Patterson Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Patterson Hotel
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| Location | 422 E. Main Ave., Bismarck, North Dakota |
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| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | H. Kretz & Company |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001352 |
| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1976 |
The Patterson Hotel was a very important and fancy hotel in Bismarck, North Dakota. It was known for being a hub for politicians. It was also famous for its construction, which lasted for more than twenty years!
The hotel first opened on New Year's Day in 1911. It was built by Alexander McKenzie. Back then, it was called the McKenzie Hotel. This building was ten stories tall and had 150 rooms. It was the tallest building in Bismarck for many years. It stayed the tallest until the new North Dakota State Capitol was finished in 1934.
Later, Edward Patterson bought the hotel. He was a close friend of Alexander McKenzie. Edward Patterson had also built the nearby Soo Hotel in 1906. In 1927, after Alexander McKenzie passed away, the hotel was renamed the Patterson Hotel.
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Why Did Construction Last So Long?
One of the most interesting things about the Patterson Hotel was its long construction. Even after it opened, building work continued. It finally finished in the 1930s. This was more than twenty years after it first started!
Why did this happen? At that time, a state law said that buildings still under construction did not have to pay property taxes. Edward Patterson used this rule to avoid paying taxes. Because of this, he kept the construction going. In the end, the hotel grew from seven stories to its final ten stories.
A Hub for Politics
Both Alexander McKenzie and Edward Patterson were important in politics. Alexander McKenzie is even given credit for moving the capital of Dakota Territory to Bismarck. Edward Patterson was also the mayor of Bismarck for two terms.
Because of their connections, the Patterson Hotel became a major spot for politics. It became the main office for the Nonpartisan League when it started in 1915. For many decades, it was known as the unofficial political headquarters of North Dakota. When the North Dakota capitol building burned down in 1930, the entire second floor of the Patterson Hotel was used. It housed several state offices until the new capitol was built.
Famous Visitors
Edward Patterson was also an amateur boxer. Because of this, many famous boxers visited the hotel. These included legends like Gene Tunney, Jack Dempsey, and Joe Louis.
Several United States presidents also stayed at the Patterson Hotel. These included Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson. Local business people also stayed there, like Eugene Wachter. His family owned the largest ranch in the state.
The Patterson Hotel Today
Before 1965, all major traffic going east used U.S. Highway 10. This road went right through downtown Bismarck. But when Interstate 94 was completed, traffic moved to the north. This change affected many businesses in downtown Bismarck, including hotels.
The Patterson Hotel stopped being a hotel in the 1970s. Its rooms were then changed into housing for senior citizens. Today, the main lobby of the old hotel is home to a restaurant called Peacock Alley American Grill and Bar.
