Standing tall high above the fog and rest of San Francisco is our own Sutro Tower, an immense broadcasting structure that, since 1973, has become an iconic San Francisco landmark. Identified by its signature red and white color scheme and angular design, Sutro Tower sits atop Mount Sutro and can be viewed from almost everywhere in the city, however, few truly know of its origins and historical significance.
We've got the breakdown on where this breathtaking, yet divisive piece of San Francisco came from and also what plans it could have had for the city's tourism.
See also: Here's Why San Francisco Gets So Foggy In The Summer
View this post on Instagram
Both the tower and the mountain it sits on are named after Adolph Sutro, the 1800s real estate investor who was a prominent figure in establishing parts of the city we recognize today (think Sutro Baths). In 1948, Sutro's grandson, Adolph G. Sutro, sold a mansion he had built on this hill in the 1930s to use as a transmitter site for the brand-new KGO-TV station.
The station then unveiled in 1949 with a 508-foot tall broadcast tower, which KPIX also later used, though it was not so powerful. Throughout the 1960s, the Bay Area had terrible television reception, urging the need for a more effective tower of greater broadcasting strength. Mount Sutro was chosen due to a conflict of Mount San Bruno, the other option, being in close proximity to the airport.
View this post on Instagram
The tower's development did not arrive smoothly, as it combatted plenty of safety concerns and vehement opposition, the most of which coming from our own San Francisco Chronicle. After several years of litigation, and clarifications over property values, nearby reservoir effects, and more, Sutro Tower's construction finally initiated in 1971.
The tower, designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates, and erected by Kline Towers, was over 60% taller than its alpha iteration and cost $4 million. Its official aesthetic and functionality strayed far from the original idealized plan, which was to color it gold and have a sky-view restaurant at the top, akin to the Space Needle in Seattle.
View this post on Instagram
The restaurant idea was abandoned due to the prohibition of tourists and non-workers around the site, and the color was changed to the bold red and white we know today for air traffic safety. The tapered middle and geometric silhouettes remained for style, gifting it a boldly innovative profile not seen anywhere else.
While the antiquated mansion and first tower were removed from the site, Sutro Tower's construction finished grandly in 1973, with the first successful signal broadcasting on July 4th. Over 3 million pounds of steel were used, fastened down by 15 million pounds of cement at the base of its tripod.
View this post on Instagram
This usage continued until 2009, when the tower began converting to fully-digital transmissions. Today the tower is also effectively utilized other key services such as law enforcement and emergency responders. The current adoration for the tower is still contested, with a clear divide on who think it stands as an essential and glorious part of our skyline, and those who view it as an obtrusive eyesore.
View this post on Instagram
Whichever side of the 977-foot-tall tower you stand on, it's clear that it remains to be a visible and colossal symbol of both our city's technological ingenuity, and our devotion to aesthetic design.
Enjoy this video from the Exploratorium breaking down the history further, as well as a dizzying view from the steep ride up, and the panoramic sights from its summit.
See also: Where Are San Francisco's Steepest Hills?
Photography by: Steven Coffey/Unsplash
