Sutro Baths Ruins Then & Now
San Francisco, CA
Sutro Baths Then & Now
San Francisco, CA
On March 14, 1896, the Sutro Baths were opened to the public as the world’s largest indoor swimming pool establishment. The baths were built on the western side of San Francisco by wealthy entrepreneur and former mayor of San Francisco Adolf Sutro(National Park Service)
Facilities included:
•Six saltwater pools and one freshwater pool. The baths were 499.5 feet (152.2 meters) long and 254.1 feet (77.4 m) wide for a capacity of 1.805 million US gallons (6,830 m3). They were equipped with seven slides, 30 swinging rings, and one springboard.
•A museum displaying an extensive collection of stuffed and mounted animals, historic artifacts, and artwork, much of which Sutro acquired from the Woodward’s Gardens estate sale in 1894
•A 2700-seat amphitheater, and club rooms
•517 private dressing rooms
•An ice skating rink
During high tides, water would flow directly into the pools from the nearby ocean, recycling the two million US gallons (7,600 m³) of water in about an hour.
A fire in 1966 destroyed the building while it was in the process of being demolished. The cause of the fire was arson.
Sources: Wikipedia, National Park Service
Historical Photographs Courtesy Library of Congress
Current Photograph 2022
State of Light •David C. Hill Photography
OMD E-M1III 12-40 Pro Zuiko Lens
