The Voices of Lands End

Cliff House and Sutro Baths Lands' End
Cliff House and Sutro Baths at Lands' End

Golden Gate NRA, GOGA 36597




In 1976, the areas of Lands End officially became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Since 1854, parts of these lands were both privately as well as federally owned and used as recreational playlands and coastal defenses. Although there are hundreds of years of stories, only a few were recorded. Here you can listen to these first hand stories of how it became a playland, a military defense site, and the experiences of those who ventured to "Lands End."

Click here for more history on Lands' End

 
Sutro Pleasure Grounds
Sutro Pleasure Grounds

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 13780



“Now, those three rides existed on the property, and the merry-go-round was there. I’m not certain about the -- the funhouse, but I have a tendency to believe it was there, too." -George K. Whitney Jr.

 
 
cliff house with sutro heights
Cliff House and Sutro Heights

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA-2316



"The first Cliff House I designate only the one that was tiny and original. Second Cliff House was the one with additions, which at least tripled the size of the original. And then that one burned on Christmas of 1894, and the Victorian was built. A fancy Victorian one was built by Adolph Sutro, who was the owner at that time."- Marilyn Blaisdell

 
 
Sutro Baths Ocean in Background
Sutro Baths

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives GOGA-3369



"we had one right at Sutro Baths. There was a Coast Guard Navy station that monitored the harbor. They had sonar devices. And we had a base end station there." -Lee Kanof

 
 
Aerial of Octagon Lookout
Aerial of Octagonal lookout at lands' End

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 41039



"My first memory is when we had the old station, the octagonal lookout down on the main highway." -Anne Morrisey

 
 
These oral histories may be used for any legitimate non-commercial public or press use with proper credit given to the National Park Service. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact the Park Archives and Records Center’s reference archivist at 415-561-2807 or e-mail us.

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More Stories about Lands End


Listen to Colonel Harrison Payne discuss harbor defenses on The Voices of Fort Point

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Last updated: April 9, 2024

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