when was the menger hotel built

Here, in the Menger Bar, Roosevelt recruited hard-living cowboys fresh from the Chisholm Trail to his detachment of Rough Riders. Terry Scott Bertling / San Antonio Express-News, Texas squirrels are splooting again due to the extreme heat, Controversy over Bill Miller's chicken strips is raising concerns, New Braunfels Buc-ee's loses crown to new Tennessee Buc-ee's. 265: Hotel History: Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Nobody Asked Me, But No. He flatters himself that his establishment will be large and well ventilated stable, which will at times be kept supplied with the best provender, and attended to by experienced hostlers. The Menger Hotel Hotel Menu Availability View our special offers 204 Alamo Plaza San Antonio, Texas 78205 The original property opened in 1859. Construction on a forty-room annex began in August 1858 and was completed the following year. And according to hotel legends, when Roy Rogers visited, he brought Trigger, who was stabled in a large closet in his suite. From left to right are the Menger Hotel, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Gallagher Building (where Rivercenter mall is now) and the Dullnig Building tower. The Mengers most famous spiritual guest is former President Teddy Roosevelt. Based in Edmond, Oklahoma, Elaine Warner is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and is the author of two books, including More than Petticoats: Remarkable Missouri Women. 241: Hotel History: Menger Hotel, Percipia Launches New Hospitality Interface for Webex by Cisco, Nobody Asked Me, But No. In 1976 the hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Alamo Plaza Historic District. The Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells (currently undergoing an extensive renovation) provided facilities for guests to take the cure. On Galveston Island, a group of local businessmen and residents raised money to build a new resort hotel in hopes of bringing tourism back to the city after the devastating hurricane of 1900. Menger commissioned a three-story, 40-room addition in 1859 between the hotel and the brewery. Though known to startle guests and employees, they always remember their Southern manners, and never intentionally get their kicks out of scaring the living, like some ill-mannered entities have been known to do in other ghost stories found on this web site. Theres Durty Nellys Irish Pub with its nightly sing-a-long and piano entertainment, Rincon Alegre Lobby Bar, and the Texs Riverwalk Sports Bar. Many other entities had enjoyed the hotel while they were living, and are so attached they want to stay there in the afterlife. Valet parking $42. Amenities. Scott came to the Express-News from the San Antonio Current, the Alamo City's alt-weekly publication, where she ran online and social programming. The original property opened in 1859. In Waco, E. Lee Torrance and his friend Judge Drummond W. Bartlett built 24 tourist apartments to provide lodging for visitors seeking the nearby curative 103-degree waters. It was a place where they found rest and happiness when they were alive, and they still enjoy the hotel today, despite the inconvenience of being just a spirit with no bodily form! Indulge the palate with delectable fare created by the countrys premier chefs at these historic hotels. Turkel is the most widely-published hotel consultant in the United States. . All of these books can be ordered from AuthorHouse by visiting www.stanleyturkel.com and clicking on the books title. 204 Alamo Plaza. Experience an exciting celebration at a historic hotel. How the Menger Hotel came to be San Antonio's most 'haunted' hotel - mySA Explore these historic hotels that reside along the shorelines of Americas finest beaches, lakes, and rivers. It was praised for the cuisine offered in the Colonial Dining Room, which included such specialties as wild game, mango ice cream, and snapper soup made from turtles caught in the San Antonio River. Photo: Elaine Warner. For super swanky and historic, stay in one of the Victorian Suites. In 2011, the hotel was updated in a modern style that reflects its Texas roots and the citys Spanish heritage. In addition to its significance as a historical landmark, the Menger offers unparalleled amenities, including the famous Colonial Room Restaurant and the Menger Bar, along with 316 guest rooms and suites. Sallie was a maid who took her job seriously. The 1948 edition includes the hopeful statement, There will be a day sometime in the future when this guide will not need to be published. Indeed, that guidebook is no longer published, even if inequities remain. Many of the early land and cattle deals were inked in the Menger over one of his lagers, which were brewed with a Mexican candy called piloncillo. In the days before air conditioning, these were popular gathering spots. - image via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy Dallas Heritage Village, Located in Mineral Wells, the Baker Hotel was built to cater to tourists visiting to take the cure in the towns eponymous mineral wells. Total damages were estimated at $100,000 (relatively $1.4 million today). Blue," a woman clad in blue World War II-era dress knitting. The original two-story, 50-room structure was designed by San Antonios first prominent architect, John M. Fries who was responsible for the original City Market House and Casino Hall, both since demolished. 251: Wish You Were Here: A Tour of Americas Great Hotels During the Golden Age of the Picture Post Card. 2023 Texas Historical Commission. A member of the Historic Hotels of America, the Menger preserves much of its early architecture, antiques and paintings. When the hotel was renovated in 1932, Hunters Hotel Fans (H52s) were installed in every room. Many sobered up the next morning to find themselves on their way to basic military training at Fort Sam Houston before joining in the Spanish American War. Menger Hotel - Wikipedia In San Antonio, the brothers Sam and Phil Barshop built the first La Quinta across the street from the grounds where HemisFair took place in 1968. The hotel featured a tunnel opening off the basement, through which Menger led groups of selected guests on tours of the adjacent brewery. Tourism spawned by expansion in the roadway and communication systems led to the local development of motor courts, motor inns, and highway hotels. Over the years, the Menger became a legendary fixture next door to the Alamo and now reigns as the oldest . Learn More. A well-trained employee, seeing what looks like a real woman, comes over to her and asks Are you comfortable may I get you something?. Display cases and photographs on the walls of the first-floor lobbies provide a glimpse into the Mengers colorful past. The Menger Hotel is not only a very appealing place for the enjoyment of the living, but has long been a favorite place for a variety of spirits and ghosts. Imagine being a guest who has just enjoyed a shower in his/her rooms bathroom, and then stepping out into the room suite. This and other lodging like it allowed generations of women access to gainful employment in growing urban centers. As the population in Texas grew from 1.5 million in 1880 to almost 6 million by 1930, local entrepreneurs and business owners built hotels to attract new people, ideas, and prosperity to their towns. Badly injured, she held on for two days before dying of her injuries. The Mengers also sent out a wagon with benches that would drive around downtown San Antonio picking up businessmen in order to take them to the hotel to dine on the delicious fare. Imagine the employees surprise when the woman answers NO! Menger commissioned a three-story, 40-room addition in 1859 between the hotel and the brewery. Mary Menger arrived in San Antonio in 1846. [emailprotected] 917-628-8549. A tunnel connected the hotel and the brewery, and Menger led groups of VIPs on special tours of the brewery. Continuing to cater to travelers today, the hotel is also said to be home to several resident ghosts. The main room on the second floor is unsurpassed for beauty. The Historic Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, in 1905, vintage postcard. After William Menger opened the Menger Brewery in 1855, he married Mary and the success of the Brewery operation led to the construction of the Menger Hotel. Historic Partner Hotel of the Alamo | The Historic Menger Hotel 5 min read Menger Hotel Written by Stanley Turkel CMHS hotel-online.com English The Menger Hotel, one of the most iconic and historically significant buildings in San Antonio, was. Early on, the Menger had rooms designed for long-term residential guests. Over the years, The Adolphus has hosted everything from hula dancers to ice skating revues. Menger, a skilled cooper with beer-brewing know-how, built Texas first commercial brewery on a parcel near the Alamo. Boat ride on at the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Historic timeline 1871 . Turkel is the most widely published hotel consultant in the United States. Today, Sallie apparently continues to perform her duties within the Victorian wing of the hotel. The mango ice cream from the Mengers Colonial Room Restaurant is known to be one of Bill Clintons favorite desserts. in a rather rude manner and then melts into thin air. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. 260: Hotel History: Terminal City, The Roosevelt Hotel and The Postum Building, New York, Nobody Asked Me, But No. - All Rights Reserved. Taylor. The entity demands to know, Are you gonna stay or are you gonna go? three times before vanishing. The Most Historic Hotel in America/ The Menger in San Antonio - YouTube The hotel was originally linked directly to Houston via a 50-mile high-speed interurban train. When the Menger Bar opened in 1863, beer was chilled by the Alamo Madre ditch that ran through the hotels courtyard. Eventually, the hotel operation overtook the brewery and was sold to J. H. Kampmann in the early 1880s. 2004-2023 HauntedHouses.com | All rights reserved unless noted otherwise, Haunted Houses Find Real Haunted Houses, Explore Hauntings and Halloween Attractions. Post and photos except for Menger Petite Room courtesy of Jamie Rhein. The Menger was again renovated in the 1980s. Architect Alfred Giles altered the main faade, adding Renaissance Revival details in stuccoed brick, pressed metal, and cast iron; he also designed an interior rotunda that provided light and served as a circulation hub. Cattle baron Richard King of the million-acre King Ranch in South Texas was a part-time resident of the Menger. Bostons Tremont House became the first of many hotels to have a separate dining room for unaccompanied women called a ladies ordinary that provided spaces for independent socializing. She wore small metal-framed glasses, who was dressed in an old fashioned blue dress, sporting a beret with a tassel made herself comfortable in the original lobby, busily working on her newest knitting project. The Colonial Room Restaurant is known for its Sunday Brunches and signature dishes like the mango ice-cream thats been served at the hotel for more than 100 years. The first choice of San Antonio ghost hunters is the hotel located downtown, immediately adjacent to the Alamo and the Rivercenter Mall. 204 Alamo Plaza As the cowboys came in, he would cheerfully offer them a free drink (or several) as he worked his recruiting strategy upon the unsuspecting cowpoke. Hotel-Scoop.com is a travel resource site with detailed hotel reviews of lodging worth talking about, from professional globetrotting travel writers. Download the app for more videos and travel information: 1511 Colorado St. | Austin, TX 78701 | (512) 463-6100 | thc@thc.texas.gov, We only use cookies that are necessary for this site to function to provide you with the best experience. - photo via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy San Antonio Conservation Society, The Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin has hosted a number of important local events including weddings and inaugural balls. - photo by James Wright Steely, via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy Texas Historical Commission, Trost & Trost designed a number of hotels throughout Texas and the Southwest, including the El Capitan in Van Horn. A member of Historic Hotels of America since 1989. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here are two options that have historical significance to San Antonios downtown vibe. He is also credited with repairing the Alamo in 1850 and saving it from destruction. Copyright 2023 Historic Hotels America All of these books can be ordered from AuthorHouse by visitingwww.stanleyturkel.comand clicking on the books title. Soon, he hired local architect John M. Fries to design the two-story cut-stone building, which featured abundant classical detail. Hermann Kampmann became manager in 1887 and supervised the installation of a new bar, a replica of the taproom in the House of Lords Club in London. The Menger Hotel in San Antonio, designed by architect John M. Fries and completed in 1859, was built to accommodate overnight guests visiting the Menger brewery and became a stopping point along the Chisolm Trail. Chat with one of our commercial ceiling fan experts today! 262: Hotel History: Tampa Bay Hotel, Nobody Asked Me, But No. He is certified as a Master Hotel Supplier Emeritus by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Over the years, Roosevelt has reportedly been seen drinking at the dark little barroom off the main lobby. The Mengers purchased the best beef, chicken, fresh country butter and eggs the markets had to offer. Enjoy the scenery and fresh mountain air at any one of these historic hotels. - image via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy McFaddin-Ward House Museum, Twenty Alamo Plaza Hotel Courts would be built in Texas as part of the first motel chain, including this one in Beaumont. chambermaid who was shot by her husband because he believed she was To commemorate the milestone, mySA.com is looking back at the city's rich history with stories, photos, video and graphics, remembering some of the most noteworthy events that have taken place or were covered by this publication during those 150 years. Later, hotels would be located along railroad lines near train stations to house traveling salesmen, who used these accommodations . During President George Washingtons presidential tours of 1789-1791, he famously refused private accommodations (and the appearance of favoritism) by staying only in public houses. image via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy Dallas Heritage Village, Located in Mineral Wells, the Baker Hotel was built to cater to tourists visiting to take the cure in the towns eponymous mineral wells. For many years, another popular draw to the hotel was the cuisine offered by Mary Menger herself. After William Menger died at the age of forty-four years in 1871, Mary and her son Louis William continued to operate the brewery and the hotel. Historic Hotels San Antonio | Our Story | The Menger Hotel Many of Marys recipes are still offered today in the hotels Colonial Dining Room. Built in 1887 as an exact replica of Londons House of Lords Pub, the Menger Bar is rich in history, from the Alamo and Texas fight for independence to Theodore Roosevelts Rough Riders from the Spanish-American War. My New Book Great American Hotel Architects Volume 2 has just been published. Embracing its history as well as its 'hauntings,' the Menger Hotel, a member of the Historic Hotels of America, offers a ghost tour package as well as an "I love history" suite. Sallie has been seen numerous times wearing an old long gray skirt and a bandana around her forehead, the uniform common during her era. The walls and ceilings unite the smoothness of glass to the whiteness of alabaster, whilst the mouldings are conceived in fine taste and executed in the best style of art.. The room photo is courtesy of Menger Hotel. Texas Historical Commission 1976 - "Menger Hotel," in the Texas Historic Sites Atlas, http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us (accessed March 26, 2013). Many famous, well-known people enjoyed the perks and hospitality of the Menger Hotel, including Theodore Roosevelt, Sidney Lanier, Babe Ruth, Mae West, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Sarah Bernhardt, and Gutzon Borglum. It is nice to know that Menger Hotel hospitality and service is extended to ghosts as well, even if they are grumpy, which is a testament to the employee training program! Donna Kacmar, FAIA, teaches at the University of Houston, practices architecture at Architect Works, and is working on a new book about hotels that focus on materiality, light, accommodation of the act of travel, and connection to their local context. Discover these historic golf resorts for experienced and beginner golfers. Rhein has traveled to 35 countries (lived in five of them) and has been to every state but Alaska and Rhode Island. Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated November 2022. As the story goes, Menger got the idea of opening a hotel from dealing with men too drunk to find their horses, so theyd sleep it off on the taverns tables. The Menger Bar, with its outstanding woodwork, was inspired by the pub in Londons House of Lords. But perhaps the Menger's most legendary visitors of all are the dozens of spirits that guests and hotel staff have reported encountering. Named as one of the top 10 historic bars in the United States, the Menger Bar was built as an exact replica of Londons House of Lords Pub. The property featured a cellar with 3-foot-thick limestone walls that were ideal for chilling beer, and a tunnel led from there to the brewery. - image via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy Clark Hotel Museum, The first La Quinta was built to serve tourists traveling to San Antonio for HemisFair '68. Appraised value: $26.5 million, according to the Bexar County Appraisal District. For many years, another popular draw to the hotel was the cuisine offered by Mary Menger herself. One of these days, shell really focus on that blog of hersHither and Yon. Mr. Menger ran the following ad in local newspapers: The undersigned has with great care and expense built and fitted out a large & commodious hotel on Alamo Square which [will] be opened on the 1st of February 1859. 253; Hotel History: Hotel Pennsylvania, Nobody Asked Me, But No. Primarily, appearing at night, Sallie is generally seen walking along the hotel hallways, carrying a load of clean towels for the guests. The building of a hotel indicated the prosperity and public spirit of a town. Whether one is walking along the pathways and over the stone bridges that cross the river at various points, or on a tour boat that leisurely travels along this stretch of the river, heres where the city hums with vibrancy and the hotel scene is part of the mix. The reservation book in the picture above is from the Menger Hotel and was used from 1878 to 1879. Later, hotels would be located along railroad lines near train stations to house traveling salesmen, who used these accommodations both for lodging and as a showroom for their goods. her arms stretched out and full of fresh towels." Built in 1859, the hotel was, and stillis,a centerpiece for elegance and gentility. The Alamo, an iconic adobe structure, built in 1718. Among the better known spirits are Sallie White, an 1870s For example, in 1887, the newly opened Driskill Hotel in Austin hosted its first inaugural ball. Historic Hotels of America preserves the authenticity of America's most prominent lodging addresses and offers visitors a richer travel experience Our diverse selection of hotels, inns, and resorts are the perfect locations to create lasting memories with the people who mean the most to you. With its creamy exterior, wrought iron balconies,and lavish decor this Victorian-era stunner is one of San Antonio's architectural beauties. Texas hotels have also played an important social role in their host communities. 256: Hotel History: Severin Hotel Indianapolis, Indiana, Nobody Asked Me, But No. The finishing of the walls and ceilings being developed and executed by our fellow citizen P.C. Editor's note: This story is one in a continuing series celebrating the 150th anniversary of the San Antonio Express-News. The Menger Hotel is a historic hotel located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA, on the site of the Battle of the Alamo . image via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy Mineral Wells Heritage Association, The Hotel Galvez was built by local residents as a way of luring tourists back to the island after Galvestons devastating 1900 storm. 1859 Historic Hotels. He operates his hotel consulting practice serving as an expert witness in hotel-related cases, provides asset management and hotel franchising consultation. The Negro Motorist Green Book, published between 1936 and 1966, listed hotels and tourist homes that would provide lodging for Black Americans. For the past twenty-seven years, I have served as an expert witness in more than 42 hotel-related cases. He flatters himself that his establishment will be large and well ventilated stable, which will at times be kept supplied with the best provender and attended to by experienced hostlers. Though the number of entities counted at the historic Menger Hotel is high, all are said to be harmless to staff and visitors, doing nothing more than sometimes starling a guest or an employee. Some of the furniture was purchased by the Mengers on European trips, and one of the paintings, Venting Cattle on the Frisco System by artist Frank Lewis Van Ness, was borrowed for a scene in the Warner Brothers epic film Giant. The Menger dcor is an interesting blend of Texan and imported antiques. He is certified as a Master Hotel Supplier Emeritus by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Taylor. In all, Texas currently has almost 9,000 hotels, containing a total of more than 600,000 guest rooms.

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