Belton Chalets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Belton Chalets
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | West Glacier, Montana |
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| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Cutter & Malgren |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001685 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1978 |
The Belton Chalets are a group of historic hotel buildings. They are located in West Glacier, Montana. This village is right near the western entrance to Glacier National Park. The Great Northern Railway built these chalets in 1910-1911. They were the very first part of the railway's big plan. This plan included building hotels, roads, and trails in Glacier National Park.
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A Special Place in Glacier's History
The Belton Chalets were designed in a "Swiss Chalet" style. This look became popular for many other buildings the Great Northern Railway built in Glacier. The site eventually had five buildings. These included a dining hall and a main hotel building.
Early Days and Challenges
From the 1910s to the 1920s, the Glacier Park Hotel Company ran the Belton Chalet. This company was a part of the Great Northern Railway. It managed all the railway's hotels and services in Glacier.
However, the Belton Chalet was not as successful as other railway hotels. This was probably because it was far from the park's other railway-operated hotels. By the 1930s, it was only used sometimes.
A New Beginning
The railway sold the chalet buildings in 1946. The main hotel building stayed empty for almost 50 years. Meanwhile, a cafe and bar sometimes operated in the old dining hall.
In 1997, new owners bought the property. They spent $1 million to fix up the entire complex. The hotel reopened for visitors in the summer of 1998.
A National Treasure
The Belton Chalet buildings are very important. They were included in the National Historic Landmark list in 2000. This special honor was given to several Great Northern Railway Buildings. It recognizes their historical importance to the United States.
