Fort Garry Hotel facts for kids
| Fort Garry Hotel | |
Quick facts for kids  Fort Garry Hotel in 2009 |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
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| Location | 222 Broadway Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Coordinates | 49°53′16″N 97°08′12″W / 49.88778°N 97.13667°W |
| Opening date | December 11, 1913 |
| Architect | Ross and Macdonald |
| Owner | Rick Bel and Ida Albo |
| No. of rooms | 246 |
| No. of floors | 10 |
The Fort Garry Hotel is a famous old hotel in Downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. It first opened its doors on December 11, 1913. It's known as one of Canada's grand railway hotels, which were big, fancy hotels built by railway companies. In 1981, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a very important building in Canadian history. A special park connected to the hotel and the old Upper Fort Garry was finished in 2017-2018.
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A Look Back: The Hotel's History
The Fort Garry Hotel was built between 1911 and 1913. It was put up by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway company. When it was finished, it was the tallest building in Winnipeg! The hotel is just one block away from the railway's main station.
What Does the Hotel Look Like?
Like many other Canadian railway hotels, the Fort Garry Hotel was built in a "château style." This means it looks a bit like a grand French castle. The architects, Ross and MacFarlane from Montreal, designed it. They based their plans on another famous hotel, the Château Laurier in Ottawa. The hotel was first planned to have 10 floors, but two more floors were added during construction.
How the Hotel Got Its Name
The hotel was almost called The Selkirk. But instead, it was named after Upper Fort Garry. This old fort used to stand nearby, where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet. The hotel was built in a great spot on Broadway. It was the very first business building on that street. It was also the only hotel ever built there.
Famous Visitors
Because it was such a grand and important hotel, many famous people stayed at the Fort Garry. Some of the well-known guests include singers like Nelson Eddy and Harry Belafonte. Actors like Charles Laughton and Laurence Olivier also visited. Even musicians like Liberace and Louis Armstrong stayed there. Sports legend Gordie Howe and Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson were also guests. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stayed at the hotel during their visit to Canada.
Who Owned the Hotel?
The Fort Garry Hotel was first owned by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Later, it was taken over by the Canadian National Railway. In 1979, a Winnipeg family, the Perrins, bought it. They ran it as their own hotel for a few years. Today, it is still run as an independent hotel.
Is the Hotel Haunted?
Some people say the Fort Garry Hotel is haunted! There are local stories about ghosts living in the hotel.
Radio History at the Hotel
The Fort Garry Hotel was once home to a radio studio. Between 1923 and 1932, CNR Radio had its Winnipeg studio there. CNR Radio was the first version of what we now know as CBC Radio.
Images for kids
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Fort Garry Hotel in 2009
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The Fort Garry Hotel in 1913.
