Elephant Hotel facts for kids
The Elephant Hotel is a historic building in Somers, Westchester County, New York. It used to be a hotel, but today it serves as the town hall for Somers. This means it's where local government decisions are made.
The Elephant Hotel is a very important place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Later, in 2005, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's recognized as a place of special historical importance to the entire country. It's located at 335 US 202.
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Elephant Hotel
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Elephant Hotel in 2007
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| Location | 335 Route 202, Somers, NY |
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| Nearest city | Peekskill |
| Area | 1.67 acres (0.68 ha) |
| Built | 1820-1825 |
| Architect | Hachaliah Bailey |
| Part of | Somers Hamlet Historic District (ID04000349) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001323 and 05000462 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 7, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | April 5, 2005 |
Contents
The Story of the Elephant Hotel
The Elephant Hotel was built by a man named Hachaliah Bailey. He is famous for helping to create the modern circus, like the Bailey Circus.
Bailey bought an African elephant named "Old Bet". He first planned to use her for farm work. But many people came to see her! So, Bailey decided to take Old Bet on tour across the northeastern United States.
Sadly, Old Bet was killed in 1816 while on one of her tours. She was shot by a local farmer.
The Birth of the American Circus
Hachaliah Bailey's tours with Old Bet were the very first of their kind in America. They inspired many other people to travel with exotic animals. In the 1830s, these early animal shows and Bailey's attractions combined. This led to the modern circus we know today!
Because of this, Somers, New York, is known as the "Cradle of the American Circus." It's where the idea of traveling animal shows really took off.
A Memorial Building
Hachaliah Bailey bought the land for the hotel in 1805. He started building the Elephant Hotel in 1821. He wanted it to be a special memorial to the animals he displayed.
Some people believe that Old Bet, the elephant, is buried right in front of the building. A monument to Old Bet was placed there in 1827. In 1835, a group called the Zoological Institute took over the hotel.
The town of Somers bought the Elephant Hotel in 1927. It is now a very important local landmark. It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 2005.
Discover the Circus Museum
The Somers Historical Society has its home on the third floor of the Elephant Hotel. This society runs the Museum of the Early American Circus.
The museum is open on Thursday afternoons and for special holidays. It's a great place to learn more about how the American circus began!
