Key Route Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Key Route Inn |
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Key Route Inn on a 1908 postcard
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| General information | |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Type | Hotel |
| Town or city | Oakland, California |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 37°48′41″N 122°16′00″W / 37.8114°N 122.2667°W |
| Opened | March 1907 |
| Destroyed | May 1932 |
The Key Route Inn was a very important hotel in Oakland, California. It was built a long time ago, in the early 1900s. This hotel was special because a train line, called the Key Route, actually went right through it!
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What Was the Key Route Inn?
The Key Route Inn was a large hotel in Oakland, California. It was built by a company called the Realty Syndicate. This company was owned by Francis "Borax" Smith and Frank C. Havens. They also owned the Key Route train system.
The hotel officially opened its doors on May 7, 1907. It was located where Grand Avenue is today, near Broadway.
A Unique Design
The Key Route Inn was a huge building made of wood. It looked like an old English-style house with exposed wooden beams. One of the coolest things about the hotel was a big archway. This archway was a corridor where the Key Route trains passed right through the building!
There was even a train stop inside this corridor. This stop connected directly to the hotel's main lobby. Imagine getting off a train and walking straight into a hotel!
Famous Visitors
In 1909, a very important person stayed at the Key Route Inn. This was President William Howard Taft and his group. It shows how important and well-known the hotel was at the time.
Why Did the Hotel Close?
The Key Route Inn faced some tough times. On September 8, 1930, a big fire caused a lot of damage to the building.
Around the same time, the Great Depression began. This was a period when many people lost their jobs and money. It made it hard for businesses, including hotels, to make enough money.
The city of Oakland also wanted to connect Grand Avenue with 22nd Street. This plan meant the hotel was in the way. Because of the fire damage, the tough economy, and the city's plans, the Key Route Inn was torn down. This happened in April and May of 1932. The hotel was only open for 25 years.
What Happened to the Train Line?
Even after the hotel was gone, the train line kept going. It later became known as the "B" transbay line. This happened when the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge railway opened.
In April 1958, buses replaced the trains on this route. The bus line became part of the public transportation system called AC Transit. Today, the modern "B" bus route does not pass by where the old hotel used to be.
