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California Coastal Trail

San Francisco: Land's End

Season 1 Episode 46

Today, Lands End is a popular hiking destination at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, but at the turn of the 20th century it was home to the Sutro Baths, an amusement center with seven swimming pools owned by former San Francisco Mayor Adolph Sutro. In 1897, John Harris sued Adolph Sutro alleging he was denied entry to the baths on the basis of his race. Harris’ action came just months after the U.S. Supreme Court verdict in Plessy v. Ferguson established “separate but equal” as the law of the land. But Harris won his suit in state court under the recently enacted Dibble Civil Rights Act -- California’s first civil rights law.