Tuesday, January 24, 2006
In 1863, the first Cliff House was built by C.C. Butler and John P. Buckley. The guest register bares the names of three U.S. Presidents. In 1865, James Cooke walked a tightrope from Cliff House to Seal Rocks. The Cliff House was sold to Adolph Sutro in 1881. In 1888, he built a railroad in order to bring the tourists to the area. A fire then destroyed the first Cliff House on December 25, 1894.
In 1896, Adolph Sutro went to work rebuilding the Cliff House. The grandiose style estate cost $50,000 to build and was fashioned after a French Chateau. It boasted 8 stories, spires and an observation tower two hundred feet above sea level. It was a well-designed and graceful site for dining, and dancing. The first floor consisted of a large dining room, parlor, bar, private dining rooms and kitchens. The second floor was made up of 20 private lunchrooms, an art gallery and a gem exhibit. There was a photo gallery, reception room, parlors and large windows with panoramic views located on the third floor. While this most exquisite house survived the 1906 earthquake with only minor damage, it burned to the ground the next year during remodeling.
In 1896, Adolph Sutro went to work rebuilding the Cliff House. The grandiose style estate cost $50,000 to build and was fashioned after a French Chateau. It boasted 8 stories, spires and an observation tower two hundred feet above sea level. It was a well-designed and graceful site for dining, and dancing. The first floor consisted of a large dining room, parlor, bar, private dining rooms and kitchens. The second floor was made up of 20 private lunchrooms, an art gallery and a gem exhibit. There was a photo gallery, reception room, parlors and large windows with panoramic views located on the third floor. While this most exquisite house survived the 1906 earthquake with only minor damage, it burned to the ground the next year during remodeling.
posted by wilson @ 2:14 AM
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