The History of San Francisco Sutro Tower -- Historic San Francisco Landmark
In this concise historical monologue, Austin Klar explains why the 977‑foot Sutro Tower was constructed in 1973 by Klein Towers to overcome San Francisco’s notoriously poor television reception caused by the city’s hilly terrain. He notes that broadcasts began on Independence Day 1973, and that the tower faced strong local opposition at the time, with residents deeming it an eyesore. Over the decades, public sentiment shifted: today, views of the tower are prized and boost home values. Klar also details the tower’s ownership—Sutro Tower Inc., a not‑for‑profit corporation owned by the four original San Francisco broadcasters—and its status as the city’s tallest structure until Salesforce Tower eclipsed it in 2018. The piece ends with a call to follow for more Bay Area history.
