Alexander Inn facts for kids
The
Quick facts for kids |
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The Alexander Inn
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1943 |
| Part of | Oak Ridge Historic District (ID91001109) |
| Designated CP | 1993 |
The Alexander Inn, originally called The Guest House, is a historic building in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was built in 1943 during the top-secret Manhattan Project. Its main job was to house important visitors. Later, it became a regular hotel. Today, it is recognized as an important part of a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
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The Alexander Inn: A Historic Building
What is the Alexander Inn?
The Alexander Inn is a special building with a long history. It was first known as The Guest House. It was built quickly in 1943 using wood, like many other buildings from the World War II era. Its design was called an "H-plan" because of its shape.
A Secret Past: The Manhattan Project
During World War II, the United States had a top-secret project called the Manhattan Project. This project aimed to build the first atomic bomb. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was one of the main secret sites for this work. The Guest House was built there to provide a safe and private place for important people involved in the project to stay.
Important Guests
Many famous and important people stayed at The Guest House. These included top scientists and military leaders. For example, Enrico Fermi, a famous physicist, and J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the scientific part of the atomic bomb project, stayed there. General Leslie Groves, who was in charge of the entire Manhattan Project, also used the Guest House.
Becoming the Alexander Inn
After the war, in 1949, the building got bigger with 44 new rooms. In September 1950, its name was officially changed to the Alexander Inn. The government sold the hotel in 1958 to Mr. W. W. Faw for $34,000. After this, more changes were made. Private bathrooms were added to the rooms, and a large room for dances, called a ballroom, was built. The kitchen was also made larger.
In 1993, the Alexander Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a very important historical site.
Saving a Piece of History
By the mid-1990s, the Alexander Inn stopped working as a hotel. Over time, the building started to fall apart. It became very run-down.
In 2009, a local group called the Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort bought the building. This group is a nonprofit organization, which means they work to help the community, not to make money. In 2010, another group, the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance, listed the inn as one of the most endangered historic buildings in the area. Many people wanted to save this important piece of history.
A New Purpose: Senior Living
Different groups worked together to find a way to save the Alexander Inn. They came up with a plan to turn it into a place for older adults to live. This type of place is called a senior living center.
To help with the project, the city of Oak Ridge approved a special tax break. This meant the developers would pay less in taxes for 10 years, which encouraged them to invest in the building.
Finally, in November 2015, after a big $8 million renovation, the building reopened. It now serves as a modern senior living center, offering special care for older adults.
See Also
