Cliff House, San Francisco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cliff House |
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Cliff House from Ocean beach, 2010
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1863 |
| Street address | 1090 Point Lobos Ave |
| City | San Francisco |
| State | California |
| Postal/ZIP code | 94121 |
| Coordinates | 37°46′42″N 122°30′50″W / 37.778394°N 122.513935°W |
The Cliff House is a famous building in San Francisco, California. It sits high up on cliffs overlooking Ocean Beach. This spot is in the Outer Richmond neighborhood. The building looks out over the old Sutro Baths area. It is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which the National Park Service (NPS) runs. The NPS owns the Cliff House. Inside, there is a special room with a camera obscura, which is like a giant pinhole camera.
For most of its 157-year history, the Cliff House has been a popular place for restaurants and bars. People loved the amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Since 1977, private companies have managed these restaurants and bars. They work under a contract with the National Park Service. In December 2020, the company that had run the restaurants for 47 years announced it was closing. They said the NPS had not signed a new long-term agreement with any operator. Their old 20-year lease had ended in June 2018. Many ships have crashed on the shore below the Cliff House over the years.
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The First Cliff House (1863–1894)
Some stories say that in 1858, a man named Samuel Brannan built the first Cliff House. He supposedly used wood from a ship that crashed nearby. However, there is no real proof of this building. So, this story is likely just a legend.
According to the National Park Conservancy, Senator John Buckley and C. C. Butler built the first Cliff House. It opened in 1863. At first, it was hard to get there from the city. So, mostly horseback riders and picnickers visited. A year later, a private toll road opened. This road made it easier to reach the Cliff House. It became a popular Sunday trip for wealthy people.
Later, the road builders added a two-mile speedway. Rich San Franciscans would race their horses there. On weekends, thousands of horse-drawn carriages would visit. Soon, buses, trains, and streetcars made it even easier to get to the beach. People visiting Golden Gate Park also came to the Cliff House. They wanted meals and to see the sea lions on Seal Rocks. In 1877, the city bought the toll road, which is now Geary Street.
In 1883, a man named Adolph Sutro bought the Cliff House. He had become rich from silver mining. After a few years, the Cliff House was badly damaged. A ship named Parallel crashed nearby in 1887. It had burning oil lamps and dynamite on board. The ship exploded, and the blast was heard far away. It destroyed a large part of the Cliff House. The building was fixed, but then it burned down completely on Christmas night in 1894. This happened because of a faulty chimney. The guest book, which had signatures of three presidents and many famous people, was lost. This first version of the Cliff House lasted for 31 years.
The Second Cliff House (1896–1907)
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In 1896, Adolph Sutro rebuilt the Cliff House. He made it a grand, seven-story Victorian building. Some people called it "the Gingerbread Palace." It was built below his home on the cliffs of Sutro Heights. In the same year, work began on the Sutro Baths. These were huge indoor swimming pools, a museum, and a skating rink. Many San Franciscans came by train, bicycle, and horse to visit. Sutro bought collections of stuffed animals and art to display at both the Cliff House and Sutro Baths.
The 1896 Cliff House survived the 1906 earthquake with little damage. However, it burned to the ground on the evening of September 7, 1907.
The Third Cliff House (1909–Present)
Building the New Cliff House (1909–1937)
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After the fire, Dr. Emma Merritt, who was Sutro's daughter, hired architects Reid & Reid. She asked them to rebuild the restaurant in a new style. This style is called neo-classical. The building was finished in just two years. It is the basis for the Cliff House you see today. In 1914, a guidebook called it "one of the great Bohemian restaurants of San Francisco." It said that people had the "best breakfasts of them all" there.
Changes Over Time (1937–2003)
In 1937, George and Leo Whitney bought the Cliff House. They also owned the nearby Playland-at-the-Beach amusement park. They changed the Cliff House a lot, turning it into an American roadhouse. From 1955 to 1966, a "Sky Tram" operated across the Sutro Baths area. It carried up to 25 visitors from Point Lobos to the Cliff House balcony.
In 1972, when Playland closed, the Musée Mécanique moved into the Cliff House basement. This museum has old arcade games. In the early 1970s, artists painted a large mural of crashing waves on the outside of the building. These artists later became members of the rock band The Tubes.
The National Park Service (NPS) bought the building in 1977. It became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The NPS then hired Dan and Mary Hountalas to run the restaurants. The NPS renewed their contract in 1998.
Modern Era (2003–2020)
In 2003, the Cliff House went through a big renovation. Many of the changes made by the Whitneys were removed. The building was restored to look like it did in 1909. A new two-story section was added, overlooking the ruins of the Sutro Baths. (The baths had burned down in 1966.) During this restoration, the Musée Mécanique moved to Fisherman's Wharf.
The Cliff House had two restaurants: the casual Bistro Restaurant and the more formal Sutro's. There was also a Sunday Brunch buffet in the Terrace Room. The building also had a gift shop. The historic camera obscura is still on a deck overlooking the ocean. The Hountalas family continued to manage the Cliff House. They worked with the Park Service during the restoration, which finished in 2004.
During the government shutdown in 2013, the US Park Service ordered the restaurant to close. The owners tried to stay open but had to close. They were allowed to reopen on October 12, 2013.
Recent Closure and Future Plans (2021)
The company running the Cliff House announced on December 13, 2020, that they would close on December 31, 2020. They said they lost money because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also blamed the National Park Service (NPS) for not offering a new long-term lease. The restaurant had been operating with short-term leases since June 2018. The NPS said they offered a 3.5-year lease on December 30, but the company turned it down. On December 31, 2020, the Cliff House sign was removed.
The NPS says it wants to keep this important building open. However, they have paused looking for a new company to run the restaurants because of the pandemic. On February 2, 2021, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors asked the NPS to find a new company quickly. The Park Service confirmed they plan to do this.
Trademark Issues
After the Hountalas family left, it was discovered that their company had registered some "Cliff House" trademarks. This has led to questions about whether a new company will be able to use the "Cliff House" name. People wonder if this will affect the building's identity in the future.
Images for kids
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Cliff House from Ocean beach, 2010
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First Cliff House, around 1868
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Second Cliff House, around 1900
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Third Cliff House, around 1909
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Top: Third Cliff House, around 1950, after big changes in 1949.
Bottom: Third Cliff House, 2009, after being restored to its 1909 look.
