Holbrooke Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holbrooke Hotel |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | 212 West Main Street Grass Valley CA 95945 USA |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style(s) | Mid-19th century Mother Lode masonry |
| Governing body | Privately owned |
| Designated | March 18, 1978 |
| Reference no. | 914 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Holbrooke Hotel is a very old and famous hotel located in Grass Valley, California, USA. It's special because it's the oldest hotel in California's Mother Lode region that has been open without stopping since it was built. The hotel was built in 1862. It even includes the Golden Gate Saloon, which has been serving people since 1852!
Contents
The Holbrooke Hotel's Long History
The story of the Holbrooke Hotel began in 1852. Stephen and Clara Smith built the first part, which was a saloon called the Golden Gate Saloon. A year later, in 1853, a small building called the Exchange Hotel was added behind the saloon.
Fires and Rebuilding
In 1855, a big fire burned down the saloon. But it was quickly rebuilt using strong fieldstone and brick. Then, in 1862, the Exchange Hotel also caught fire. After that fire, it was rebuilt and made much bigger, becoming a two-story building.
Becoming the Holbrooke Hotel
In 1879, the hotel was named the Holbrooke Hotel. This name came from its owner at the time, D. P. Holbrooke. The hotel is still owned by private individuals today.
Famous Visitors to the Holbrooke Hotel
Many famous people have stayed at the Holbrooke Hotel over the years. These include well-known writers like Jack London and Mark Twain. Famous performers like Lotta Crabtree and Lola Montez also visited. Even five US Presidents have stayed there: Grover Cleveland, James Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, and Herbert Hoover.
Inside the Holbrooke Hotel
The Holbrooke Hotel has 27 rooms for guests. The entire building is about 19,400 square feet (1,802 square meters) in size. It also has a restaurant where the chef uses fresh ingredients. Sometimes, they get mushrooms and wild lettuce from local State Park Rangers.
Unique Design and Furnishings
The inside of the hotel is very fancy. It has walls covered in copper and beautiful mahogany wood. You can also see Italian alabaster and marble. The hotel is decorated with round globe chandeliers and green library lamps. Many rooms even have old-fashioned clawfoot bathtubs. The bar in the Golden Gate Saloon is very special. It was shipped all the way around Cape Horn to get here!
Featured on TV Shows
The Holbrooke Hotel has even been on television. It was shown on an episode of the TV show Hotel Impossible in September 2013. It also appeared on an episode of The Dead Files in April 2016.
A California Historical Landmark
The Holbrooke Hotel is an important historical site. It became a California Historical Landmark, number 914, on March 18, 1978. This means it's officially recognized for its historical importance in California. Another special marker was placed on the building on September 25, 1965. This marker was put there by a historical group called E Clampus Vitus.
