The San Francisco Cliff House Author:Mary Germain Hountalas, Sharon Silva The history of this fabled site spans 150 years, beginning in the mid-1800s when the original building stood alone on the edge of the Pacific. The next incarnation, built by the visionary Adolph Sutro, was a gingerbread castle that attracted Sarah Bernhardt, Buffalo Bill, and other celebrities of the day. Sutro's structure withstood the earthqua... more »ke of 1906 but was razed by fire in 1907. Rebuilt in 1909, the decades that followed saw the Cliff House go in and out of fashion with the public. Today, the Cliff House has undergone yet another renaissance, boasting two popular restaurants. This colorful history, which parallels the irrepressible spirit of San Francisco itself, is chronicled through colorful visuals and an insider's unique narrative.« less