A visit to Sutro Heights Park

I took these photographs during a visit to Sutro Heights Park in 2007 and used Phyllis A. Whitney's The Trembling Hills as my guide. I suspect that the park looked much the same on that day as when Phyllis visited the park in 1954 while researching the background for her book. Of course, the park would have looked much different to her characters in 1906. I hope that you enjoy them.

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"At the entrance to a wide carriage drive was an ornate white arch. Two lions crouched on its pedestals at its base, guarding the way... Allison saluted the lions as old friends as they walked past the arch." - The Trembling Hills

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"They followed her up the steps and out upon the level top of the rocky promontory around which had been built a curved wall like a battlement. At intervals in the castellated granite were set more white urns and classic statues." - The Trembling Hills

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"Far below rose the... Cliff House, and below that jutted the Seal Rocks. White froth curled at their feet, and beyond rolled the great Pacific." - The Trembling Hills

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Here are some additional views from Sutro Heights Park.

A photograph of Adolph Sutro's house with its white lookout tower.

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View of Ocean Beach.

View of the area set back from Ocean Beach. This area contains a restored Dutch Windmill that was originally built in 1902 and is now a historic landmark.

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A place for resting. Could this have become the inspiration for the summerhouse in the novel?

"The summerhouse was a small wooden structure with a slanting shingled roof. Its windows and door stood open, and Sara sat down on the bench within". - The Trembling Hills

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