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. Frank W. Johnson,A History of Texas and Texans(5 vols., ed. Spoon remaining bread mixture over that layer and top it with remaining pecan mixture. [12], William Lewis Moody Jr. bought the Menger Hotel in 1943,[13] and on June 30, 1944, the National Hotel Corporation, which he had founded in 1928, took possession. Kampmann, Hermann was a shrewd businessman whose business practices made him one of the wealthiest people in San Antonio. William and Mary Menger opened the historic hotel in February 1859, but that was not the original business plan. Specialties included wild game, mango ice cream, and snapper soup made from turtles caught in the San Antonio River. The placement of a passenger elevator in the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City in 1859 led to the rapid integration of passenger elevators in other types of buildings. But it was not the 101 guests staying at the Menger who were actually hurt. Receive for Free - Discover & Explore eNewsletter monthly with advance notice of special offers, packages, and insider savings from 10% - 30% off Best Available Rates at selected hotels. William and Mary Menger opened the Menger hotel in 1859 in what is now San Antonio's Alamo Plaza Historic District, which includes the Alamo Mission. The hotel featured a tunnel opening off the basement, through which William Menger led groups of selected guests on tours of the adjacent brewery. He made extensive changes to the facility by adding Renaissance-Revival details to the main faade, including an ornamental marquee of ground glass and iron, as well as a glazed iron canopy across the main floor supported by iron columns. Kampmann, who, as fate would have it, was the original contractor who built the hotel. She had long prepared meals for her guests at her boarding house and felt that doing so at the Menger Hotel as well would strengthen its appeal. 204 Alamo Plaza , San Antonio, Texas 78205. 2023 The Menger Hotel. She loves cooking almost as much as she loves living in Jackson County Texas. Explore the immense variety of activities these historic destination resorts. Many high-profile guests have stayed at the Menger, including. Discover the majesty of the countrys national parks through these historic hotels. Under the tables, on the tables, under the benches, said Kennedy. Guests will enjoy a truly unique and unforgettable vacation experience while celebrating 160 years of Texas-sized hospitality. For example, in 1887, the newly opened Driskill Hotel in Austin hosted its first inaugural ball. Of course, in America, the requirement to provide hospitality to everyone was often overlooked. The hotels website also has additional information about the architecture and history of the facility as well as information regarding how to visit and tour the hotel. One of their signature dishes is their famous bread pudding. Many lesser known spirits also haunt the Menger. - photo courtesy The Driskill, The Beaux Arts Adolphus Hotel was once the tallest building in Texas. William Sydney Porter mentioned the hotel several times in his stories. 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. Every dollar helps. I just love the Menger; I find her history is even more enchanting than her accommodations, additionally the Menger Bar and Colonial Dining Room are among my best loved anywhere. Mary Baumschlueter Guenther (soon to be Menger) arrived in San Antonio in 1846. Visit exceptional art galleries, museums, and theaters at these unique destinations. He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. [11], After World War I the family could no longer provide for the hotel to host large social events and by 1929 the hotel had been so neglected that it was removed from the state guidebooks. The Menger Hotel, constructed in 1857 and situated on the original battle grounds of the Alamo, is said to be inhabited by over 30 different ghosts. These hotels became part of the local community and were often the site of important local events. As the first news aggregate for the hotel industry, Hotel-Online is the industrys must-read daily news source for everything hotel curated for busy professionals. Finally in 1881, Mary sold the Menger to Major J.H. Giles also made renovations to the hotels interior, designing the inner rotunda that is still recognized as one of the facilitys character-defining features and embellishing the lobby with marble floors and other Renaissance-Revival detailing such as Corinthian columns and filigreed balustrades (Unknown n.d.). 267: Hotel History: Famous Artist Edward Hopper and His Hotel Management Paintings, Nobody Asked Me, But No. Kent Keeth, "Sankt Antonius: Germany in the Alamo City of the 1850's,"Southwestern Historical Quarterly76 (October 1972). All of us work to keep this place going, hopefully for another 160 years.". If you have ever been in a hotel, as a guest, attended a conference, enjoyed a romantic dinner, celebrated a special occasion, or worked as a hotelier in the front or back of the house, Great American Hoteliers, Volume 2: Pioneers of the Hotel Industry is a must read book. Soon an east wing was added, the kitchen was relocated, another lobby was added and the dining room was expanded to accommodate 160 people. Everyone who has been downtown, been to the Alamo, from San Antonio knows about the hotel even if they have never been inside, said Kennedy. [8] Also around this time, a reading area was also added, where a number of early writers and chroniclers of life in the Southwestern United States who stayed at the Menger wrote and worked. However, you'll find that its sordid history has this 316-room hotel placed firmly at the top of Texas's Most Haunted list. is renowned for its beautiful architecture, a restored 19th-century wing with Victorian-style guestrooms, rare antique furniture, and paintings, all which lend an air of historic luxury. Construction on a forty-room annex was begun in August 1858 and completed the following year. Mary Menger arrived in San Antonio in 1846. He brought me into this world & was our neighbor. The hotel just celebrated 160 years. William Menger emigrated to Texas from Germany and dreamed of opening a brewery . Copyright 2023 Historic Hotels America Mudge, but retained the final say in major decisions. Photos & Overview. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. In 1953, a swimming pool was added to the property. William Menger had emigrated from Germany to America in 1847. He was always there for all the sports events. SAN ANTONIO A fixture of the Texas frontier and a San Antonio landmark, the Menger Hotel has stood for more than a century and a half in Alamo Plaza. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. It also accommodated the Texas campaign headquarters for Franklin D. Roosevelt and hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their official state visit in 1991. The Mengers purchased the highest-quality beef, chicken, country butter and eggs they could find at local markets, and sent out a wagon with benches that would drive around town picking up businessmen to take them to the hotel to dine. Accessed November 7, 2015. Fries was responsible for several other buildings of note in the area including the original City Market House and Casino Hall, both of which have since been demolished. It provided food service in order to feed the officers and soldiers. Under his supervision, a complete restoration of the hotel began in 1945 after World War II ended, and by 1948, new plumbing, electrical fixtures, and building decorations had been installed and the Spanish patio gardens restored as well. After all this restoration work was completed, the lobby that J.H. Air conditioning is installed in the hotel along with a new lobby and a four-story, 125-room addition. San Antonio Light, September 14, 1885. The Mengers built a set of rooms next to the brewery to let customers sleep off the alcohol. Once the war ended the hotel resumed full operations. Explore these historic hotels that are perfect for the whole family. Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas(New York: Southern, 1880). For the past twenty-seven years, I have served as an expert witness in more than 42 hotel-related cases. Terms & Conditions| Discover these historic golf resorts for experienced and beginner golfers. Many of her recipes are still offered today in the hotel's Colonial Dining Room, and the mango ice cream is still popular with guests. Room Rates. Over the hotel's history, there have been different managers and management groups of the Menger Hotel, including Major John Hermann (J.H) Kampmann, Hermann Kampmann, William Louis Moody Jr, and Hector R. Venegas. Mengers spirit still lives on with the staff that work hard every day to keep it going. Explore these historic hotels that reside along the shorelines of Americas finest beaches, lakes, and rivers. Cookies & Privacy Policy| Theodore Roosevelt first visited the Menger in 1892 on a javelina hunt; he returned to recruit his Rough Riders (the First United States Volunteer Cavalry) at the hotel in 1898; in 1905 he was back for a banquet. Using locally quarried limestone, the Menger Hotel was built for only $15,712. The History of the Menger Hotel Bar. The Menger Hotel in San Antonio has enchanting history, 101 W. Goodwin Ave., Suite 1200,Victoria,TX. After her first husband died in 1850, Mary and William married in 1851. The history of tourist lodging in Texas reflects larger trends occurring throughout the nation. This allowed for a higher volume of travelers through the city and promoted the growth of the Alamo Plaza, which became the location of San Antonio's first federal post office, opened in 1877. 265: Hotel History: Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Nobody Asked Me, But No. It is not new years diet approved, but it will give you the strength and stamina to do great things. We need your support because we are a non-profit that relies upon contributions from our community in order to record and preserve the history of our state. Menger settled in San Antonio and resumed his previous trade as a cooper and brewer. Adolphus Busch, a German immigrant and the co-founder of Anheuser-Busch, had been investing in real estate in Dallas when city leaders persuaded him to build the new hotel. After William Mengers death, his wife sold the hotel to J.H. Files, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio. It provided food service in order to feed the officers and soldiers. Haunted? Mary Baumschlueter Guenther (soon to be Menger) arrived in San Antonio in 1846. In 1976 the hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Alamo Plaza Historic District. Over the years, The Adolphus has hosted everything from hula dancers to ice skating revues. Instead, the injuries came when the fire steam engine came rumbling down the road. They drew plans for a 50-room, three-story hotel where no expense was spared. He died in 1902 in a horse and buggy accident. - 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. Do you have any ballet dancers in your family? Cookies & Privacy Policy| By 1991 the Hotel Corporation, also known as the Gal-Tex Corporation, finished restoration of the 8,000 square feet retail space on the Alamo Plaza side of the hotel, at a cost of about $9 million. From a Brewery to a Hotel: The Menger Hotel was originally built as a two-story hotel with 50 rooms. Henry Trost had already designed many hotels in El Paso when Charles Bassett started to develop the Gateway Hotels to encourage tourism in West Texas. The Menger was built by German immigrant William Menger in 1859 as an ornate add-on to his existing brewery a few steps south of the Alamo. 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.. E. C. Barker and E. W. Winkler [Chicago and New York: American Historical Society, 1914; rpt. Nobody Asked Me, But No. It picks up ghost stories.. Stanley Turkel is a recognized consultant in the hotel industry. The Menger Hotel was constructed amid the great industrialization and subsequent social reform movements that impacted America throughout the second-half of the 19th century. Pour half of the bread mixture into a greased 88-inch pan and top with half of the pecan mixture. Turkel is the most widely published hotel consultant in the United States. You have permission to edit this article. The presence of a hotel indicates the openness of its surrounding citizenry to new people and ideas. A third hotel book (Built To Last: 100+ Year-Old Hotels in New York) was called "passionate and informative" by the New York Times. 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. When it opened, the two story building had only 50 rooms. Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As documented in an 1885 survey, guests had access to a well-appointed bar room, billiard hall, and barbershop which were connected to the hotel. The bar's namesake, William Menger, immigrated from what is now Germany in the 1840s. Sidney Lanier, American musician, poet, and authorBabe Ruth, American professional baseball playerMae West, American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, and comedianRobert E. Lee, American commander of the Confederate States ArmySarah Bernhardt, French stage actressGutzon Borglum, American artist and sculptor, most known for his creation of the Mount Rushmore National MemorialUlysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States (1869-1877)Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States (1901-1909), Hotel History: The Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas (1859). Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) When the Civil War and Reconstruction were over, and especially after the railroad arrived in 1877, the Menger became the best-known hotel in the Southwest. Many of Marys recipes are still offered today in the hotels Colonial Dining Room. Until I-35 was built in the 1950s, South Congress was the highway leading into Austin. Take a video tour and make plans to visit The Menger. As this new decade dawns, I hope we will all learn to ignore the critics in our lives, both internal and external. In 1887, Teddy Roosevelt rode into town and recruited men from the Menger Bar to join the ranks of the Rough Riders, the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry. Like his grandfather and father, William Menger and J.H. Burnet, Tex. Historic hotels are wonderful places to discover meaningful familial ties while reuniting with loved ones. Mary sold the Menger to Major J.H. 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. Experience a romantic getaway at a remarkable historic hotel. 270: Hotel History: Hotel Martinique (1910), Nobody Asked Me, But No. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Specifically, a four story, 125-room addition was commissioned by new hotel owner W.L. Sharon Orsak Copyright 2023 Historic Hotels America We are a community-supported, non-profit organization and we humbly ask for your support because the careful and accurate recording of our history has never been more important. This. Teddy was not the only president to stay at the Menger, other Oval Office inhabitant guests have included Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, Woodrow Wilson, William Taft, William McKinley, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Lyndon Johnson, George H.W. The floor coverings were replaced with carpeting, guestrooms and public rooms were renovated, and $100,000 was spent on equipping a new kitchen. in April | May 2022 | Western Landmark | Written by Elaine Warner San Antonio, Texas, is replete with reminders of its Spanish history: Colonial Revival architecture, flower-decked balconies overlooking the San Antonio River, and Spanish street names. Hotel San Jos, originally built in 1936, was transformed by Lake|Flato Architects and Liz Lambert in the late 1990s and acted as a catalyst for the explosive development of the South Congress area. (For more on the history of the Driskill, including its most recent renovation, see the January/February 2022 issue of Texas Architect). The hotel also offered hospital beds and nursing services for medical care of wounded soldiers. The hotel offered a mail chute on each floor for guests to useoutgoing mail was collected and taken to the post office. An overview of the Menger Hotel in San Antonio. was in Colorado Springs when he died on September 6, 1885 at age sixty-six. I have very fond memories of him. Frequent guests tell us its like coming home. Weve done our best to keep the decor.. Under his ownership, the hotel added more stories and rooms that boasted running water and private bathrooms in every guest room, an unheard of luxury at that time. The ever-growing demand for rooms became the hotel's most pressuring need. Explore a wondrous display of plant- and flower-filled finery at these legendary places. Torrance would go on to build 20 other motor courts throughout the state. For many years, another popular draw to the hotel was the cuisine offered by Mary Menger herself. 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. Join our growing community of academics, professionals, and history enthusiasts of all levels and ages. Like anything close to the Alamo . Explore the many Historic Hotels of America that either played a significant role in the Civil War or have paid tribute to that period. The finishing of the walls and ceilings being developed and executed by our fellow citizen P.C. Discover special accommodations for pets and these companions can relax in style. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved. This book is recommended for any business person, entrepreneur, student, or aspiring hotelier. He was the contractor who was hired in 1858 to build the hotel. While many of these early roadside motels have been demolished to make way for newer development, some of them been transformed into boutique hotels. He is certified as a Master Hotel Supplier Emeritus by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. I personally feel like the historic rooms are our best rooms in general, said Kennedy. National Register of Historic Places portal, National Register of Historic Places listings in Bexar County, Texas, Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Bexar County, http://immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=29, "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Alamo Plaza Historic District", "The Menger Hotel, a Historic Hotels of America member", "Menger, Crockett hotels plan to reopen later this year", Texas History 101: Tales of Teddy Roosevelt swilling, recruiting, and raising hell in and around San Antonios Menger Hotel, TR's bio and other information on the Rough Riders, United States National Register of Historic Places listings, History of the National Register of Historic Places, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, United States Army Medical Department Museum, Baptist Health System School of Health Professions, Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Menger_Hotel&oldid=1169252707, Historic district contributing properties in Texas, National Register of Historic Places in San Antonio, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. Tropical storm warning issued for Calhoun, Refugio counties, Breaking through silence: Local metal band's popularity steadily rising, Two years after catching COVID, patients still risk getting sick, Victoria County employees could receive free gym memberships Monday, Cheer workshop builds next generation, gives girls confidence, Victoria ballet alum shares unique work with local dancers, Syndicated Column: Televising Trumps trial will be the Super Bowl of politics, Gym benefits for county workers pushed back till next week, Storm system could bring rain to Crossroads. Sign up today for industry news delivered to your inbox. However, over the years, it has been expanded and renovated several times. Menger was very proud of it, he took out ads in regional newspapers declaring that if it was not the best hotel, it was at least equal to any hotel you would find in the west, said Kennedy. McClean and J.H. The hotel was a center of San Antonio social affairs and a meetingplace for visiting celebrities. Learn about our 160 years in business as the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi. Other renovations during this period included the addition of an artesian well, steam laundry service, electric lights, and a steam-powered elevator. 262: Hotel History: Tampa Bay Hotel, Nobody Asked Me, But No. All of this would be served in one sitting and every person left the dining room feeling quite satisfied. Throughout its early history, the Menger served as the hotel of choice for visiting dignitaries, politicians, and socialites. E winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. In 1887 Caroline (Bonnet) Kampmann, then widow of John Herman Kampmann who died in 1885, purchased the property. 255: Hotel History: Shelton Hotel, New York, Nobody Asked Me, But No. Cookies & Privacy Policy| As business began to flourish Hermann found it difficult to manage it, and turned over active management to J.W. image via University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, courtesy Clark Hotel Museum. Mr. Turn-of-the-century travelers also sought lodging for health or leisure near the states unique natural elements. In 1912, the Kampmann family employed architect Atlee B. Ayres to renovate the dining room and add 30 guestrooms. Taylor. Accordingly, the history of traveler lodging is intertwined with advancing technology, changing economies, and even social revolutions. Section 107 related to Copyright and Fair Use for Non-Profit educational institutions, which permits the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), to utilize copyrighted materials to further scholarship, education, and inform the public. Accessed November 7, 2015. The Mengers sold the property in 1881 to the Kampmann family. It has also served both as a hurricane shelter and as a temporary White House for Theodore Roosevelt. Menger quickly realized that the newly-opened hotel was not large enough to accommodate demand and commissioned a three-story, 40-room addition between the hotel and the brewery the same year the hotel opened (Stuck 2013; THC 1976). In all, Texas currently has almost 9,000 hotels, containing a total of more than 600,000 guest rooms. The Adolphus Hotel became the first luxury hotel in Dallas to be truly knitted into the life of the city. The upcoming World's Fair of 1968, dubbed the Hemisfair by local San Antonians, motivated Mary Moody Northen to spend $1.5 million on a five-story addition with 110 guestrooms to accommodate the expected tourists. Mary had long been preparing meals for her guests at her boarding house and she felt doing so at the Menger Hotel would strengthen its appeal. All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Son of J.H. Enjoy the scenery and fresh mountain air at any one of these historic hotels. Designed by Barnett, Haynes, & Barnett from St. Louis, The Adolphus was the tallest building in Texas when it opened in 1912.
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