Ahwahnee Hotel
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| Ahwahnee Hotel | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
 The Ahwahnee as seen from Glacier Point in Yosemite. The Y-shape of the basic structure can be clearly seen in this view.
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| Location: | Yosemite National Park, California |
| Coordinates: | 37°44′44.68″N 119°34′27.07″W / 37.7457444°N 119.5741861°W |
| Built/Founded: | August 1, 1926–July 1927 |
| Architect: | Gilbert Stanley Underwood |
| Architectural style(s): | National Park Service Rustic |
| Governing body: | National Park Service |
| Added to NRHP: | February 15, 1977[1] |
| Designated NHL: | May 28, 1987[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 77000149 |
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a destination hotel in Yosemite National Park, California on the floor of Yosemite Valley, constructed from stone, concrete, wood and glass, which opened in 1927. It is a premiere example of National Park Service Rustic architecture, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[2][3]
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[edit] Construction
The Ahwahnee Hotel was designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed the Zion Lodge, Bryce Canyon Lodge, and Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge, with interior design directed by Dr. Phyllis Ackerman and Professor Arthur Upham Pope.[4]
The site for the hotel is below the Royal Arches rock formation in a meadow area that had served in the past as a village for the native Miwoks, who formerly lived in the valley, and a stables complex known as Kenneyville. The site was chosen for its views of many of the iconic sights in Yosemite, including Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point, and its exposure to the sun allowing for natural heating.[5]
The hotel was constructed from 5,000 tons (4,535 t) of rough-cut granite, 1,000 tons (907 t) of steel, and 30,000 feet (9,140 m) of timber.[5] The 'wood siding' and 'structural timber' on the exterior of the hotel is actually formed of stained concrete poured into molds to simulate a wood pattern.[4] Concrete was chosen as the material for the outside 'wood' elements to add fire resistance to the hotel. The construction lasted 11 months and had a cost of US$1,225,000 upon completion in July 1927.[5]
[edit] History
Just before opening, the director noticed that the porte-cochere planned for the west side of the building, where the Indian room now sits, would cause exhaust fumes from automobiles to invade the premises. A hastily designed Douglas Fir pole porte-cochere entry and parking area was erected on the east side of the hotel to correct this. The logs were replaced in the 1990s.
Almost immediately after opening, the next of many alterations were made to the hotel. In 1928, a roof garden and dance hall were converted into a private apartment after the dance hall failed to draw an audience. It was found that the load-bearing trusses in the dining room were barely adequate to support the snow load on the roof and potential earthquake stresses. This led to the trusses being reinforced in 1931-32.[4]
When Prohibition was rescinded in 1933, a private dining room was converted into the El Dorado Diggins bar, themed to the California Gold Rush period.[4]
1943 saw the United States Navy take over the hotel for use as a convalescent hospital for war veterans. Some of the changes made to the hotel by the Navy were repainting of the interior, conversion of chauffeur and maid rooms into guest rooms and enclosure of the original porte-cochere.[4]
The 1950s, '60s and '70s brought modernizations to the hotel including fire escapes, a fire alarm system, smoke detectors and a sprinkler system, along with an outdoor swimming pool and automatic elevators.[4]
2003-2004 saw a major roof overhaul, where virtually the entire slate-tile roof, and copper gutter system was replaced. Martech Associates, Inc. of Millheim, Pennsylvania designed the updated roof and served as the general contractor for the project. The project cost approximately 4 million USD and is especially noted for its 97 percent material recycling rate.
An article in the Los Angeles Times on March 13, 2009 stated that seismic retrofits may be needed for the Ahwahnee.[6]
[edit] Lodging
The Ahwahnee Hotel's 150,000-foot² (13,935 m²) Y-shaped building[4] has 99 hotel rooms, parlors and suites, each being accented with original Native American designs. 24 cottages bring the total number of rooms to 123.[7] A room off the main lobby features skiing and Yosemite memorabilia. The building itself is designed to blend harmoniously with the nearby Yosemite Valley cliffs. Prices per night range from $439 to $1015.
[edit] Popular culture
The Overlook Hotel set of the Stanley Kubrick movie The Shining was modeled after areas in the Ahwahnee hotel lobby.
[edit] References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2006-03-15. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
- ^ a b "The Ahwahnee". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1715&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved on 2007-10-21.
- ^ Laura Soullière Harrison (1986), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: The Ahwahnee HotelPDF (479 KiB), National Park Service and Accompanying 34 photos, exterior and interior, from 1985.PDF (3.16 MiB)
- ^ a b c d e f g Harrison, Laura Soullière (February 26, 2001). "The Ahwahnee Hotel". Architecture in the Parks: A National Historic Landmark Theme Study. National Park Service - Department of the Interior. http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/harrison/harrison15.htm. Retrieved on 7 July 2006.
- ^ a b c "The Ahwahnee History". Yosemite National Park. Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.. 2003. http://www.yosemitepark.com/content2col.cfm?SectionID=23&PageID=336. Retrieved on 7 July 2006.
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- ^ "The Ahwahnee". Yosemite National Park. Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.. 2003. http://www.yosemitepark.com/content2hdr.cfm?SectionID=23&PageID=42. Retrieved on 7 July 2006.
[edit] External links
- "The Official site for The Ahwahnee hotel". DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite - the National Park concessioner. 2008. http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_TheAhwahnee.aspx. Retrieved on 2 June 2008.
- "Bracebridge Dinners". Andrea Fulton Chorale. 2004. http://www.bracebridgedinners.com. Retrieved on 15 july 2007.
- "Dining Out: Ahwahnee Hotel Kitchen (Yosemite, California)". Cooking For Engineers. January 22, 2005. http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article.php?id=88&title=Ahwahnee+Hotel+Kitchen+%28Yosemite%2C+California%29. Retrieved on 7 July 2006.
- The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite. Virtual photo tour, history, more. Lots of photos.
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