Great Northern Railway Buildings facts for kids
|
Great Northern Railway Buildings
|
|
Granite Park Chalet
|
|
 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Glacier National Park, Montana |
|---|---|
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | Samuel L. Bartlett, et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001453 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1987 |
| Boundary increase | May 16, 2000 |
| Designated NHLD | May 28, 1987 |
The Great Northern Railway Buildings are five special groups of buildings located in or near Glacier National Park in Montana. These buildings were constructed by the Great Northern Railway when the park was first created. Their main goal was to give visitors a fun and consistent experience. All the buildings were designed to look like Swiss chalets, which are traditional mountain houses.
Each of these building groups is important enough to be listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. They include:
- Belton Chalets
- Granite Park Chalet
- Many Glacier Hotel
- Sperry Chalet
- Two Medicine General Store
Four of these places were named a special "National Historic Landmark District" in 1987. This means they are very important to the history of the United States. They are known for having the largest collection of Swiss chalet-style buildings in the country. In 2000, the Belton Chalets were also added to this special list. The Belton Chalets are a bit different because they are just outside the park.
Contents
Exploring the History of Glacier Park Buildings
Glacier National Park was officially created in 1910. The Great Northern Railway helped a lot to make this happen. The railway tracks ran just south of the park. The company knew that more tourists visiting the park would mean more people riding their trains. This was similar to how other national parks like Grand Canyon National Park and Yellowstone National Park had grown with railway support.
Why the Railway Built Park Hotels
To make sure visitors had a great time, the railway worked with the National Park Service. They built places for tourists both inside and outside the park. This allowed them to offer different kinds of experiences. Some visitors wanted fancy hotel stays, while others preferred a more rugged adventure in the wilderness.
Swiss Chalet Style in Montana
The Great Northern Railway made sure all their buildings looked similar. They chose the Swiss chalet style. The president of the railway, Louis W. Hill, liked this style from his travels in the mountains of Europe. This design helped create a unified look for all the park's tourist spots.
Inside the Park: Chalets and Hotels
The railway built different types of places to stay. For example, the Granite Park Chalet and Sperry Chalet were built in 1914. These were simple, rustic places for people exploring the backcountry. The Many Glacier Hotel, finished in 1915, was the biggest and most important building. It was a grand hotel with many fancy features.
The Two Medicine General Store is another interesting building. It's what's left of a mid-sized hotel that used to be by Two Medicine Lake. One of its original log chalet buildings was taken down. The other one now serves as a general store.
Outside the Park: Gateway Buildings
The Great Northern Railway also built places just outside the park's borders. The Belton Chalets were built in 1910-1911. They were among the first buildings the company made for this project. They were located at the main train station for getting into the park. The Glacier Park Lodge was built in 1913 for visitors coming from the east side of the park.
Recognizing Historic Buildings
When the National Historic Landmark District was first created in 1987, it only included buildings inside the park. However, the National Park Service noticed how important the Belton Chalets and the Glacier Park Lodge were. They suggested that these buildings should also be considered for the landmark status.
Because of this, the Belton Chalets were added to the landmark list in 2000. The owners of the Glacier Park Lodge, however, chose not to be included.
