In 1881, he bought the cliff house restaurant, which was located on the citys beach. At the comstock lode in nevada, he conceived an idea for a tunnel to drain the hot water that made the mines perilous and inefficient. In response to recommendations made by the california department of public health and as a precaution to help limit the spread of coronavirus covid19, circulation and inperson services are temporarily suspended and. Sutro first staked his claim in the annals of california history through his love of engineering. Sutro baths adolph sutro opens his baths in 1896 with one freshwater and six saltwater pools, 30 swimming rings, 9 spring boards, 7 slides, 3 trapezes, 2 diving platforms, 500 dressing rooms, hundreds of showers, thousands of bathing suits, a gym, a shootthechutes, bucking broncos, and a museum filled with what sutro calls. This is clearly a labor of love by the author, and anyone interested in architecture or the history of public entertainment venues should enjoy this book. Search the library of congress photo collections to find images of the sutro baths, the sutro tunnel, cliff house, and other historic scenes of san francisco. Its a warts and all biography, and sutro had plenty of warts metaphorically. The library has a large collection of publications and items dating from the th to the 21st centuries as well as one of the largest genealogy collections in the u. In 1892, sutro developed the sutro saltwater baths to provide an entertainment for the citys inhabitants.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Sutro s interest in natural history and marine studies prompted him to develop the idea of creating an ocean pool, or aquarium, among the rocks north of the cliff house. Created sutro baths for public health and recreation. In 1859, when the comstock lode was discovered, he went into mining, setting up the sutro metallurgical works, in east dayton, nevada. Adolph heinrich joseph sutro april 29, 1830 august 8, 1898 was a germanamerican. Additional materials on the history of the sutro baths, cliff house and san francisco may be found in the following collections. Sutro ran for mayor as the populist antioctupus candidate, in opposition to the southern pacific railroad, which dominated california politics. The curious history of the house on a cliff mashable. New sutro biography tells of his warts and all san. Adolph heinrich joseph sutro april 29, 1830 august 8, 1898 was the 24th mayor of san francisco from 1894 until 1896. Original broadside announcing key developments for the sutro tunnel company in nevada. Sutro library, california state library, 1630 holloway avenue.
Written with a critical eye on the historical record, getting both the facts and the story right. Adolph sutro 18301898 jewish immigrants in san francisco. The adolph sutro papers consists of correspondence, much of it relating to. Italian immigrants influence and shaping of americabank barons to pizza kings i would deeply appreciate any referencesguidessteers to the ginanni familyheritage and history of bofa including present day progeny. The sutro tunnel ran from the comstock lode at virginia city downhill to the town of sutro, where adolph sutro laid out farm plots in the arid land and watered them with water drained from the mines. King of the comstock lode and mayor of san francisco.
At the comstock lode in nevada, he conceived an idea for a tunnel to drain the hot water that made the mines perilous and. The wellplanned community was headquarters for the sutro drainage tunnel. An early immigrant to the city, the prussianborn sutro was a mining engineer and real estate investor who, it was said, once owned an estimated onetwelfth of the acreage of san francisco. Adolph sutro golden gate national recreation area u. Adolph sutro died in san francisco, august 8, 1898, leaving behind him a legacy of public recreational facilities for his fellow san franciscans. Originally from prussia, sutro had managed his familys textile factory and immigrated to america in the wake of the 1848 revolutions, which had stirred up fears of renewed antisemitism. I had never known that sutro came from aachen i was born near by and i went to the university of aachen. Significance the area located on point lobos and lands end overlooking the pacific ocean in. Since the 19th century, adolph sutros passion for book collecting, libraries, the arts, and architecture has benefited san franciscans and californians. On march 14, 1896, san francisco celebrated the official opening of the sutro baths, an extravagant public bathhouse envisioned and developed by the onetime mayor of san francisco, adolph sutro external. The california state library collects, preserves, generates and disseminates a wide array of information. Sutro baths adolph sutro opens his baths in 1896 with one freshwater and six saltwater pools, 30 swimming rings, 9 spring boards, 7 slides, 3 trapezes, 2 diving platforms, 500 dressing rooms, hundreds of showers, thousands of bathing suits, a gym, a shootthechutes, bucking broncos, and a museum filled with what sutro calls bricabrac to amuse and instruct. Born in aachen, prussia, sutro was educated as an engineer and arrived in the united states in 1850 at the age of twenty. New sutro biography tells of his warts and all san diego.
In the early 1850s, adolph sutro, a cocky young man with a thick walrus moustache, headed west to make his fortune. Fittingly, adolph sutro s memory was demolished in the same way that it was made. In 1896, adolph sutro built a new cliff house, a sevenstory victorian. Opened in 1894, the baths contained seven swimming pools, a museum. History and significance of adolph sutro historic district. The history and significance of the adolph sutro historic district. Sutro s daughter began the construction of a new cliff house restaurant in 1908, but on a vastly smaller scale. So he left one beautiful city to move to an even more beautiful place.
He was a successful business man who built the sutro tunnel through mount davidson to drain the water from the mine shafts of the comstock silver lode. To learn the full story of adolph sutro s life and incredible accomplishments, get his biography, adolph sutro. The sutro library in san francisco offers patrons the most extensive genealogy collection west of salt lake city. The second eldest of children, he and most of his siblings emigrated to maryland from germany with their widowed mother in 1850. The california state library created the sutro library from adolph sutros private library in 1917. Adolph sutro has 15 books on goodreads with 0 ratings. Sutro tunnel company broadside first edition adolph. His life story is in fact a kind of individual blueprint for the fortunes of an entire generation coming of age during the postgold rush years of big mining and big industry. The ultimate sutro baths history, one that will stand the test of time to define a grand landmark. Germanborn adolph sutro came to the comstock in 1860.
Adolph sutro came to california in 1850, at the age of 20. He built the saltwater sutro baths, the largest in the world, and was the. Its completion, in 1878, made adolph sutro a very wealthy man. Adolph sutros rare book and manuscript collection contains over 90000. King of the comstock lode and mayor of san francisco, directly from the publisher, mcfarland publishing company. One such discovery of both gold and silver was in virginia city, nevada or as it was know in tho. Csl sutro librarys genealogy collection california state. Closing argument of adolph sutro, on the bill before congress to aid the sutro tunnel, delivered before the committee on mines and mining of the house of representatives of the united states of america, monday, april 22, 1872. Adolph sutro, the populist millionaire monika april 8, 2006 at 8. Adolph sutro 18301898 this is the complete text of a small book published in 1895 to honor the new mayor of san francisco, adolph sutro. Adolph heinrich joseph sutro april 29, 1830 august 8, 1898 was born in prussia now germany and emigrated to san francisco, california, arriving on the steamship california on november 21, 1850. Davidson the father of tree planting in california.
Paul leonard library at san francisco state university, in san francisco, houses adolph sutros impressive rare book collection, as well as local history resources and the largest genealogical collection west of salt lake city. Holden, of the university of california, says in his annual report. After adolph sutro died in 1898, his family struggled to operate the facility profitably adding ice skating, dancing and. Historic photos capture former glory of adolph sutros. Magnes collection on adolph sutro, 18581993 the magnes. The history and significance of the adolf sutro historic district. Cliff house and the property around there at point lobos. An indepth account of the rise and fall of sutro baths. This book is cited as pretty much the primary history on sutro in every book ive come across that covers sf history and or the cliff house or sutro baths.
Sutro tunnel company broadside first edition adolph sutro. Adolph sutro s most popular book is closing argument of adolph sutro, on the bill before congress. Oct 26, 2015 fortyniner panning for gold most of us know about the discovery of gold in california in 1849, which led to the california gold rush. As suggested by the title of the book, stern goes well beyond this episode that was only a part of sutro s career. This fine book tells the story of how adolph sutro, a germanborn businessman and politician, conceived and built the baths, their eventual decline mostly due to the high cost of.
This first edition by adolph sutro is available at bauman rare books. Adolph heinrich joseph sutro april 29, 1830 august 8, 1898 was a german american. Sutro baths was a popular lands end destination for many years, yet the great expense of its upkeep and maintenance made it an uncertain business proposal. Sutros glass palace, the fascinating story of a vanished but enduring piece of san francisco history, comprehensively answers the question, what was this place.
May 07, 2015 sutro s daughter began the construction of a new cliff house restaurant in 1908, but on a vastly smaller scale. Adolph sutro 18301898 adolph sutro was the classic california dreamer and selfmade man. Adolph heinrich joseph sutro was born at aixlachapelle, rhenish prussia on april 29, 1830. His father was a clothmanufacturer, and adolph learned the details of the business and travelled for the factory, but the elder sutro died before the son was old enough to continue the business, and the. King of the comstock lode and mayor of san francisco william r. Book sutro baths this booklet is a reproduction of a souvenir that was originally published in 1914, and recalls adolph sutro s grandest creation, sutro baths, in a wonderfully nostalgic way. Adolph sutro was the classic california dreamer and selfmade man. Mount davidson is the highest natural point in san francisco, california, with an elevation of 928 feet 283 m. Rising from a hill between twin peaks and mount sutro near clarendon heights, it is a prominent feature of the city skyline and a landmark for city residents and visitors. Longlost sutro baths photos pulled from depths of chronicle.
I have the honor to present herewith a letter from adolph sutro, in which he makes a very liberal offer to. Sutro, adolph, 18301898 publisher san francisco, press of san francisco photoengraving co. Lecture on mines and mining, delivered by adloph sutro, at pipers opera house, virginia city, and in all the principal towns and mining camps in the state of nevada. With little formal education but with a brilliant mind and dynamic ener. Adolph sutros rare book and manuscript collection contains over 90,000 volumes and 100,000 pamphlets. When he returned to the city in 1879 as a wealthy man, he used much of that wealth to enrich the lives of san franciscos. Adolph sutro, the populist millionaire san francisco. Sep 15, 2018 the previous year, adolph sutro iii had nearly shut down the facility, with plans to demolish the building for scrap. One folio sheet, 7 by 1512 inches, printing on recto only.
Sutro tower is a 977 ft 298 m threepronged tv and radio antenna tower in san francisco, california. Biographical article on adolph sutro by hermannvictor johnen and. The sutro library the state librarys san francisco branch holds the original collection of adolph sutro 18301898, california businessman and san francisco mayor. Soon, adolph sutro returned to san francisco where he opened a tobacco store and a second store that sold imported variety goods. Adolph sutro was a key developer in california and nevada, with significant contributions in mining, real estate, and politics. Books by adolph sutro author of closing argument of. The california state library advises, consults with and provides technical assistance to californias public libraries. In response to recommendations made by the california department of public health and as a precaution to help limit the spread of coronavirus covid19, circulation and inperson services are temporarily suspended and all state library locations are closed to the public.
The book is part of the archives of western states jewish history association. Lawrence ormsby the story of a vanished but enduring piece of san francisco history, illustrated with historic photographs and new artwork. We are pleased to make it available once again thanks to the sutro library. A historical marker located in dayton in lyon county, nevada. This is a nice reference for the history of adolph sutro, and his time in california and nevada mostly. He came to california with nothing and took advantage of the openness and vast opportunity of the gold rush to turn his vision into reality. Adolph sutro project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The second life of adolph sutro, by mark abbott stern. Oct 01, 2019 adolph sutro was quick to realize he would never become wealthy operating the tunnel as he had originally planned.
George whitney, the owner of the neighboring tourist attractions playland. Buy documents from the sutro collection by adolph sutro online at alibris. Today, it is the central reference and research library for state government and the legislature. Sutro s glass palace is one of those special books one you want to keep on hand because not only is it a part of you and your history, its a beautiful, wellwritten book. May 24, 2018 sutro, adolph heinrich joseph, mining engineer, b. The second life of adolph sutro dives deep into the life of an iconic figure in the history of san francisco, california, and the west. Combined with the historic photos and drawings, the illustrations bring. Sep 07, 2018 mark stern has mined numerous archives to create the most viviid and comprehensive biography yet of adolph sutro. Fortunately for him, he found a buyer and sold his interest in the venture and. Originally from prussia, sutro had managed his familys textile factory and immigrated to america in the wake of the 1848 revolutions, which had stirred up. But not as many know that gold and silver discoveries happened in other places as well. Documents from the sutro collection by adolph sutro alibris. Initially sutro also had planned to locate a library containing his extensive collection of books at sutro heights, reasoning that the beauty of the site would prove.
It was named for adolph sutro, the 24th mayor of san francisco, serving office from 1895 until 1897. Adolph heinrich joseph sutro april 29, 1830 august 8, 1898 was a germanamerican engineer, politician and philanthropist who served as the 24th mayor of san francisco from 1895 until 1897. This wealth allowed him to buy onetwelfth of the land mass of san francisco. He went into the clothing business in stockton with bernhard frankenheimer, a cousin. Vestiges of sutro baths golden gate national recreation. But twentyseven years of collection development was destroyed in the fire and earthquake of 1906 150,000 books including the budding rare books collection were lost along with the entire main library and two large branches. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet.
It is located near the geographical center of the city, south of twin peaks and portola drive and to the west of diamond heights and glen park. Founded on elements within adolph sutros original collection, sutro librarys genealogical and local history collection was formalized with the donation of the private library of berkeley resident henry byron phillips 5 jun 1850 22 nov 1924. Adolph sutroking of the comstock sutro, historical. Influences and lasting benefits by jacqueline proctor. The first work devoted to this former san francisco mayor and astute business leader in more than a generation, beyond the tunnel. It also has a comprehensive united states local history collection and adolph sutro s rare book and manuscript collections.
Adolph newton sutro was born on month day 1891, at birth place, california, to adolph, heinrich joseph sutro and clara kluge. Torch book lands end adolph sutro saw san francisco for the first time in 1850 when he sailed through the golden gate on the steamer california. Philanthropist, engineer, park commissioner, and former mayor of san francisco, adolph sutro 1830 1898, was one of the greatest philanthropists in the united states. Adolph sutros original collection california state library.
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