Bay area history and culture exploration
Kleykamp visited the San Francisco Mint Museum this past weekend and learned about the history of The Sutro Bath house on the Pacific coast. “I ran by that place without thinking twice about it” The Sutro baths are located in the West coast next to the infamous Seal Rock.
The bath house was erected in the late 19 century and was a head of it’s time. There were eight separate pools with seven different temperatures. A large steel frame and glass windows covered the pool. The interior served many different purposes throughout it’s legacy including a dance floor, ice skating rink and had seating for nearly 2700 in it’s amphitheater. Most of the interior was wood covered in a chartreuse paint. With time the building became less appealing for visitors; it has been said that the mixture of chlorine, salt and paint made the employees and clients sick. The building met it’s match in the sixties and construction crews were ordered to build a resort in place of the bath house. The building mysteriously burned down and with the business confusion side of things nothing was built. Today one can only see the rubble foundations that lay and remind us that nothing is permanent.
With Kleykamps interest in music he visited a Jazz bar on Haight street. Club Deluxe has live music practically every night with the exception of Sunday and another night. The bar is dimly lit with real candles on every table. The beer tap consist of one or two IPA’s and a wide selection of your standard bottle beers. The price is excellent considering that live music is provided. Grant Levin performs every Saturday night on the piano without sheet music and takes music recommendations. “Mr. Levin is wickedly talented” check out his work and buy his albums if you're into Jazz!
On the left hand side of the picture is the entrance what is known as the Ghost vault. When silver dollars were still in use this bank would stack the room full of coins to the ceiling. Inside the metal vault one can find small coin impressions all throughout giving it it’s namesake; Ghost vault. Check out the Mint Museum when you get the chance. “It reminds me of something out of Gringotts bank from Harry Potter.” The building seems to settle in place with rich history and dark secrets.
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