08/20/2026
This green wool bathing suit is from the Sutro Baths in San Francisco. The Sutro Baths, founded by Adolf Sutro in 1894, began as an ocean pool aquarium and grew to feature a public bathhouse with 7 pools that covered 3 acres and a museum, restaurant, and theater. For years swimmers were not allowed to wear their own bathing suits, but were allowed to rent suits from the Baths. This practice changed as ownership transferred over the years. The bathing suits also had a small pocket sewn in the lining; these pockets were where patrons kept the token or key for the locker where their personal belongings were stored while they swam. Not much is known about the letters and shapes stenciled on Baths-issued suits; different letters and shapes can be seen on different designs in suits that exist today. When the Sutro Baths closed in 1966, the rental suits were likely sold to the public. Courtesy of the Mohr-Fry Families.
