Volcano House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Volcano House No. 42
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The 1877 building now houses an art gallery
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Nearest city | Volcano, Hawaii |
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| Area | 104 feet (32 m) by 110 feet (34 m) |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000293 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1974 |
The Volcano House is a famous hotel located right on the edge of the Kīlauea volcano. It's inside Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawai'i. The first building from 1877 is now home to the Volcano Art Center. The hotel that guests stay in today was built in 1941 and made bigger in 1961.
Between May and October 2018, the hotel and the Kīlauea volcano area were closed. This was because of volcanic explosions and earthquakes.
Contents
Visiting the Volcano: Early Days
Long ago, in ancient Hawaii, people visited the volcano to give gifts to Pele, the fire goddess. We know people have been coming here for hundreds of years. They even collected volcanic glass to make tools.
Most eruptions are not explosive. The northeast side of the volcano is a safe spot to watch. Winds usually blow poisonous gases and lava away from this area. In 1823, a missionary named Rev. William Ellis wrote about camping here.
Around the 1840s, a Hawaiian person set up a small hut. They sold food to visitors who came to see the volcano. In 1846, a simple grass hut was built by Benjamin Pitman. This was the first place called "Volcano House." Sometimes, visitors would arrive after a long trip and find no one there!
A stronger wooden building was built in 1866. It had four bedrooms, a living room, and a dining room. The famous writer Mark Twain stayed here. He wrote about his visit in his book Roughing It.
The 1877 Building and Its Story
In 1876, a man named George W. C. Jones bought the hotel business. He hired William H. Lentz to build a more lasting structure. A wooden building, about 104 by 110 feet, was finished in 1877. It had six guest rooms and a dining room. Wood for the building came from local Hawaiian forests.
Later, a group led by businessman Lorrin A. Thurston bought the Volcano House in 1891. The hotel became very popular. A two-story addition was built, adding 10 to 12 more guest rooms. It also had a viewing tower and a bigger dining hall. The original 1877 building became a part of this larger hotel. Thurston even showed a special display of Kīlauea at big events. By 1894, a four-horse carriage made the trip from Hilo much faster.
George Lycurgus bought the hotel in 1895. He was involved with it for the next 65 years! More visitors came when a railway line opened in 1901. Author Jack London stayed at the hotel in 1907. In 1912, a scientist named Thomas Jaggar built a special observatory next to the hotel. Scientists used it to study the volcano until 1961.
After many years of effort, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was created in 1916. In 1921, a company bought the hotel. They planned another expansion. A large new wing replaced the 1877 building. The old 1877 structure was actually cut off and moved away from the cliff. It was then used for employee housing.
In 1972, a dormitory for employees was built. The old 1877 building started to fall apart. But it was recognized as an important historic site in 1974. It was fixed up in the late 1970s. Today, it is home to the Volcano Art Center Gallery.
The Modern Volcano House Hotel
The main hotel building, which had 115 rooms, burned down in 1940. It was a kitchen fire, not a volcano eruption! The 1877 building was used for guests again while a new hotel was planned. George Lycurgus convinced important friends, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to let him build a new hotel.
By November 1941, a new building was opened. It was designed by Charles William Dickey. A new section with bigger rooms was added between 1958 and 1961. This brought the total to 42 rooms. The hotel also has a dining room, snack bar, art gallery, and gift shop. Volcano House is still the only public hotel inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
From 1977 to 1986, the hotel was managed by Sheraton Hotels. From 1986 to 2008, it was owned by Ken Direction Corporation.
Volcano House Today
On May 10, 2018, the hotel and the Kīlauea volcano area were closed. This was because of volcanic explosions and earthquakes happening at the time. The hotel reopened in late October 2018.
Recent Changes
In April 2008, the hotel had to be emptied several times. This was due to sulfur dioxide gas from an eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu. The company running the hotel finished its contract at the end of 2008. The National Park Service then looked for a new company to manage it.
On January 1, 2010, Volcano House closed for renovations. In April 2012, a new company called Hawai'i Volcanoes Lodge Company took over. The gift shop and nearby cabins opened soon after. Work on the rest of the hotel began in January 2013. The hotel and restaurant were fully renovated and reopened in June 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Volcano House para niños
