Old Faithful Inn Centennial

1904 - 2004

(Left) This early Haynes postcard was postmarked from Yellowstone on June 21, 1908. The message reads "Parted from here and rode 22 mi in a snow storm today. Fine business  ME"        In the foreground is the cone of Beehive Geyser.

The Old Faithful Inn's 100 Birthday Celebration, May 7, 2004 (photos at right and below taken at the Inn's May 7-9 Heritage Days weekend) The National Park Service and Xanterra Parks & Resorts officially opened the Old Faithful Inn to the public beginning around 10:30AM on Friday, May 7, 2004, with an entourage of mounted park rangers, a stagecoach, and historic busses beginning their procession up the front road to the Inn and on to the porte cochere. It was a beautiful spring morning with temperatures in the 60s, and bright sunshine (though later  turning to overcast skies). At 11:00AM hundreds of well wishers moved into the lobby area in front of the fireplace and lined the balconies of the second and third floors to hear various speakers including Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis and Paul Hoffman, the Interior Department's deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife, and parks (see the Billings Gazette article on opening day festivities). In attendance was Harry W. Child (photo below), grandson of Yellowstone's legendary Harry Child who, over 100 years ago, contacted architect Robert Reamer to design and supervise construction of the historic hotel. After the ribbon cutting, children of park personnel lead the audience in singing Happy Birthday to the Inn. Finally, all were invited to enjoy birthday cake and coffee as the Old Faithful Inn officially opened for its 100th season. The cake was topped with a likeness of the 100 year old building fashioned from chocolate. The Montana Mandolin Society provided music from the second floor balcony as guests socialized below. Throughout the rest of the Heritage Days weekend the lobby floor displayed interpretive exhibits, and presentations, workshops, and tours were held in and near the Inn. On Saturday May 8 the Montana Mandolin Society performed a well-received concert from 7:45 to 9:45PM in the nearby employee recreation hall, located behind the Old Faithful Lodge. Their eclectic music varied from classical to traditional, and included a song written (but never performed) for the 50th anniversary of the Inn in 1954. The 100th anniversary ceremony celebrated the vision of the Inn's legendary American architect, Robert Chambers Reamer, with the dedication of a wayside exhibit in his honor. Reamer created a revolution in architecture in national parks that has continued to this day. His style of "rustic architecture"--where the building is designed to fit into the landscape--has come to be known over the years as "parkitecture." The grandeur and wonder of the Old Faithful Inn are best reflected in Reamer's own words (spoken during the construction of another building he designed for the park, the Canyon Hotel), "I built it in keeping with the place where it stands. Nobody could improve upon that. To be at discord with the landscape would be almost a crime. To try to improve upon it would be an impertinence." The Old Faithful Inn first opened its doors to the public in June 1904 Among commemorative centennial items available this year in the Old Faithful Inn gift shop are mugs, pewter items, playing cards, postcards, throws, caps and other wearing apparel, collector's plates, and more--all observing the 100th anniversary of the Inn. Note that although the Old Faithful Inn may be booked for much of the 2004 summer season, cancellations do occur, and you can check for them from time to time by calling reservations at 307-344-7311 or checking online at  http://www.travelyellowstone.com/ Also see:     Old Faithful Inn begins its next 100 years; hundreds mark anniversary, Billings Gazette, May 8, 2004.     NPS Press Release, April 2, 2004, Yellowstone to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of the Old Faithful Inn     Old Faithful Inn Centennial events. Join in the Celebration! - Yellowstone Association      Opening the Old Faithful Inn for the Summer - Hotel-Online.com     The Old Faithful Inn Celebrates 100 - National Park Service page; links to various NPS documents about the Inn.     Old Faithful Celebrates 100 Years - Bozeman Daily Chronicle, May 8, 2004     Video Clips of May 7 opening day ceremonies - Short clips with sound from Yellowstone's official website.     Old Faithful Inn Links on the Web

Guests arrive for opening day festivities in stagecoach.

This bus once used daily at Yellowstone in years past returned to the park to transport guests to the opening ceremonies.

After speeches and a ribbon cutting, guests sang Happy Birthday to the 100-year-old Inn

On the evening of opening day there was a festive air as piano music and singing filled the log lobby.

After participating in the opening day entourage, this mounted ranger takes time to visit with appreciative guests.

Honored guests Harry W. Child and his wife. Child's grandfather Harry W. Child was responsible for contacting Robert Reamer to design and oversee construction of the Old Faithful Inn.

Members of the Montana Mandolin Society gather on the widow's walk of the Old Faithful Inn. These musicians entertained in the lobby of the Inn with an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary pieces. On the evening of Saturday, May 8 they performed a benefit concert for the Yellowstone Association. (Photo courtesy of the Montana Mandolin Society).

Exhibits included this top of flagpole, one of the originals used when the Inn was opened in 1904. On the pole is a copy of a note stuffed inside by workers in April 1904 that reads: "remarks--snowed like hell. Drank 4 quarts of booze. Can see about 118 posts."

Throughout the Heritage Days weekend, exhibits such as this stereograph display were on public view in the lobby.

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