Sea Beach Hotel
The Sea Beach Hotel was the premier hostelry on the gilded-age Santa Cruz beachfront, from 1890 when it reached its finished form until June 12, 1912, when it burned to the ground in a spectacular fire. In 1887, the much smaller Douglas House (right-rear in the photo) was acquired by David K. Abeel, who added the main section in front - toward the beach - and the extensive gardens.
Notes
- For more on the Sea Beach, see Panorama 4: Steinegger Bird's Eye View of Santa Cruz, 1888-89
- For a pre-fire photo of the Sea Beach Hotel, see History Pages: 50 - Beach Hill: 1870-99
- See also History Pages: 58 - The 1890s Santa Cruz beachfront
- The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture (4th ed. 2023), chapter one, item 37.