Mohonk Mountain House facts for kids
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Lake Mohonk Mountain House
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Mohonk Mountain House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Paltz, New York |
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| Built | 1869–1910 |
| Architect | Napoleon Le Brun James E. Ware |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001280 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | June 24, 1986 |
The Mohonk Mountain House is a famous resort hotel in Ulster County, New York. It sits on the Shawangunk Ridge, a beautiful mountain range. This special place is located near New Paltz, New York, just south of the Catskill Mountains and west of the Hudson River. It's known for its stunning views and long history.
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A Look Back in Time
The Mohonk Mountain House started small in the 1870s. Two Quaker twin brothers, Albert and Alfred Smiley, built it. They wanted a peaceful place for family and friends. It became so popular that they kept making it bigger. The main building was built between 1869 and 1910.
The Smiley brothers loved nature and the outdoors. They made sure the land around the hotel was a big part of the fun. They wanted to protect the natural environment. It was also a place to learn about plants, rocks, and outdoor living. In 1986, the hotel was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site.
The resort is right on the shore of Lake Mohonk. This lake is about half a mile (800 meters) long. It is also about 60 feet (18 meters) deep.
Important Meetings and Conferences
From 1883 to 1916, special meetings happened at Mohonk Mountain House. Albert Smiley organized these meetings. Their goal was to help improve the lives of Native American people.
Leaders from the government attended these meetings. Educators, helpers, and Native American leaders also came. They talked about how to create better policies for Native American communities.
Another important series of meetings took place here. These were the Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration from 1895 to 1916. These conferences helped create the Permanent Court of Arbitration. This court is in The Hague, Netherlands. It helps countries solve disagreements peacefully.
Protecting Nature and History
In 1994, the Mohonk Mountain House received an award. The United Nations Environment Programme gave it this award. It was for "125 years of stewardship." This means they took great care of the land for over a century.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation also praises Mohonk. They say it shows America's history and culture. Mohonk has kept its 19th-century charm even today.
What You Can Do There
Mohonk Mountain House has 259 guest rooms. This includes 28 unique tower rooms. Guests can enjoy an indoor pool and a spa. In winter, there's an outdoor ice-skating rink.
The property covers 1,325 acres (about 536 hectares). Much of this land has beautiful meadows and gardens. It is next to the Mohonk Preserve. This preserve has 85 miles (137 km) of hiking trails. It also has carriage roads for walking or riding. The Smiley family gave most of their land to the preserve in 1963.
Famous Visitors
Many famous people have stayed at Mohonk Mountain House. These include:
- Industrialists: John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.
- Authors: Isaac Asimov and Thomas Mann.
- Naturalists: John Burroughs.
- U.S. Presidents: Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Bill Clinton.
- Other notable guests: Actor Alan Alda and former First Lady Julia Grant.
- Religious leaders: Theologian Lyman Abbott and Rabbi Louis Finkelstein.
- `Abdu'l-Bahá: The eldest son of the Baháʼí Faith founder, stayed in 1912. He was there for the Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration.
William James Roe II called the resort a "palace of peace." He wrote an article about it for Harper's Young People. Dee Snider from the band Twisted Sister also enjoys vacations there with his family.
Awards and Recognition
Mohonk Mountain House has won many awards.
- Condé Nast Traveler has given it nine awards since 2008. This includes "Number One Resort Spa in the United States" in 2013.
- Travel + Leisure has given the resort seven awards since 2009. In 2013, it was named "Number Two Hotel Spa in the United States." It was also "Number Six Hotel Spa in the World" that same year.
- Fodor's listed it as one of the "10 Best Spa Trips" for 2012. In 2010, they named it one of the "10 Best Hotels for Kids and Families."
- In 2011, Every Day with Rachael Ray called Mohonk one of "Our Eight Favorite Resorts."
Mohonk Mountain House is also a member of Historic Hotels of America. This is an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Images for kids
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Water fountain
See also
In Spanish: Mohonk Mountain House para niños
