I would like to share a message I recently received from someone who, via search engine, found Mount Sutro and decided to share a story with me. We have exchanged a few e-mails since and she has given me permission to share her original message here.

Your website about Mt. Sutro is very interesting. I myself have always had an "inexplicable fascination" with the tower, since I was a little kid back in the early '70s. We actually lived in the valley, but my grandmother, who was very sick with cancer at the time, was being treated at UCSF hospital there on the mountain. I recall as a child sitting in the back of the car, driving to San Francisco to visit her and my parents always telling me to "look for grandma's tower" and by that I knew we were getting close. It was visible as we'd come over the mountain into the bay, before we'd reach the bridge — it was so tall. The tower, of course, is located just behind the hospital, so I'd spot it and watch as it got closer and closer until we were finally there. So now even to this day, I can't make that drive to the City without seeing that tower and thinking about my grandmother, who has since passed. Isn't it bizarre the things we associate certain people??

Anyway, it was really fascinating to read all of your facts about it. Something stirred in me to run a search for Sutro Tower, and so I stumbled across your website! Cute cat, by the way. :-) I have three.

Have a good weekend,
Melinda

Thank you, Melinda. Your message made my day.

Sutro Tower and Mount Sutro
Welcome to the most comprehensive guide to Sutro Tower and Mount Sutro on the internet. I hope you will find this resource interesting and informative. You are invited to contribute your comments, stories, news, photographs, updates, corrections and links, or send private correspondence.

Thank you for visiting!  — David July All your Sutro Tower are belong to us.

Sutro Tower is a 977 foot (298 metre) self-supporting steel structure in San Francisco, California built to provide radio, television and high-definition television broadcasts as well as additional communication services despite the hilly topography of the bay area.

The physical address of the tower is 1 La Avanzada Street, San Francisco, California 94131-1124. The former address 250 Palo Alto Avenue, San Francisco, California 94114-2123 is still occasionally listed on official city and county documents. Sutro Tower stands at about 37.755278° (37°45'19.0") North latitude and 122.45277° (122°27'10.0") West longitude (view map) placing it just southeast of the Mount Sutro peak on an adjacent and connected hill that may be considered Clarendon Heights. The 5.6-acre fenced private property (Assessors Block 2724, Lot 3) includes the tower, 31,000 square-foot (2,880 square metre) transmission building, garage and storage building, guard station, diesel-powered emergency generators, two underground diesel storage tanks in concrete vaults for leak containment, ancillary antennas, assorted equipment and a paved, striped parking lot for twenty-three (23) automobiles.

Sutro Tower is owned and operated by Sutro Tower, Inc., an independent corporation founded in 1968 by the owners of bay area stations KTVU 2 (Cox Enterprises), KRON 4 (then Chronicle Publishing now Young Broadcasting), KPIX 5 (then Westinghouse Broadcasting now CBS Corporation) and KGO-TV 7 (then American Broadcasting Company now Disney/ABC). The owners hold equal shares in the corporation, which owns the tower and leases antenna space to broadcasters and other telecommunications clients. Pricing is reportedly adjusted for community stations like KQED 9 (Northern California Public Broadcasting) and KMTP 32 (Minority Television Project).

The General Manager of Sutro Tower is Eric Dausman, joining the staff (STI) on 06 April 2009 as Vice President and successor to Eugene S. Zastrow. Following a six-month transition period during the DTV Conversion Project, Zastrow retired in October 2009 after working at the tower since 1992. Before moving to San Francisco, Dausman spent eighteen years at KGW-TV, Portland, Oregon as Director of Technology.

Breaking ground in 1971 and completed in 1972, Sutro Tower was designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates of Los Angeles, California and fabricated/erected by Kline Towers, a subsidiary of Kline Iron and Steel of Columbia, South Carolina. The conditional use permit granted for the tower's construction occurred in San Francisco Planning Commission Resolution 5967. The first transmissions from the tower commenced 04 July 1973. Sutro Tower’s base is 834 feet (254 metres) above mean sea level and the total height of the tower above mean sea level is 1,811 feet (552 metres), with an antenna height above average terrain of 732 feet (223 metres). With the help of the terrain below it, the three-pronged tower is the highest structure in the bay area.

The Sutro Tower site is the original location of the Sutro Mansion built in the 1930's by aviator and adventurer Adolph Gilbert Sutro (1891–1981), grandson of the former Mayor. The three-story La Avanzada villa would serve as home to Sutro and his mother until their relocation to land near Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. In 1948, he sold the house and surrounding land for $125,000 USD to the American Broadcasting Company for use as their new television station transmitter site.

On 05 May 1949, fifty employees at the Sutro Mansion studios produced the first show premiering KGO-TV via the new 580 foot (177 metre) broadcast tower. About two years later, KPIX and several FM radio stations began renting space on the tower starting a trend that would shape the future of the site through the present. Although KGO-TV moved into new studios at 277 Golden Gate Avenue in 1953, the mansion continued to serve as the equipment and tower facility. By 1956, the broadcasters decided in order to cover more of the area terrain a new, taller antenna tower was required. After the candidate site on Mount San Bruno was determined to be too close to the airport to support a tall tower, the Sutro Mansion site was selected. After years of hearings and litigation, Sutro Tower, Inc. was incorporated on 03 May 1968 and the $4 million Sutro Tower project got underway. Citing trespassing vandals and fire hazards as cause, the city included a directive in the final agreement that the mansion be removed during the project.

In 1978–1979, a foundation outline was still visible from the tower above, but ground foliage eventually obscured it. Some of the few remaining artifacts from the Sutro Mansion broadcast days include (clockwise as pictured below, 22 May 2009) photographs of the site hanging inside the modern office, a backlit stained glass window rescued from the Mansion's library—now hanging near the Sutro Tower Pepsi machine that mysteriously dispenses Coke products—and the original tower's southwestern concrete base, used as of May 2009 to secure pulley system equipment to the ground.

The tower was designed to withstand seismic activity. Part of that design includes the foundation, made with about 15 million pounds (6.8 million kilograms) of concrete. The tower itself weighs about 3.7 million pounds (1.7 million kilograms). This engineering combination places the tower’s center of gravity below ground. In 1997, the City of San Francisco designated Sutro Tower an essential facility, recognizing it as a key component of the city's emergency response plans to ensure the continuous availability of transmission services. In order to comply with new standards required by this designation, Kline Towers with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger installed additional seismic upgrades in September 2003 designed to protect the tower from earthquakes in excess of 8.0 on the Richter scale.

Measurements to ascertain the radio frequency (RF) exposure levels at Sutro Tower are within FCC guidelines (Docket 93-62) are taken every three years or when any DTV antenna is activated or increased in power. Hammett & Edison, Inc. of Sonoma, California has conducted these exposure studies since at least 2006. The exposure study (STI) conducted on 30 June 2006 found the tower in compliance with the "requirements for limiting public exposure to radio frequency energy." The exposure study (STI) conducted on 01 July 2009 found "the maximum ambient RF levels were well below the prevailing standard" at all points and that "the RF exposure levels at all but one of the 26 reference points are less than those measured during the last set of measurements done in June 2006." Following the completion of the DTV project, an exposure study (STI) was conducted on 24 November 2009. The measurements taken complied with the requirements of both the agreement with area residents (STI) and the government mandated standards for RF energy exposure.

During the 06 December 2006 special holiday episode of the Discovery Channel series MythBusters, co-hosts Tory Belleci, Grant Imahara and Kari Byron pay a visit to Sutro Tower general manager Gene Zastrow (now retired) to test a theory about RF. The basic premise of the myth they are investigating is that since microwave ovens use energy similar to that of broadcast towers, you should be able to cook food by placing it at or near such a facility. After declining the team's request to attach a turkey to Sutro Tower to see what happens, Zastrow says he doubts the experiment would work. "Microwave transmitters that the stations use are very low power. They're in the neighborhood of a couple of watts, as opposed to a microwave oven which is, you know, seven, eight-hundred, even up to twelve-hundred watts of power, plus it's very confined." The team eventually tries a portable microwave transmitter atop a KRON TV news van and the large radar aboard the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien, but all tests fail to heat the turkey rendering the myth busted. You can download and watch the Sutro Tower segment from the episode or read a transcript.

The tower also receives an annual structural inspection conducted by an independent engineering firm, the last of which was performed on Leg C and the south face of the tower on 08–09 October 2008 by CEL Consulting of Oakland, California. According to the inspection report (STI), the engineer found minor corrosion on some fasteners (requiring cleaning and repainting, or replacement) and diagonal strands (to be "addressed during the next scheduled construction at the site"). Overall, the structural members, skin and the three leg bases showed no signs of distortion, distress or overload.

Sutro Tower's FAA Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) number is 1001289, File Number A0122425. Sutro Tower, Inc. holds FCC Registration Number 0006161137 and FCC License ID L00232792. Pursuant to USDOT/FAA Advisory Circular 70/7460-1K, Sutro Tower is equipped with FAA-approved lighting some of which is provided by Flash Technology of Franklin, Tennessee. Lamp replacements are installed about every two months according to Sutro Tower maintenance supervisor David Grimes (watch "Who Changes The Lights On Sutro Tower?"). The lighting compliment includes twelve (12) high-intensity white flashing obstruction beacons, nine (9) medium intensity flashing red beacons, eighteen (18) steady-burning obstruction lights and three (3) red/white antenna beacons. The tower body is painted in alternating bands of Federal Standard 595 Color 12197 Aviation Orange and Federal Standard 595 Color 17875 Aviation White by D. Zelinsky & Sons of Brisbane, California.

A small two-person elevator in the western leg of the tower provides access to the upper levels. Equipment under a certain weight can be moved up and down via a system of ropes. Pacific Gas and Electric supplies the substantial power needs of Sutro Tower. To meet the one to two million watt requirements of the tower, PG&E provides two 12.5-kilovolt feeds from separate substations, while on-site emergency diesel generators provide backup redundancy. On a typical day, there are an average of seven (4–10) employees on-site with four working for Sutro Tower, Inc. and the others their respective broadcasters. Staff for each station take their programming signals, received by microwave or fiber optic cable, and process/amplify them for public broadcast.

In October 2007, Sutro Tower began participation in the California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Project run by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Monitoring equipment was installed in September 2007 just above Level 3 at 400 feet (122 metres) and on Level 6 at 760 feet (232 metres). Twice daily, the equipment takes in air and transports it to the ground level for on-site carbon dioxide and methane analysis. Fluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and other greenhouse gases are analyzed at the NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, on a weekly basis. Sutro Tower is also a data collection site (STR) for the NOAA ESRL/GMD Tall Tower Network.

During the early morning of Sunday, 08 February 2009, a television station's transformer at Sutro Tower overheated causing a great deal of smoke and subsequently triggering the fire alarm. The San Francisco Fire Department responded to the site and investigated the matter as discussed in the official Incident Report (STI). No flames were produced during the incident and the smoke diminished once the equipment was powered down. Gene Zastrow observes, "It's very unusual for a transformer to overheat but occasionally a small manufacturing defect can, over time, cause overheating. This is the first time in the 17 years of my tenure this or any other situation has caused a fire department response."

Sutro Tower, Inc. maintains the official Sutro Tower Antenna Status page displaying which transmitters are in operation. Standalone and historical diagrams are available for download below.

2009-11-01 Current as of 2011-09-23	2009-01-31 Current versus Future
2008-05-17	2008-05-17 Upgrade Proposal
2003-06-14	1998-02-05

Approximately 184 other small and ancillary antennas exist for backup and other communications services including those of the California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspector and SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio's terrestrial repeater 48. Other antenna systems are located on the support building roof, in part to receive signals from area broadcasters for retransmission and testing.

The Sutro Tower Digital Television Conversion Project took place between January and November 2009. Transforming the look and functionality of the tower, the DTV project primarily consisted of removing analog antennas and installing new digital antennas, a complete history of which is detailed below.

DTV first came to the tower in November 1998 with the installation of a stacked UHF antenna array between Level 5 and Level 6. The interim array consisted of four ~32 foot (~9.8 metre) antennas attached to a 125 foot (38.1 metre) vertical steel truss. This structure provided service to KRON-DT 4 and KBCW-DT 44 on Antenna 1, KGO-DT 7, KQED-DT 9 and KMTP-DT 32 on Antenna 2, KTVU-DT 2, KCNS-DT 38 and KCSM-DT 60 on Antenna 3 and KPIX-DT 5, KFSF-DT 66 and KOFY-DT 20 on Antenna 4. Installed at the bottom of this truss is the antenna for KSOL 98.9 FM, the only antenna scheduled to remain here after the DTV antennas are relocated to the stacks atop the tower.

On 12 December 2007, Dielectric Communications of Raymond, Maine (who acquired Kline Towers in 2004) announced they signed a $1.75 million deal with Sutro Tower, Inc. to complete a series of upgrades and enhancements over the next three years, including work to phase out analog television, install auxiliary digital antennas and move the primary digital equipment to the Level 6 stacks. Specific additions include TFU-WB UHF slot cavity antennas, TFU-JSC/VP high-power pylon antennas, TUC and TUA wideband UHF panel antennas, combiners, transmission lines, two high-speed wireless data services and additional components.

As part of the San Francisco Planning Department review of the project (case 2007.0206E), a draft Environmental Impact Report (sfgov) was published on 17 May 2008 in advance of a public hearing on 26 June 2008. The report contained an overview of the upgrades proposed, an environmental impact survey analysis, potential project alternatives and a review of mitigation measures. The Comments and Responses (sfgov) document released 01 October 2008 contains summaries of oral comments made during public hearings and those received in writing during the 17 May 2008–01 July 2008 public comment period. Local news stations also conducted interviews and published information to help inform the public.

The Planning Commission certified the EIR and approved the project on 23 October 2008. This approval included an additional condition where Sutro Tower, Inc. must submit the final terms of their agreement with several neighborhood associations prior to the expiration of the EIR appeal period. The Final Terms of the Agreement to Provide Information and Extend Certain Services to Sutro Tower Area Residents (STI) were entered into on 07 November 2008 paving the way for the project's start.

Work began in mid-January 2009 starting with the construction of a rooftop equipment enclosure and reinforcement of the tower to accommodate an auxiliary digital antenna array. On 21 January 2009, the first version of The DTV Delay Act of 2009, legislation pushing the digital television transition deadline from 17 February 2009 to 12 June 2009, was introduced in the Senate. Six days later, Gene Zastrow suggested the delay could benefit broadcasters since backup digital transmitters were not yet installed. It was also noted that continuing to operate analog and digital simultaneously would keep the cost of electricity high for the stations.

The Delay Act passed the Senate on 29 January 2009 and the House of Representatives on 04 February 2009. Agents of the stations that broadcast from Sutro Tower met on 05 February 2009 to discuss how they would proceed. Since the legislation did not prohibit broadcasters from sticking to the original date or transitioning in the subsequent months before 12 June, two bay area stations considered the option to cease analog operations. The next day, KGO-TV president Valari Staab provided an unconfirmed list to the San Francisco Chronicle indicating KICU 36 had selected 17 February and KOFY 20 might transition 21 February. The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on 11 February 2009 and the FCC released an order on 20 February 2009 directing all stations planning to cease analog operations before 12 June 2009 to inform them of that decision by 17 March 2009.

The auxiliary stacked UHF antenna array between Level 3 and Level 4 was installed and made operational in April 2009. This backup DTV array used when the primary transmitters must be powered down consists of two 47.6 foot (14.5 metre) antennas attached to a 160 foot (48.8 metre) vertical steel truss. This structure provides service to KOFY 20, KPIX 5, KFSF 66, KRON 4 and KTVU 2 on Antenna 1 and KQED 9, KMTP 32, KCNS 38, KCSM 60 and KBCW 44 on Antenna 2. In addition, KGO-DT 7 has an auxiliary VHF antenna on Level 2.

After additional reinforcement work in May 2009 to accommodate the new digital antennas, operations began on the three existing vertical mast assemblies. Extending 215 feet (65.5 metres) upward from Level 6, the solid round steel masts are made from A53 of A106 Grade B certified pipe fabricated by Lingo, Inc., of Camden, New Jersey. They are attached to the tower with an X-braced steel pedestal and secured by Phillystran, Inc. synthetic fiber guy wires. Removal of the KGO, KBCW and KOFY analog antennas on Mast B (southern stack) commenced in April 2009. On Friday, 12 June 2009 at 2359 PDT, all analog operations were discontinued. The 40.5 foot (12.3 metre) antenna for KGO-DT was installed atop the mast in July 2009 followed by the 30.4 foot (9.3 metre) antenna for KBCW-DT added below it.

Next, a gin pole was added to Mast A (western stack) in preparation for the 28 July 2009 removal of the KRON and KPIX analog antennas. The remaining KTVU analog antenna was removed 04–07 August 2009. These changes received attention by local observers, as the western mast's removal was plainly visible. Construction of the new 156.5 foot (47.7 metre) mast began around 12 August 2009 and completed around 21 August 2009. The 64 foot (19.5 metre) KOFY-DT antenna was hoisted up to Mast A and side-mounted to it on 27 August 2009. The bottom half of the combined KPIX-DT/KRON-DT/KTVU-DT antenna was installed on 28 August 2009 and the top half on 29 August 2009. By 05 September 2009, the guy wires were installed and the gin pole removed.

Work started on Mast C (northern stack) the week of 07 September 2009, beginning with the installation of a gin pole and removal of the KQED, KMTP, KFSF and KOIT antenna guy wires. Removal of these antennas was completed by 16 September 2009. Most of the mast was then removed between 18–20 September 2009, followed by the construction of the new mast section and guy wires 22–27 September 2009. The first section of the combined KQED-DT, KMTP-DT, KCNS-DT and KCSM-DT digital antenna was installed atop the new mast on 30 September 2009, quickly followed by the second section on 01 October 2009, the guy wires on 02 October 2009 and the new KFSF-DT side-mounted antenna on 03 October 2009. Part of the installation was performed by Seacomm Erectors, Inc. of Sultan, Washington. Around 08 October 2009, the installation of additional transmission lines was completed. During the week of 12 October 2009, all stations broadcasted from their auxiliary antennas while the former main antennas were disconnected, the new main antennas brought online and tests conducted.

All major work with regard to the 11 digital television stations was completed on 21 October 2009. In the following weeks, each station tuned their equipment, adjusting power levels and optimizing the signal. The final phase of the project included removal of any remaining analog auxiliary and interim digital antennas. By 24 October 2009, the temporary DTV antenna stack installed in November 1998 was removed. During the following two weeks, the new KOIT-FM side-mount antenna was installed and the KOIT-FM temporary antenna, on the northern outrigger since April 2009, was removed. The project was completed on Friday, 06 November 2009.

Larry Kenney has a detailed collection of photographs covering each phase of the conversion project. You can browse the sections by timeframe:

1. November 1998 — 07 August 2009
2. 12 August — 05 September 2009
3. 07 September 2009 — 14 November 2009

There are many resources available to help you receive broadcasts from Sutro Tower and other bay area transmitters. A list of stations broadcasting from Sutro Tower is available, as well as the San Francisco Chronicle's general list of area television, FM radio and AM radio stations. Many of the station websites provide answers to questions about receiving their programming.

You can also use the AntennaWeb Lookup Tool to learn the distance and compass heading from any address to your favorite station's transmitter (session cookies required). For a comprehensive listing of bay area and general HDTV tips and tools, including how-to guides on antenna setup and configuration, visit Bill & Larry's Broadcasting Page.

Finally, Sutro Tower, Inc. published the following troubleshooting steps to assist viewers having difficulty after the DTV conversion project.

If you have lost or missing channels:

1. Make sure your antenna is designed for UHF and VHF. Only two VHF channels are used for digital signals now in the San Francisco Bay area. They are KGO Channel 7 and KNTV Channel 11. However, only Channel 7 broadcasts from Sutro Tower. All of the other TV channels now broadcast on UHF, so it is very important to have a good quality UHF antenna.
2. Change the position of your antenna. If is an indoor antenna, move it to a new location and scan again. You might need to move the antenna several times to find a position that works for all channels. If you have an outdoor antenna, you can pan the antenna left or right and try a re-scan. It may require several tries with the antenna in different positions to find a spot that works for all channels. Re-scan after each time you reposition your antenna to see if you have found the best spot to point your antenna.
3. Ask neighbors and friends to help. If you do not have the ability to move antennas around or are confused about re-scanning, please ask a neighbor or friend for help.
4. Early generation TV sets and converter boxes do not work as well as the ones made today. If you have a TV set with a built in digital tuner or digital converter box that is over 5 years old, consider replacing it.
5. Finally, if you would like to report reception issues, please send a note to infosutrotower.com. Sutro Tower, Inc. may not respond to all e-mail, but they will keep a tabulation of the problem areas for their Engineers to evaluate.

The basic re-scan procedure:

1. Press menu on your remote and choose the channel scan function.
2. Your TV set or converter box will then find all the channels now available in your area.
3. Do not forget to re-scan the channels on all of your TV sets.

The advanced re-scan procedure:

1. Disconnect the antenna from the converter box or digital TV.
2. Re-scan the converter box or digital TV without the antenna connected.
3. Unplug the converter box or digital TV from the electrical outlet for at least one minute.
4. Reconnect the antenna to the converter box or digital TV and plug the unit back into the electrical outlet.
5. Re-scan the converter box or digital TV a second time.

At 908 feet (277 metres) and to the northwest of Sutro Tower, Mount Sutro is part of the Franciscan Assemblage, the unique geological formations found on and near the San Francisco Peninsula. The topography is mostly made of pillow basalt and chert—micro and cryptocrystalline sedimentary rocks—from the early Cretaceous and/or late Jurassic periods. The hill is "capped by a highly fractured and weathered chert formation which tilts steeply downward in a westerly direction," according to the 21 January 1966 Dames & Moore soil and foundation survey report.

First appearing on maps in 1833 as Blue Mountain, Mount Sutro's history of names has been thoroughly researched by amateur historian Dan Schneider. The original designation was given by Captain Frederick William Beechey (1796–1856) of the British Royal Navy around 1826–1827. It was later unofficially renamed Mount Parnassus by Adolph Heinrich Joseph Sutro (1830–1898), a successful engineer, businessman, real estate investor and the 24th Mayor of San Francisco (1895–1897). When the Sierra Club decided to christen the peak Sutro Crest in 1910, daughter Dr. Emma Sutro Merritt objected and in 1911 the name Mount Sutro was instead made official.

Adolph Sutro lived in his birthplace Prussia until 1850 when he moved to the United States. Over the next ten years, he built a relationship with Bank of California founder William Ralston and eventually designed, promoted and built (1860–1878) what would be known as the Sutro Tunnel. The tunnel was designed to drain water from the Comstock Lode silver ore mine under present-day Virginia City, Nevada approximately 3.84 miles (6.18 metres) as the bird flies to an exit point in Sutro, Nevada, near Dayton.

Moving back to San Francisco in 1879, Sutro began making large real estate investments in locations like Mount Parnassus, Land's End and Mount Davidson. In the continuing years, Sutro headed projects he is probably best remembered for today. Among these are the Sutro Baths, opening on 14 March 1896 as the largest indoor bathing facility ever constructed, the November 1886 Arbor Day planting of the Sutro Forest on his land spanning from Mount Parnassus to Blue Mountain and south to Ocean Avenue, and the wildlife preserve designation bestowed upon Seal Rocks in 1887 at Sutro's urging to protect the sea lion colony living there.

The surface is undergoing a botanical restoration led by the University of California, San Francisco, owners and custodians of the 61-acre Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve. UCSF, whose Medical Center is located to the north of the reserve, has the support of several volunteer groups including the Mt. Sutro Stewards, Nature in the City and the California Native Plant Society.

This partnership has worked to remove non-native species, repopulate indigenous plants and restore public trails even unearthing a trail hidden for years by the brambles, flora and fauna. Believed to date to 1906 or earlier, this western ridge trail was restored for public use. In 2003, UCSF received a $100,000 grant from the Rotary Club of San Francisco to develop the native plant demonstration area located on the summit of Mount Sutro. Volunteers meet on the first Saturday of every month to maintain and improve the existing trail network; remove and prune invasive blackberry, ivy and weeds; and help sustain native plants in the summit garden and demonstration area.

Near the demonstration area is the former location of Nike Missile site SF-89C, part of the Project Nike US Army anti-aircraft missile defense system. The Mount Sutro control area worked in concert with Battery Caufield SF-89L, missile launch site and headquarters for the 740th AAA Battalion at Fort Winfield Scott. Starting development in 1945 and going operational in 1953, Project Nike would operate up to 280 batteries nationwide until 1979. SF-88 at Fort Barry, Marin County, was decommissioned in 1974 and transformed into a public museum operated by the National Park Service (Golden Gate National Recreation Area).

Located in the heart of the city, Mount Sutro is surrounded by several residential neighborhoods. The southeast corner not far from the summit is home to the UCSF Aldea San Miguel housing complex along Behr Avenue and Johnstone Drive. Occupying the southern and southwestern sides of Mount Sutro, the Forest Knolls community exists east and north of Warren Drive, south and west of the Mount Sutro summit and west of Sutro Tower. South of the tower is Clarendon Heights and the community of Midtown Terrace, established in 1957 and consisting of 817 residential homes. Mount Sutro is bounded on the west by Clarendon Avenue south of the Twin Peaks Boulevard intersection. Winding counter-clockwise along Laguna Honda Boulevard, Woodside Avenue and Portola Drive, the southern border meets Twin Peaks Boulevard in the southeast and follows the Boulevard north to Clarendon. Bordering the southeast corner of the UCSF campus lays the Interior Green Belt, an urban forest featuring various bird and sensitive plant species. Just north of the forest is the small and scenic community of Parnassus Heights.

In May 2009, UCSF announced they had obtained preliminary approval for two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants totaling $337,560 for two fire mitigation projects. Within the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, the South Ridge project area is comprised of eight acres to the immediate west of the UCSF Aldea housing facility and the Edgewood Avenue project area is comprised of six acres in the northeastern section of the reserve. The proposal calls for the removal of dead and live vegetation by means of "goat grazing, mechanical clearing, hand-clearing and chemical application." The blue gem eucalyptus and Himalayan blackberry are specifically targeted, however UCSF will work with scientists and the Mount Sutro Stewards to determine which species should remain and the exact amount of vegetation to be removed. Thereafter, approximately 225 native, more fire resistant species of trees will be planted along with grasses and wildflowers.

In response to criticism of the plan from some local residents, UCSF addressed specific concerns and announced they would delay the project in order to hold additional public meetings. Organizations supporting the UCSF plan include the Mount Sutro Stewards, Nature in the City, SF Urban Riders, the California Native Plant Society, the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the Cole Valley Improvement Association. Opponents of the plan like Save Mount Sutro Forest and the San Francisco Tree Council claim fire mitigation is just an excuse to remove non-native species and believe the risk of fires will actually increase.

On 25 February 2010, UCSF announced they were withdrawing the FEMA grant applications because their timelines would not permit the creation of demonstration areas as necessary per the 2001 Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Management Plan. The Environmental Impact Report required by FEMA, which would take two years and place a moratorium on any mountain work, was also cited as a reason for the withdrawal during a 24 March 2010 community meeting. UCSF's new plan calls for a yearlong California Environmental Quality Act review, the development of a two-acre demonstration area and continued community involvement through a series of scheduled community workshops. According to these new plans, work on the demonstration area would begin in September 2011.

While public tours of the site are not permitted—look at pictures of private tours—those wishing to see Sutro Tower up close may do so on public lands. The Summit Reservoir, a 14 million gallon drinking water and fire protection resource built in 1954, is located to the immediate northeast of Sutro Tower and offers the closest views of the tower and building. Two or three parking spaces are located just outside the Sutro Tower main gate on La Avanzada Street, but ample street parking is available along Palo Alto Avenue and Marview Way to the north and east of the reservoir. In March 2004, the Summit Reservoir was targeted for a comprehensive rehabilitation and seismic upgrade, the first of such projects scheduled per the Public Utilities Commission Water System Improvement Program.

The refurbished reservoir was returned to service in August 2006 complete with a paved public path around the perimeter. This path has evolved into a nice, quiet place frequented by residents of all walks of life. At the southern corner of the path, near the painted 800 marker, you can join a series of tranquil unpaved trails through the woods, one of which encircles Sutro Tower and ends near the base of La Avanzada Street at Dellbrook Avenue.

Some of the best views of the bay area are available one-quarter mile (402 metres) to the east at Twin Peaks. Accessible by car via Twin Peaks Boulevard, the popular lookout on Christmas Tree Point Road may be a hit with tourists, but truly offers a unique and sweeping view anyone can appreciate. A small unpaved trail exists for those wishing to travel between Sutro Tower and Twin Peaks on foot, dramatically reducing the trip's distance and time versus following the roads. Exit from the northeast corner of Summit Reservoir, the only paved access excluding La Avanzada Street, and turn right onto Marview Way. When you get to the gated driveway on the left across from Farview Court, you will see the start of the trail to the right of the gate. Take the trail east, south of the open water Twin Peaks Reservoir and behind several private residences toward the tree at Twin Peaks Boulevard. From there, pass the panel in the ground, hop the guardrail, cross the road and take the steep trail that leads you to the observation area. Stand next to the green trash receptacle at the westernmost part of the parking loop where the trail ends for an unobstructed view of Sutro Tower and the reservoirs. For a great panorama of the city, hike up the stairs to the top of the Twin Peaks summits.

Both of the above-described unpaved trails are potentially hazardous with uneven terrain, blocked/narrow footpaths and proximity to various plants and animals (I saw a fox during the day). You are doing so at your own risk, so please explore safely and stay on public lands. Remember, Sutro Tower's fenced-in property is private and any trespassers will be detected, arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The Twin Peaks Reservoir is the backbone of the San Francisco Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS), which began development in 1908 following the great earthquake of 18 April 1906 and the subsequent destruction of much of the city by uncontrollable fires (still the worst ever in US history). The 10.5 million gallon (39.7 million litre) storage reservoir constructed with 6 inch (15.24 centimetre) thick reinforced concrete is located at an elevation of 758 feet (231 metres) as originally envisioned by Chief Dennis T. Sullivan in the 1890s. Divided into equal bays, a sudden break in the distribution system would only affect one half leaving the other available for use. Further down the system are the Ashbury Tank and Jones Street Tank, each with a capacity of 500,000 gallons (1.9 million litres) and 750,000 gallons (2.8 million litres) respectively.

In addition to the scenic overlook, parking area and man who sells decent food and drink from his truck during the day, Twin Peaks is also home to the City and County of San Francisco's Central Radio Station. This facility has one 180 foot (54.9 metre) tower, ASR 1025293, and one 197 foot (60 metre) tower, ASR 1064388, providing communications support for the City Police and Fire Departments, 911 dispatch system, Sheriff, District Attorney, Office of Emergency Management, Public Utilities Commission and the Unified School District (operating radio station KALW).

To the south of Sutro Tower and west of Twin Peaks is Sutro Reservoir 10-024, completed in 1952 and containing 32 million gallons of potable water. The tank is built into the side of Mount Sutro with a topographically sloped concrete liner and walls 40 feet (12 metres) high. In 2003, Lotus General Contractors repaired the 300,000 square foot (27,871 square metre) concrete lid and resurfaced it for use as tennis courts (not yet implemented). In 2006, Sutro Reservoir was refurbished and seismically stabilized as part of the Water System Improvement Program. The Midtown Terrace Playground and Sutro Recreation Center, 280 Olympia Way, is open to the public at the southwest corner of the reservoir.

There is at least one camera on Sutro Tower currently in operation, but it does not appear to be publicly available at this time. However, a monitor on-site does display the current view. The last known public view from the Sutro Cam permanently blue screened on 06 May 2004, 0941.

Over the years, many other webcams have come and gone offering views of Sutro Tower and Twin Peaks. The Powazek SutroCam froze on 05 December 2000, 1035. A permanent foggy vista captured 28 July 2005, 0940 is all that is left of the Twin Peaks Cam. My long-time favorite City Birds Cam disappeared on 27 March 1999. Most recently, Jeffrey Bennett's Bernal Heights Cam was producing a great time-lapse image in the direction of Sutro Tower and Twin Peaks, however he has since moved to Minnesota.

Not to be confused with the Twin Peaks in San Francisco, Mike Richmond maintains a comprehensive weather station (providing data to the National Weather Service) and webcam from Twin Peaks, California within the San Bernardino National Forest.

My personal fascination with Sutro Tower and Mount Sutro is inexplicable, although I have always held an interest in technology, including computers, amateur radio (de KD4PGJ) and electronics. It all began during my first visit to San Francisco in 1989. I remember seeing Sutro Tower while traveling around the city and taking a liking to it. My first trip to the Twin Peaks overlook was especially memorable because of the great view of the tower there.

Another memory from 1989 is my visit to the Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts. An exhibit there at the time called Golden Gate Bridge Video featured the Golden Gate Fly-Over (1987) film directed by Michael Naimark, an aerial movie map filmed from a helicopter using a gyro-stabilized camera at 1,000 feet (305 metres) above sea level. The exhibit allowed guests to effectively fly over the city using a trackball to control the motion. When it was my turn, I used the trackball to move through the city towards Twin Peaks. Before I knew it, I was staring at Sutro Tower on the screen like I was hovering next to it. This was a fairly remarkable experience from the perspective of an eight-year-old in 1989, well before present-day resources like Google Earth (open with 3D Buildings and Terrain layers enabled).

Beyond my websites and personal visits (four as of May 2009), there are several daily reminders of the city by the bay in my life. Strategically hung on a small wall in my living room is a Twin Peaks street sign that once stood in the shadow of Sutro Tower. It was purchased in 1996 from the now defunct (as of 2004) San Francisco City Store. In late 2001, I registered MT SUTRO for my car's license plate and have moved it to my subsequent vehicles ever since. The last time I left San Francisco, the final glimpse I had of the city looking out the airplane window was of Sutro Tower standing alone above the fog, the city below completely shrouded as depicted in the photograph below.