Park Inn Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Park Inn Hotel
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of the Historic Park Inn Hotel (right) and side of the City National Bank Building (left
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 W. State St. Mason City, Iowa |
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| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Part of | Mason City Downtown Historic District (ID05000956) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000470 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 1972 |
The Historic Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank are two buildings in Mason City, Iowa. They were designed by a very famous architect named Frank Lloyd Wright. These buildings show off his unique "Prairie School" style.
The Park Inn Hotel was finished in 1910. It's special because it's the last hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that is still standing today! He designed six hotels in total. The City National Bank building is also rare, as it's one of only two banks he designed that are still around. This project was Wright's first in Iowa. Both buildings are very important for their history and design. In 1999, the Park Inn Hotel was even put on a list of "Most Endangered Properties" in Iowa, meaning it needed help to be saved.
The Park Inn Hotel was the third hotel Wright designed. It helped him develop ideas for other big projects, like Midway Gardens in Chicago and the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
Contents
Designing the Buildings
In 1907, two lawyers, James E. Blythe and J. E. E. Markley, wanted a special building. They chose Frank Lloyd Wright, who was becoming well-known in Chicago. Wright designed a building that would serve many purposes. It would have their law offices, a bank, and a hotel all in one place.
The law offices were on the second floor. The bank had a tall, two-story room with offices above it. The hotel part had 42 rooms. There were also shops in the basement. Wright managed to fit all these different parts into one beautiful building. It connected his earlier "Prairie School" designs with his later, larger projects.
Building and Changes Over Time
Wright started drawing plans for the bank and hotel in late 1908. Construction began on April 1, 1909. Wright himself supervised the work until he left for Europe in October 1909. After he left, William Drummond, from Wright's studio in Oak Park, Illinois, took over. Drummond even designed another "Prairie School" home nearby during his visits. The law offices opened in August 1910, and the whole building had its grand opening on September 10, 1910.
Unfortunately, the Park Inn Hotel faced tough times. In 1922, a new, bigger hotel opened in Mason City, which meant fewer guests for the Park Inn. Also, the City National Bank had to close because of money problems. By 1925, many banks in Mason City had failed.
In 1926, the bank building was sold separately. It was changed a lot to be used for other businesses. The hotel's upper floors were turned into apartments. Over the years, many of Wright's special design features were lost. Things like stained-glass skylights, unique lights, furniture, and wooden details disappeared. The Park Inn slowly declined and finally closed in 1972.
Bringing the Hotel Back to Life
The Park Inn Hotel got a full makeover, both inside and out! Many grants and local efforts helped make this happen. Workers carefully fixed the brick and terra-cotta outside. They replaced the beautiful art glass skylight windows. The inside of the hotel was completely rebuilt to look like it did originally.
An organization called Wright on the Park, Inc. bought the old City Bank Building next door. This meant the Park Inn Hotel and the City National Bank were together again! The bank building got a new elevator and six extra rooms for the hotel. The old bank lobby was turned into a ballroom for the hotel.
The restoration was finished in September 2011. This project helps show off Mason City's amazing architecture. Many other architects who worked with Wright also designed buildings in Mason City. These include Walter Burley Griffin, Marion Mahony Griffin, William Eugene Drummond, and Francis Barry Byrne.
Images for kids
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The Park Inn Hotel from the outside.
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The City National Bank Building.
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A close-up of the City National Bank Building's roof.
- Storrer, William Allin. The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion. University Of Chicago Press, 2006, ISBN: 0-226-77621-2 (S.155)
