House in Sutro Heights, 1886, from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  House in Sutro Heights, 1886, from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  This is a scene in Sutro Heights in San Francisco in 1903.  This is a scene in Sutro Heights in San Francisco in 1903.  Irene Chichizola, and Mrs. Florence Shaughnessey (right) admire statuary in Sutro Heights, November 7, 1933.  Irene Chichizola, and Mrs. Florence Shaughnessey (right) admire statuary in Sutro Heights, November 7, 1933.  Home of Mrs. Emma Merritt, daughter of Adolph Sutro, at San Francisco's Sutro Heights, November 7, 1933.  Home of Mrs. Emma Merritt, daughter of Adolph Sutro, at San Francisco's Sutro Heights, November 7, 1933.  Gate to Sutro Heights, across from San Francisco' Ocean Beach, taken by the Western Photo Company, September 18, 1921.  Gate to Sutro Heights, across from San Francisco' Ocean Beach, taken by the Western Photo Company, September 18, 1921.  One of the Gardens in Sutro Heights, in 1889. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  One of the Gardens in Sutro Heights, in 1889. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Parapet, Cliff House and Pacific Ocean, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Parapet, Cliff House and Pacific Ocean, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Venus of Milo. (Antique.) Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Venus of Milo. (Antique.) Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, dwelling. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, dwelling. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Mercury. (Antique.) Florence. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Mercury. (Antique.) Florence. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Old Grove. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Old Grove. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal.,Camellia House. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal.,Camellia House. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Main Gate. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Main Gate. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Employees. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886, Employees. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Drawing Room. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Drawing Room. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  San Francisco, Cal., 1886. View from Reservoir. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  San Francisco, Cal., 1886. View from Reservoir. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Drawing Room. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Drawing Room. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Rock Wall and Parapet. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Rock Wall and Parapet. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Glimpse of Sutro Heights. "Auracaria" Norfolk Island Tree, New Zealand, San Francisco, Cal., J. McDonald photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Glimpse of Sutro Heights. "Auracaria" Norfolk Island Tree, New Zealand, San Francisco, Cal., J. McDonald photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Main Gate, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. W.C. Billington photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Main Gate, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. W.C. Billington photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Hon. Adolph Sutro, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Hon. Adolph Sutro, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Conservatory. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Conservatory. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Dwelling and Conservatory. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Dwelling and Conservatory. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  This rare photo shows "Chinese noble women" in San Francisco's Sutro Heights, taken by W.C. Billington, who had a photo gallery on the parapet, dated from the late 1880's or 1890's.  This rare photo shows "Chinese noble women" in San Francisco's Sutro Heights, taken by W.C. Billington, who had a photo gallery on the parapet, dated from the late 1880's or 1890's.  Vase near lower gate. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Vase near lower gate. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Marie Adams (pointing) and Alice Martin on parapet at Sutro Heights, November 19, 1933.  Marie Adams (pointing) and Alice Martin on parapet at Sutro Heights, November 19, 1933.  Old Grove. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Old Grove. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Pecheuse au filet et l'automne. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Pecheuse au filet et l'automne. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Panorama of Ocean Beach below Sutro Heights, looking from the Cliff House. March 11, 1951.  Panorama of Ocean Beach below Sutro Heights, looking from the Cliff House. March 11, 1951.  Rocky Point below Lower Terrace. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Rocky Point below Lower Terrace. Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Glimpse of Sutro Heights, ca. 1886. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Glimpse of Sutro Heights, ca. 1886. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. From the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Old Grove. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Old Grove. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  View from the Sutro Heights parapet, showing the Cliff House, Seal Rocks & and North Seal Rock on the far right. The road that the man and his dog are walking on is called North Esplanade, August 17, 1980.  View from the Sutro Heights parapet, showing the Cliff House, Seal Rocks & and North Seal Rock on the far right. The road that the man and his dog are walking on is called North Esplanade, August 17, 1980.  Danseuse. (Canova.) Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Danseuse. (Canova.) Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Old Grove, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Old Grove, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Rock wall and parapet, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Rock wall and parapet, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Plan of Sutro Heights, Cliff House & Seal Rocks, n.d., from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Plan of Sutro Heights, Cliff House & Seal Rocks, n.d., from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Statue of Schiller, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Statue of Schiller, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  View on Main Avenue, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  View on Main Avenue, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Parapet with Shepherd Boy, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Parapet with Shepherd Boy, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Ships entering the Golden Gate, as seen from Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Ships entering the Golden Gate, as seen from Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Vase near old Lodge, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  Vase near old Lodge, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  British lion at the entrance to Sutro Heights, August 12, 1980.  British lion at the entrance to Sutro Heights, August 12, 1980.  Venus de Milo in Sutro Heights gardens, November 7, 1933.  Venus de Milo in Sutro Heights gardens, November 7, 1933.  View on Main Drive, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  View on Main Drive, Sutro Heights. San Francisco, Cal., 1886. Taber photo from the Wyland Stanley Collection.  This shows how photos for print were constructed in 1933. This is a montage of images, that used to be glued together. The next slide shows how it appeared in an article about Sutro Heights, published November 19, 1933.  This shows how photos for print were constructed in 1933. This is a montage of images, that used to be glued together. The next slide shows how it appeared in an article about Sutro Heights, published November  Article about Sutro Heights published in the San Francisco Chronicle on November 19, 1933.  Article about Sutro Heights published in the San Francisco Chronicle on November 19, 1933.  A one time San Francisco Chronicle staffer, amassed a large collection of historic San Francisco photos. Here he is seen, in a Chronicle article, archiving some of them, September 5, 1950.  A one time San Francisco Chronicle staffer, amassed a large collection of historic San Francisco photos. Here he is seen, in a Chronicle article, archiving some of them, September 5, 1950.
San Francisco's west end was a once bustling, robust part of the city, as shown in this article. One of the vestiges of those days is Sutro Heights, which sits 200 feet above sea level, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the current version of the Cliff House and the grand Sutro Baths. At one time, you would have been able to peer at Playland at the Beach amusement park. While the original house, that belonged to the wealthy Adolph Sutro, is no longer there, the parapet, a gazebo, and vestiges of statuary are about all that is left structure-wise. The gardens, mature trees and parapet still attract many visitors.