Many Glacier Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Many Glacier Hotel Historic District
|
|
|
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
|
Many Glacier Hotel in 2019
|
|
 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Babb, Montana |
|---|---|
| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Thomas D. McMahon |
| MPS | Glacier National Park MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000173 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1976 |
The Many Glacier Hotel is a famous old hotel. It sits on the east side of Swiftcurrent Lake. This lake is inside Glacier National Park in Montana, U.S.. The hotel looks like many small chalets joined together. Chalets are traditional Swiss-style buildings. This hotel can be up to four stories tall. It stretches a long way along the lake's edge.
The hotel has a Swiss mountain style, both inside and out. Its base is made of stone. The rest of the building is made of wood. The outside walls are brown wood siding. The windows and balconies have wooden patterns. These patterns look like Swiss designs. Inside, the main lobby is four stories high. It has balconies all around. Their railings also have Swiss-inspired patterns.
Building the Many Glacier Hotel
Work on the Many Glacier Hotel started in 1914. It was built very quickly. The hotel was finished in just one year. It opened on July 4, 1915. The Great Northern Railway built many hotels and small cabins in the park. The Many Glacier Hotel was seen as the best one. It was called the "Gem of the West."
This project was led by Louis W. Hill. He was the president of the Great Northern Railway. His father was James J. Hill. Louis wanted to make Glacier National Park a popular vacation spot. He wanted to promote the area as the "American Alps." That's why he chose a Swiss chalet style for the buildings. The Glacier Park Lodge and the Many Glacier Hotel were the main buildings. Smaller chalets and campgrounds were placed deeper in the park. They were an easy day's walk or ride from the main hotels. These smaller places encouraged visitors to explore the park's wild areas. In the early 1900s, horseback riding was a big attraction. These chalets were perfect for riders.
The Hotel Today
Today, the Many Glacier Hotel still looks much like it did long ago. It keeps its historic charm. Most rooms offer great views. You can see either Swiftcurrent Lake or the mountains around it. The hotel is part of a special group of buildings. This group is called the Great Northern Railway Buildings district. It is a National Historic Landmark. The Many Glacier Hotel is also a member of Historic Hotels of America. This is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It recognizes important historic hotels.
Images for kids
-
The Many Glacier Hotel from a distance.
See also
In Spanish: Many Glacier Hotel para niños
