Menger Hotel facts for kids
|
Menger Hotel
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Menger Hotel in 2005
|
|
 Menger Hotel
Location in Texas
Menger Hotel
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas |
|---|---|
| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | John Fries, Alfred Giles |
| Part of | Alamo Plaza Historic District (ID77001425) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Designated CP | July 13, 1977 |
The Menger Hotel is a famous old hotel in downtown San Antonio, Texas. It stands right where the historic Battle of the Alamo took place. This hotel is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, as part of the Alamo Plaza Historic District.
Contents
The Menger Family and Early Days
William and Mary Menger opened the Menger Hotel in 1859. It is located in what is now San Antonio's Alamo Plaza Historic District, which includes the famous Alamo Mission. William Menger was a brewer, and his brewery was very popular. This success led them to build the hotel.
William Menger came to America from Germany in 1847. He settled in San Antonio and continued his work as a brewer. He opened the Menger Brewery in 1855 on the land where the Battle of the Alamo happened, now called Alamo Plaza.
Building the Hotel
In 1858, the Mengers hired an architect named John M. Fries and a builder named J. H. Kampmann. They built a two-story hotel with 50 rooms in San Antonio, Texas. The hotel quickly became a key stop on the Chisholm Trail. This was a route where cowboys moved cattle. They could get supplies at the hotel, and cattlemen could buy and sell their animals there.
Before the Menger Hotel opened in February 1859, most places to stay in San Antonio were just boarding houses. The Menger Hotel was different. It became a popular meeting spot for important cattle owners and was an instant hit. Many cattle deals were made right in the hotel lobby. Today, a special marker in the hotel courtyard remembers the Chisholm Trail.
The Hotel During the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, many Confederate soldiers were in San Antonio. They needed places to stay. The Menger family helped the war effort by closing the hotel's guestrooms. However, they kept the dining room open to feed military people. They also offered space to care for wounded soldiers. After the war ended, the hotel went back to normal operations.
Changes After William Menger's Death
William Menger died in 1871, after running the hotel for just over ten years. But his wife, Mary Menger, and their son, Louis William, kept the hotel and brewery going. Mary quickly announced that her husband's death would "cause no change" in the business. She continued to run things as usual. She even bought nearby land to build new rooms for the many guests arriving. In one year, she hosted more than 2,000 guests!
On February 19, 1877, the first passenger train arrived in San Antonio. This helped the hotel become even more successful. More travelers came to the city, and Alamo Plaza grew. San Antonio's first federal post office opened there in 1877. The hotel even had a mail chute on each floor for guests to use. Mary Menger also added modern bathrooms, proper toilets, and room service bells to the hotel.
By 1879, the hotel had gas lighting. Mary was getting too old to manage the business, and her son was not interested in taking over. So, they decided to sell the hotel to its original builder, Major J. H. Kampmann. It was sold on November 7, 1881, for $118,500.
Kampmann Family Takes Over
.jpg)
Major John Hermann (J.H.) Kampmann managed the hotel from 1881 until 1943. He was the contractor who built the hotel in 1858. He made many important changes to the hotel's structure. Kampmann was a builder and architect. After buying the hotel, he added more floors and modern features. He quickly started to remodel it to fix problems mentioned in local newspapers.
An east wing was added, the kitchen was moved, and another lobby was built. The dining room was made bigger to hold 160 people. The renovation also added a laundry and brought piped water to every room. This meant private bathrooms, which was a big deal because few hotels had them then. This made the hotel popular again.
Major Kampmann wanted to offer excellent service to travelers. Guests had access to a nice bar, a billiard hall, and a barbershop connected to the hotel. J.H. Kampmann later retired, and his son Hermann Kampmann took over. Hermann was a smart businessman who became very wealthy in San Antonio. His father had made many changes, but Hermann felt more were needed.
In 1887, a new saloon was added. This bar, called the Menger Bar, was very fancy. It had "ornate mahogany tables and chairs... large mirrors... fine crystal and sterling silver." Even famous people like Teddy Roosevelt visited this bar and recruited his Rough Riders there. Hermann also added a fourth floor to one side of the hotel. He brought the latest technology, including a steam elevator, electric lights, and an artesian well (a natural water source). A reading area was also added, where writers who stayed at the Menger wrote about life in the Southwestern United States.
As the business grew, Hermann found it hard to manage everything. He gave control to J.W. McClean and J.H. Mudge but still made the big decisions. Hermann died in 1902 in a horse and buggy accident. The Kampmann family then owned the hotel, but no one person wanted to run it. In 1909, they hired architect Alfred Giles to renovate the hotel. He added a French style front wall, marble floors to the lobby, and fancy columns. These changes made the Menger Hotel the most elegant in San Antonio, which was important because new hotels like the Crockett Hotel and Gunter Hotel were opening nearby. In 1912, architect Atlee B. Ayres renovated the dining room and added 30 guestrooms.
After World War I, the family could no longer host large social events. By 1929, the hotel was so neglected that it was removed from state guidebooks. The Great Depression also hurt the hotel, as fewer people stayed there. This meant less money for repairs, and the hotel became less grand. During World War II, times were so tough that people even talked about tearing it down to build a parking lot.
Moody Family Ownership
_San_Antonio_IMG_5370.JPG)
William Lewis Moody, Jr. bought the Menger Hotel in 1943. His company, the National Hotel Corporation, took over in 1944. Under his leadership, a full restoration of the hotel began in 1945 after World War II. By 1948, new plumbing, electrical systems, and decorations were installed. The Spanish patio gardens were also restored. The old floor coverings were replaced with carpet, and guestrooms and public areas were updated. Over $100,000 was spent on a new kitchen. Moody also had the artworks restored and antique furniture repaired. The colonial dining room was also brought back to its original beauty.
After all this work, the lobby that J.H. Kampmann built in 1881 was torn down. A new lobby and three floors of air-conditioned guestrooms were built in its place. Moody decided to keep the original part of the hotel that William Menger had built. On March 2, 1951, the San Antonio Conservation Society honored Moody for his work on the Menger, calling it a landmark. In 1953, a swimming pool was added. Moody died in 1954, and his oldest daughter, Mary Moody Northern, took over the hotel. Many other members of the Moody family have been involved with the Menger Hotel's operations.
For the upcoming World's Fair in 1968, called Hemisfair, Mary Moody Northern spent $1.5 million on a five-story addition. This added 110 guestrooms for the many tourists expected. This new part, designed by architects Atlee B. Ayres and Robert Ayres, was called the Motor Hotel. It offered easy drive-in access and valet parking. In 1977, Mary Moody Northern died, and her nephew Robert L. Moody, Jr. became the new chairman of the Moody Foundation. By 1991, the Hotel Corporation finished restoring the 8,000 square feet of shops on the Alamo Plaza side of the hotel, costing about $9 million.
Famous People Who Stayed Here
Throughout its history, the Menger Hotel has been the site of many important events and has hosted many famous guests. These guests include Presidents like Ulysses Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton. Military leaders such as Sam Houston and Robert E. Lee also stayed there. Other famous public figures, like Oscar Wilde, have visited the Menger Hotel.
Delicious Food at the Hotel
Another popular reason people came to the hotel in its early years was the amazing food prepared by Mary Menger herself. She had cooked for guests at her boarding house before and knew it would make the Menger Hotel even more appealing. Mary created a menu with many choices, including soups, beef, pasta, veal, and a variety of desserts. Everything was served at one sitting.
The Mengers bought the best beef, chicken, butter, and eggs from local markets. They even sent a wagon around town to pick up businessmen and bring them to the hotel for dinner. Mary Menger was also known for hosting big dinner parties for celebrity guests. Many of her recipes are still served today in the hotel's Colonial Dining Room. The mango ice cream is still a favorite among guests!
Historical Importance
The Menger Hotel is recognized by the state of Texas and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It is also a member of Historic Hotels of America, a special program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Menger Hotel is currently owned by 1859 Historic Hotels, Inc., based in Galveston. This company also owns the 1909-built Crockett Hotel across the street, which is also next to The Alamo.
Images for kids
-
The Victorian Lobby's stained glass ceiling in 2019.
