The original Cliff House was destroyed by a tragic fire on Christmas Day, 1894.
The Demise of a Beloved Landmark
Before its unfortunate destruction, the Cliff House stood as a prominent and highly popular seaside attraction on the San Francisco coastline. Its widespread appeal led figures like Sutro to initiate construction on a dedicated railroad, aiming to transport even more people directly to this iconic destination. This initial structure was an original wood-frame building, a significant landmark of its time.
However, its celebrated existence came to an abrupt and unfortunate end due to a devastating blaze:
- Event: The original Cliff House was completely destroyed by fire.
- Date: This catastrophic event occurred on Christmas Day, 1894.
- Structure: The building lost was specifically the first, wood-frame iteration of the Cliff House.