian future is determined by Indian acts and Indian decisions.” The U.S. government later returned millions of acres of ancestral Indian land and passed more than 50 legislative proposals supporting tribal self rule. The termination policy was terminated.   In the meantime, the FBI, Coast Guard and the Government Services Administration stayed clear of the island. While it appeared to those on the island that negotiations were actually taking place, in fact, the federal government was playing a waiting game, hoping that support for the occupation would subside and those on the island would elect to end the occupation. At one point, secret negotiations were held where the occupiers were offered a portion of Fort Miley, a 15 minute walk from the Sutro Baths, as an alternative site to Alcatraz Island.    The occupation continued into 1971. Support for the cause had diminished after the press turned against them and began publishing stories of alleged beatings and assaults; one case of assault was prosecuted. In an attempt to raise money to buy food, they allegedly began stripping copper wiring and copper tubing from the buildings and selling it as scrap metal. Three of the occupiers were arrested, tried and found guilty of selling some 600lbs of copper. In January 1971, two oil tankers collided in the entrance to the San Francisco Bay. Though it was acknowledged that the lack of an Alcatraz light or fog horn played no part in the collision, it was enough to push the federal government into action. A few holdouts continued to live on the Rock for another year. “I don't want to say Alcatraz is done with,” former occupier Adam Fortunate Eagle lamented to The San Francisco Chronicle in April 1971, “but no organized Indian groups are active there. It has turned from an Indian movement to a personality thing.”    Citing a need to restore Alcatraz's foghorn and lighthouse, President Nixon gave the go-ahead to develop a removal plan to be acted upon with as little force as possible, when the smallest number of people were on the island. The government told the remaining occupiers they would have news on the deed the following Monday morning. They were told no action would be taken until the negotiations were settled. That was a lie. On June 10, 1971 armed federal marshals, FBI agents, and special forces police descended on the island and removed five women, four children, and six unarmed men. the last of the indigenous residents. The occupation was over.   An island ledger entry reads “We are about to leave for Alcatraz, maybe for the last time, To this beautiful little Island, which means a little something, which no one will ever understand my feelings.”  It is signed by Marie B. Quitiquit of Stockton. Beneath Quitiquit's words someone wrote in capital letters “I SHALL NEVER FORGET, MY PEOPLE, MY LAND ALCATRAZ”.   Oakes, who had once proclaimed that “Alcatraz was not an island, it was an idea”, never left the idea behind and continued his resistance. As a result of his activism, he endured tear gas, billy clubs, and brief stints in jail. He helped the Pit River Tribe in their attempts to regain nearly 3 million acres of land that had been seized by Pacific Gas & Electric and had plans to create a "mobile university" dedicated to creating opportunities for Native Americans.  Soon after he left the occupation, Oates was in Sonoma where Michael Morgan, a YMCA camp manager was being accussesd as a white supremacist, and being tough with Native American children. 30 year old Oakes reportedly confronted Michael Morgan. Morgan said he was in fear for his life, when he drew a handgun and fatally shot Richard Oakes. Oakes was unarmed. Morgan was charged with voluntary manslaughter, but was acquitted by a jury that agreed with Morgan that the killing was an act of self-defense, even though Oakes was unarmed. Oakes supporters contend the shooting was an act of murder, and that Morgan received support from a racially motivated jury and district attorney.  So, over the course of the 19-month occupation, more than 10,000 indigenous people visited the island to offer support. Alcatraz may have been lost, but the occupation gave birth to political movements which continue today as injustices inflicted on indigenous people is an ongoing problem. The Rock has also continued to serve as a focal point of Native American social campaigns  and it left the demonstrators with big ideas. Indian rights organizations, many of them staffed by Alcatraz veterans, later staged occupations and protests at Plymouth Rock, Mount Rushmore, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and dozens of other sites across the country. Federal officials also started listening to calls for Indian self-determination. The occupation of Alcatraz was the first demonstration of its kind for the American Indians. It was a spiritual reawakening for the indigenous peoples and renewed interest in tribal communities. Many natives did not know what it meant to be native, and they learned of and about their heritage in light of the media attention the occupation received. It was the first chance they were able to feel proud of their indigenous background. A beginning for Native pride, the kickstarter for a move back to a traditional identity. A revival of language, traditions. Awakening the native people, the tribes, the media, the government and Americans. The “return of the buffalo”. Dr LaNada War Jack, Shoshone Bannock Tribe, one of UC Berkeley's first native students & demonstration leader tells us, “We wanted to bring to the forefront that every single one of (more than 500) treaties were broken by the fed government.” The boarding schools, genocide, relocation, termination, , everything that historically happened to American Indians — continues to impact them today. They are still here.  Now, that is a real theft of freedom. A theft of freedom from the ones who were here first. So, I do not want to hear a damn word about your loss of rights for having to wear a damn mask. You want to fight for freedom? Stand up for your local indigenous people.    Alright, love you all, be safe, get vaccinated, wear a mask, stay positive and act kind. Thank you for taking the time to listen today, subscribe to the show so we can meet again weekly, on Queens of the Mines. Queens of the Mines is a product of the “Youreka! Podcast Network” and was written, produced and narrated by Andrea Anderson. Go to queensofthemines.com for the book and more.  https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-11-19/alcatraz-occupation-indigenous-tribes-autry-museum https://www.history.com/news/native-american-activists-occupy-alcatraz-island-45-years-ago The Alcatraz Indian Occupation by Dr. Troy Johnson, Cal State Long Beach https://www.nps.gov/alca/learn/historyculture/we-hold-the-rock.htm https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=ALCATRAZ_Proclamation  

Anne Nickel Cannady was born and raised in Minnesota, but has lived an international life. Over the past 20 years she has worked in brand strategy, culture, innovation and immersive experience design with start-ups and leading brands that include Starbucks, Avalon Bay, Choice Hotels, Royal Caribbean and Honda, to name just a few. Anne is now challenging herself with a project that brings all her skills to play … and more. The plan is ambitious – a social community bath house in the heart of San Francisco. The building is ambitious – the transformation of an historic warehouse into a biophilic wonderland.  If you'd like to join me in my quest to rethink real estate, there are two simple things you can do. Share this podcast or go to Patreon.com/rethinkrealestate to learn about special opportunities for my friends and followers and subscribe if you can.

What was the best part of your week?Parents are suffering unexpectedly from separation anxiety.What is your favorite ice cream spot in the Bay Area? A marriage proposal at Sutro Baths in SF goes viral!

A marriage proposal at Sutro Baths in San Francisco goes viral!

In this Episode we sit down with Erik Cabral, MD. Dr. Cabral grew up in San Jose and received his Bachelor's in Human Biology with Honors Thesis from Stanford University. He was fortunate to study abroad at Brasenose College, Oxford University and Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico in Cuernavaca and is fluent in Spanish.Dr. Cabral enjoys practicing in the Bay Area and has spent the past two years caring for patients in Sonoma and Marin counties. He is a fan of running, snowboarding, golf and wine.In Part 2 we discuss Erik's top 5 countries and most of his adventures. We talk about countries such as Mexico, Turkey, Russia and Cuba. Erik also discuses how it's difficult to travel to certain areas being a vegetarian. He has traveled for the past 7 years to over 40 countries as a vegetarian. Erik also talks about how travel helps him learn to connect with people better and allows him to relax and decompress and fill his own cup. It also allows him to build and develop precious memories. Isaac talks about when he worked in retirement planning and how the #1 answer to the question when people were asked, what do you want to do when you retire was “Travel.” Erik shares stories of people who had all these grand plans of traveling but by the time they get there they are already sick and broken and can't experience this dream of travel anymore the way they dreamed about. Erik talks about why he travels now so that he has the energy and capability to truly experience the countries he visits. Erik also explains how you can find so many amazing places close to home if you can't travel far. Jho talks about how San Francisco used to be considered the “Paris of the Pacific.” We talk about how awesome the Bay Area is and how there is so much to see and do in the place we call home. We discuss the Sutro Baths, State Parks, Hikes, The Fern River Resort and much more.We discuss why he chose Dermatology as a specialization. Erik talks about the fact that he loves being a specialist. And how he can do everything in home and the buck stops with him. He's, "somewhat of a Renaissance man" as he puts it. Isaac asks if he's like Dr. Pimple Popper and Erik says similar but more on the surgical side. Erik talks about how this rewarding to restore someone's self-esteem by removing skin growths and Acne. As he puts it, “these growths won't take your life, but will affect your life.”We talk a little more about travel, specifically Tulum Mexico. Erik talks about how it's an international community of health and wellness and it's very plant based friendly. Erik talks about a synergy of wellness, spirituality and energy and mind body connection. He talks about feeling a special connection and energy about Tulum right now. Isaac gives a good example about energy and how we are all energy so it makes sense about Erik having that special feeling about Tulum. Erik gives the physicists view on death and transfer of energy. And Isaac completely agrees.We also discuss financial strategies and Crypto currency. Erik gives his views on it and talks about it being the future of the transfer of money. He also discusses how it's a new way of transacting and how it can protect people in other countries who's governments have too much control of currency. Erik talks about how and why he got into Crypto. We also discuss the stock market and how hedge funds and Wall Street control it and how Crypto is more of a true free market economy. And this was made clear with the recent situations with online trading platforms. We also discuss the lack of financisl literacy in the world today. And Jho asks her world famous six questions.DR. ERIK CABRALINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/cabrallerYOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/channel/UC-oALrh_OvOyFcBnnTFKy_gBLISS SEEKERSINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/blissseekersHOSTSIsaac J. EstradaINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/futuregmJhoINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/carpeconsequatWEBSITE: http://www.carpeconsequat.comMUSIC"The Mantra" by A Dead DesireLISTEN HERE: https://youtu.be/PO0EKknzW7gAFFILIATEShttps://freshcleantees.com Coupon Code BLISSHOT SUIT - CODE JVHOTSUIT 10% OFFhttps://www.hotsuit.com/?ref=jvhotsuit&utm_source=affiliateGRAPHICSDionn ReneeINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/dionn_reneeWEBSITE: http://www.dionnrenee.comVIDEOGRAPHY/PRODUCTIONHatem AlrifaiINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/hatemsf3INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/hatemfilmSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-bliss-seekers-podcast/donations

When the Cliff House suddenly closed in December 2020, its collection of treasures from Sutro Baths, Playland, and the Cliff House itself were put up for auction. Learn how a scrappy group of like-minded preservationists banded together to save some of the most significant pieces of the collection and what's next for the collection.

Picture a skyline. Then, fog cascading down the wooded hills of San Francisco, towards the Pacific. And rising up from that land is a tower — the radio antenna of the Sutro Tower — that reaches upwards like a metal claw, as if to harness all of the power of the sky. That is the image Christina Chatfield’s Sutro conjures and is also its point of inspiration. Christina Chatfield, based in SF, offers Mysteries an impressive, visionary full-length debut. Abound with polyphonic synth work and immersive tonal structures, these arrangements unfold into lush, cinematic soundscapes. Chatfield has long been a versatile producer with roots in techno, electro, ambient, shoegaze and more — and all of these influences come through in Sutro, creating an album with remarkable power and emotional depth. At times, tracks like “Nameless,” with its misty vocals layered over hypnotic synth, pay homage to the shoegaze greats. At other points, the album turns retro-futuristic, becoming a sonic rendering of the Sutro Tower itself. In “Pearls Scattered,” for example, an off-kilter synth melody lends eccentricity to an already moody atmosphere. Arguably the most immersive arrangements on the album are “Concatenate I” and its connected successor “Concatenate II,” as well as the richly textured, panoramic track “Drin.” As “Concatenate” derives its name from a linguistic programming concept meaning linking (things) together in a chain or series, it seems natural that the album extends “Concatenate” into two sequences. In both, synth arpeggiation guides the ear through maximalist landscapes accented by lush pads. “Drin” is melodic and sweeping, bringing to mind the ruins of the Sutro Baths, bathed in the glow of afternoon light. “Drin” especially is a microcosmic example of what happens in so many of the tracks on this album: they start quiet and evolve, until it’s clear the silence is teeming with life. The album closes with its title track, which leans into Chatfield’s techno sensibilities; its elegance leaves the ear satisfied. Altogether, the album nourishes and satisfies, for what Chatfield has composed is thoughtfully conceptualized and wholly complete. Releases March 26, 2021 Written and Produced by Christina Chatfield Mixed by Oliver Chapoy at Ohm Sweet Ohm, Brooklyn NY Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio, NY Design by Gabriel Benzur Words by Taylor Bratches Worldwide Distribution: wordandsound → what people play © Mysteries of the Deep MOTDLP010, 2021 mysteriesofthedeep.net

As if Playland, the Cliff House, and Sutro Baths was not enough of an entertainment selection, nearby Merrie Way provided even more thrills. New recurring co-host, John Martini helps us understand how the area around Point Lobos Road evolved.

The Billington Brothers are the photographers behind many of the images seen on OpenSFHistory.org around the Cliff House, Sutro Baths, and Land's End. Special guest John Freeman joins the Pod to tell us how the brothers transformed themselves after arriving in San Francisco.

Artist and “data” sculptor Adrien Segal creates evocative work, in her Oakland, Ca studio, based on both the natural and human driven changes in our world. Whether she is graphing the tidal changes of the historic Sutro Baths in San Francisco to create the table-like Tidal Dadum series or reinterpreting fire progression chart data to elegantly display the fearsome power of forest fires in southern California, Adrien uses the aesthetic power of sculpture to inform. We nerd out on Episode 19 of Why Make? about some of the technology Adrien uses to make her work, including lidar and photogrammetry, and talk about how Adrien’s background as a furniture maker has helped to strengthen her progression into making sculpture.

We have a SUPER EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!! This is Laura's first episode officially as our new co-host! In today's episode Laura dives into the story of Alissa Turney and her sister Sarah Turney's investigative work to uncover the truth about Alissa's disappearance. This story most recently had a major breakthrough that pretty much blew up Twitter! For the paranormal portion, Maria covers the hauntings of San Francisco's Cliff House and Sutro Baths and their abundance of fires and eerie phenomenon. Let's get creepy! For more info on Alissa Turney:IG and tiktok: @saraheturneyYouTube: Sarah TurneyJusticeforAlissa.comWe've launched new cover art! Check out our amazing illustrator María Boutin on Instagram @besitosandgiggles or on her website https://mariaboutin-illustration.com/Support the show (https://patreon.com/thenewwitches)

Welcome To Phenomenon: A Paranormal Podcast. If you like what you heard please subscribe to our podcast, share the latest episode, and leave a review. You can also follow us on the following social media sites: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhenomenonCast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhenomenonAParanormalPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phenomenonaparanormalpodcast/ Email: phenomenonaparanormalpodcast@gmail.com https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/sutro-baths.htm https://wildsftours.com/sutro-baths-haunted-san-francisco/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohlone_mythology http://funnel.sfsu.edu/students/luyilin/Lu_Yilin/Spring2015/YL/untitled_folder2/GEOL350/WebINFO/readings/rocks%20and%20geology%20in%20the%20SF%20bay%20region.pdf --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/phenomenonpodcast/support

Sutro Baths (SF) by Morgan Rees The Sutro Baths was a large, privately owned opened to the public as the world's largest indoor saltwater swimming pool complex in the Lands End area of the Outer Richmond District in western San Francisco, California. Built in 1896, it is located near the Cliff House, Seal Rocks, and Sutro Heights Park. The facility burned down in June 1966 and is now in ruins within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Sutro Historic District. This is part of a continuing series of Videos and Blogs. Episodes visit such notable cities as: London, Paris, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Israel, Napa Valley, Nashville, Monterey and including interesting locations such as: Stonehenge, Eiffel Tower, Changing the Guard, Tower of London - Crown Jewels, Windsor Castle, the Roman baths, the Senine River cruise, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, France’s oldest perfume houses, The Louvre Paris Museum, Royal Estate of Versailles, Moulin Rouge, Claude Monet and more. If you are planning on traveling these podcasts are a good primer with useful travel information Listen and Watch Anytime, Anywhere Podcast: www.morganrees.com/podcasts Video: www.morganrees.com/videos www.MorganRees.com

Built by Former Mayor of San Francisco, CA, Adolph Sutro, the SUTRO BATHS were once the largest swimming establishment in the world.  Sutro’s vision was to provide an inexpensive swimming facility for San Francisco’s residents, complete with slides, springboards, trapezes, and even a high dive for the public to enjoy. A mysterious fire, remains of a SATANIC CULT LEADER and an MYSTERIOUS CREATURE are said to inhabit the remains of this once popular attraction.  Some locals have even speculated that the land below the Baths might be CURSED. The CLIFFHOUSE opened in 1863 and has been through a number of fires, shipwrecks and renovations.  Many believe the place is simply cursed. With all of the deaths from shipwrecks crashing on Seal Rocks before the structure, one has to wonder.

We go to the Rock, get squished to death in the Earthquake of 1906, and the Mind Blowing Averageness of the Sutro Baths!

In today’s episode of Escrow Out Loud, our San Francisco Real Estate podcast, we talk about how, in San Francisco, our past does not live up to our ideals.[00:28] Compassion, brotherhood, love. These are just some of our values in San Francisco. But do we always live up to these ideals?The history of Sutro Baths is one example where we have some bad history. More recently a statue, Early Days, has been making the news due to to its portrayal of California history. Another example is the renaming of streets like Phelan.[07:24] In addition to all the street name changes throughout San Francisco, the Embarcadero Plaza has also had a name change. It was once known as Justin Herman Plaza. So, why has Justin Herman’s name been stripped and the Plaza renamed?[11:14] It’s not all bad though. To wrap up we give some shout-outs to the incredible women that have been a large part of San Francisco’s history. Namely: Julia Morgan, Dorothea Lange, Maya Angelou and finally Ruth Asawa. Thank You!Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode leave us a review on your favorite platform, tell your friends and don’t forget to join us again next week! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy (almost) New Year everyone! This week we reflect on some of our favorite moments of 2018 from Renee’s journey to Africa to Maria’s historical expedition in Sutro Baths. Goals and more goals, we also discuss some of our New Year goals and our NYE plans! Thank you for listening and supporting.We greatly appreciate it!Youtube: https://youtu.be/2GNHEHV4YQc

The massive conflagration that ended a part of San Francisco history.

John Martini returns to talk about San Francisco's legendary Sutro Baths, once the world's largest natatorium and now beloved ruins.

Come explore the strange hauntings and history of one of San Francisco's great places of the past...The Sutro Baths. Once a giant mass, built in 1896, by Adolf Sutro, it housed a weekend of fun with seven pools, a museum, concert hall and more! It was a reflection of one man's wealth, power and true love for life. Now it sits at the ocean’s front as ruins that supposedly house some lost spirits. Does Sutro Baths have a few ghosts residing in the ruins? Find out on this episode of Supernatural San Francisco. www.sfghosts.com

THIS WEEK: the fiery fate of the first Cliff House, and the case of a parrot who would not sing. Click the audio player above to listen in, or just read on ... December 25, 1894: First San Francisco Cliff House burns On Christmas Day, 1894, the first San Francisco Cliff House burned to the ground. As the Chronicle poetically reported the next morning, San Francisco's most historic landmark has gone up in flames. The Cliff House is a smouldering ruin, where the silent ghosts of memory hover pale and wan over the blackened embers. Ah, yes. We discussed this first incarnation of the Cliff House a few weeks ago -- its novel location at the edge of the world, its singular popularity with San Francisco's beautiful people, and its subsequent decline into a house of ill-repute. Well, before it could rise from that undignified state to the status of a beloved landmark, San Francisco's original "destination resort" needed a white knight to ride to the rescue. That knight would be Mr. Adolph Sutro, who -- in 1881 -- purchased not only the faded Cliff House, but acres of land surrounding it. Mining engineer millionaire and future San Francisco mayor, the larger-than-life Sutro had already established a fabulous estate on the heights above the Cliff House, and by the mid-1880s could count 10% of San Francisco as his personal property. Unlike the robber barons atop Nob Hill, though, Adolph believed in sharing his good fortune -- you can hear more about his eccentric philanthropy in the "Adolph Sutro" podcast right here at Sparkletack.com. Sutro's first order of business upon making acquiring the property was to instruct his architect to turn the Cliff House into a "respectable resort with no bolts on the doors or beds in the house." This was just a small part of Sutro's grand entertain-the-heck-out-of-San-Francisco scheme. The elaborate gardens of his estate were already open to the public, and the soon-to-be-famous Sutro Baths were on the drawing board. His goal was to create a lavish and family safe environment out at Land's End, and that's just how things worked out. With streetcar lines beginning to move into the brand new Golden Gate Park, and the City's acquisition of the Point Lobos Toll Road (now Geary Boulevard), the western edge of the City was becoming more attractive and accessible, and over the next decade, families did indeed flock to Adolph's resuscitated resort. And then in 1894, it happened. About 8 o'clock on Christmas evening, after most of the holiday visitors had gone home for the day, a small fire broke out in a kitchen chimney. As the flames shot up inside the walls, the horrified staff quickly learned that none of the fire-extinguishers around the place actually worked. Within minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. The resort burned so quickly, in fact, that its famous guest book, inscribed by such notables as Mark Twain, Ulysses S Grant, and Rutherford B. Hayes, was lost along with the building itself. As the Chronicle went on to report, the Cliff House "... went up as befitted such a shell of remembrances, in a blaze of glory. Fifty miles at sea the incinerating fires easily shone out, reflected from the high rocks beyond." Sutro hadn't taken out insurance on the place, but he was so determined to rebuild -- and so damned rich -- that it just really didn't matter. And in fact, the burning of Cliff House number one was a sort of blessing in disguise. That fire cleared the decks -- so to speak -- for Cliff House number two, which would rise from the ashes like a magnificent 8-story Victorian phoenix. Cliff House mark 2 would become everybody's favourite, an opulent monstrosity as beloved by San Franciscans in the Gilded Age as it still is today, frankly -- but guess what happened to that one? The fate of Sutro's Gingerbread Palace coming up in a future Sparkletack Timecapsule. read on ...

The land north of San Francisco's Cliff House near the old Sutro Baths is getting a multi-million-dollar face lift by the National Park Service and local philanthropists. The area, rich in history, and in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge will get new trails, catwalks and other features, making it more accessible to millions of visitors.

This week’s podcast explores the history of the millionaire philanthropist who gave so much to our city and whose story is — amazingly — almost forgotten. For further edification: » The Western Neighborhoods Project– outsidelands.org » Sutro bio from 1898 – sfmuseum.org » Sutro Baths – National Park Service » Sutro Baths – San Francisco […]