A Great Location to Inspire You...

This is the San Francisco Cliff house. A seven-story Victorian with a 200-ft observation tower, the third version of the building (the previous one had been destroyed by a ship loaded with dynamite) was known as the 'Gingerbread Palace.' It survived the 1906 earthquake, then burned to the ground one year later.

 

Irresistibly creepy, right? What if I told you the walls were white, and the roof was a

cheery shade of red...

 

But on a moonlit night--a different place. I can imagine a woman screaming,

then tumbling from the balcony to the rocks below.

The most famous photo was taken by T. Imei, a Japanese photographer. A copy hangs in my writing room where it creates a wonderful, moody atmosphere.

Sadly, the artist's signature is missing from my print. My hope is that Mr. Imei's estate profited from the sale of his work, though it seems unlikely.



Here's a Tintype from that era:

Someday I'd like to tell a story about these two women (maybe from the horse's point of view?)

I think their names are Emma and Rose.


If you've ever been inspired by a setting, I'd love to hear about it. (And see pics, too!)

(Thanks to the Cliff House Project for the great photos and history.)


Cheers...and Happy Writing!

-T