The Palmer House (Sauk Centre) facts for kids
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Palmer House Hotel
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Palmer House Hotel viewed from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500 Sinclair Lewis Avenue, Sauk Centre, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1901, 1916 |
| Architect | Roland C. Buckley (1916 expansion) |
| Architectural style | Commercial Queen Anne |
| Part of | Original Main Street Historic District (ID94000758) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003047 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 11, 1982 |
| Designated CP | August 5, 1994 |
The Palmer House is a famous historic hotel in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, United States. It was first built in 1901 and made bigger in 1916. This hotel is important because of its history in business and community life. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The hotel was special because it served traveling salespeople, which was common back then. In 1994, the Palmer House also became part of the Original Main Street Historic District.
Today, the Palmer House is still a busy hotel, restaurant, and pub. It is a member of the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association.
Contents
About the Palmer House Building
The Palmer House is a three-story building made of brick. It stands on a main corner in Sauk Centre. The ground floor has round-shaped windows and doors. These are decorated with fancy brickwork. The arched windows in the lobby and restaurant have beautiful stained glass from Vienna.
The windows on the upper floors are shaped like rectangles. There are decorative brick lines called corbels below the second-floor windows and along the roof edge. Brick columns, known as pilasters, separate the sections of the upper floors.
A new part was added to the back of the hotel 15 years after it was first built. This new section looks exactly like the original building. The roof used to have low walls at the corners, but these have been removed over time.
History of the Palmer House Hotel
Early Days and First Owners
The Palmer House was built in 1901 by Ralph and Christena Palmer. It stands where the city's first hotel, the Sauk Centre House, once was. That hotel had burned down in 1900. The Palmer House was in a great spot, right in the middle of Sauk Centre's business area. It was also just a short walk from the train station.
The Palmer House was the first building in Sauk Centre to have electricity. The Palmer family lived at the hotel with their two children. Christena's mother and brother also helped them run the business.
Serving Traveling Salesmen
The Palmer House was especially popular with traveling salespeople. They would arrive by train and find a place to sleep. The hotel also offered meeting rooms and a place to relax after work. Local people also used the hotel as a place to meet and gather.
Sinclair Lewis and Main Street
A young writer named Sinclair Lewis worked at the Palmer House for two summers. He was a desk clerk there. Later, he used the hotel as an idea for the "Minniemashie House" in his 1920 novel, Main Street. The town in his book was based on Sauk Centre.
Hotel Expansion and Changes
When it first opened, the Palmer House had 24 guest rooms. In 1916, the hotel's second owners hired an architect named Roland C. Buckley. He designed an addition to the back of the building. This added 20 more rooms.
Originally, guests shared a common bathroom down the hall. In 1993, the hotel was updated a lot. The inside was changed to have 19 guest rooms, and each room got its own private bathroom.
Reported Ghost Stories
Many people have said they have experienced strange things at the Palmer House. Guests and staff have reported hearing voices when no one is there. They have also felt sudden changes in temperature. Doors have been known to slam shut by themselves.
One common story is hearing a child bouncing a ball or running in the hallway.
The Palmer House held its first event about paranormal activity in 2008. People who study ghosts and spirits attended. This included TV personalities Chris Fleming and Patrick Burns. The hotel has also been featured on TV shows like Ghost Adventures and The Dead Files.
See also
In Spanish: The Palmer House (Sauk Centre) para niños
