Old Faithful Inn Past and Present

Old Faithful Inn History

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One later improvement might have helped save the Inn from destruction. In 1987: a sprinkler system was installed to cascade water over the Inn's roofs in case of fire. When the North Fork fire threatened the Inn on September 7, 1988, this sprinkler system did its part to help in the firefighting effort by discouraging alighting hot embers from catching the wooden shingled roof on fire.

In 1987 the Old Faithful Inn was designated a National Historic Landmark, with the following statement of significance: "The first building in a National Park constructed in an architectural style harmonious with the grandeur of the surrounding landscape. Reflects Adirondack Rustic architectural idiom, but blown up to enormous proportions. Its seven-story high log lobby is unique in American architecture. Created with gnarled logs and rough sawn wood for the Northern Pacific Railroad, it has a sense of place as identifiable as the Park itself."

IN AUGUST 1959, a major earthquake tumbled a massive stone chimney through the floor of the Old Faithul Inn's dining room and forced many frightened (though unharmed) guests to stay in their cars and busses during the night. 1960 chrome postcard (Lauretta Studios, Butte, MT)

THE OLD FAITHFUL INN TURNS 100

The National Park Service and Xanterra Parks & Resorts officially celebrated the 100th anniversary of the

Old Faithful Inn and opened the doors to its second century on Friday, May 7, 2004, with an entourage of mounted park rangers and historic vehicles beginning their procession up the front road to the Inn and on to the porte cochere. Afterwards, hundreds of well wishers moved into the lobby area in front of the fireplace and lined the balconies of the second and third floors for opening ceremonies. (For details and photos of the Old Faithful Inn centennial, click here.)

PRESERVING THE OLD FAITHFUL INN

Although wood does not rot easily in this mountain environment, in Yellowstone, where time and severe weather can take its toll on all man-made structures, there has been an ongoing need for reshingling, restaining, carpentry and masonry repairs, reglazing, and reroofing. A skilled restoration team is on hand to repair and replace as needed.

This preservation crew, which has been in operation since 1991, continually trains in proper techniques and use of vintage tools. While meeting today's standards, the crew remains faithful to preserving original designs. When a project is completed, the team compiles a "task completion workbook" which includes "photos of the job before, during, and after it is done along with documentation of materials used and procedures performed." These reports are then added to a computer database for future reference.
In October 2004 a major renovation of the Old Faithful Inn was begun that will continue without interruption into 2007. When all is done the Inn will be earthquake proof and structurally ready for another 100 years of service. Outdated electrical and heating systems will be replaced and made less conspicuous, and new flooring, roofing, and shingles will be added. The end appearance of the interior will actually be closer to what the earliest visitors would have seen. (For details and photos of the Old Faithful Inn restoration, click here).

THE OLD FAITHFUL INN TODAY

Today's overnight guests at the Old Faithful Inn can enjoy a range of accommodations. The Inn's present 326 rooms include high-end suites and semi-suites; mid-range, comfortable renovated rooms with bath; and rustic rooms that have changed little since the Inn opened in 1904.
These latter rooms, all in the original log section--or "Old House" section as it is sometimes called--have, to a great extent, escaped what many would view as the curse of modernization. These oldest rooms still use original radiators and light fixtures. They do not have phones, showers, air conditioners, televisions, radios, or Internet connection. About the only significant modernization to the Old House guest rooms was the addition of sinks and running water many decades ago. Guests in these rooms must still use shared bathrooms and showers "down the hall." And those who prefer bathing in white-enameled, footed, cast-iron bathtubs as guests did in years past, can still find a room marked "Bath" that has several tubs, each in its own divided space with door. Though there is seldom a problem finding an open tub, they still get regular use.

The Old Faithful Inn narrowly escaped destruction by the raging North Fork Fire on September 7, 1988. To discourage alighting sparks from taking hold, the wood shingled roof is soaked shortly before the fire swept through. NPS Photo

Some present-day guests are completely unprepared for the experience of staying in these oldest rooms. They make reservations many months in advance and travel across the country staying in comfortable accommodations, suddenly to find themselves in a room with no bathroom or phone, with creaky floors, radiators that clank when they are first turned on as if they are being struck with wrenches, and that hiss all night as they let off steam (all normal radiator behavior). These guests find themselves walking down the

sometimes cold hallway to a shower, and needing to find a public phone booth if they are without a cell phone and have a call to make. After the renovations are completed, a small part of this experience will be lost as radiators will operate more quietly, soundproofing will be added between walls, and flooring should be less creaky. But much of the atmosphere will remain.

Some still complain about what they consider to be wholly inadequate accommodations. But to the great credit of those in charge over the years, they have politely consoled these ruffled guests and resisted the pressure to modernize these oldest rooms. Instead, they have recognize the rare jewel that is the Old Faithful Inn.

Today's guests can still enjoy dinner in the old dining hall. Though dancing is no longer a regular after-dinner activity, on most evenings there is a piano player at the grand piano in the lobby, playing classical or popular music. It is not unusual, as the evening wears on, to have a small group gather near the piano and start a sing-along that infectiously carries throughout the lobby. On cool evenings there is often a fire in the great stone fireplace with of row of travel-weary tourists napping or rocking gently in front of it.

It was a beautiful spring day in Yellowstone on May 7, 2004 as attendees gather for the Old Faithful Inn's 100th anniversary ceremonies.
Photo: F. Markley

There are also chairs lining the two balconies, where guests can prop their feet on log rails and look down to the activity on the lobby floor below or up at the great log structure that rises before them. Some guests play cards, while others enjoy a mixed drink

or cup of coffee or hot cider. Antique writing desks with built-in tinted glass shades are available on the second and third floor balconies, and are frequently used for writing postcards or catching up on a little reading while enjoying the atmosphere of the Inn. A door exits the second floor lobby to an observation deck atop the porte cochere, where guests can sit in a protected outside areaand watch Old Faithful in this relaxed setting. Most of these activities are not much different from those enjoyed by the first guests in 1904. Each generation now finds at the Old Faithful Inn the chance to experience one or more evenings without modern "necessities." They often find this simplicity, if only briefly, to be a refreshing diversion--and possibly among their fondest memories of their their trip to Yellowstone National Park.

(left) A major renovation of the Old Faithful Inn is under way that is intended to stabilize the structure and allow it to last another 100 years, while maintaining its historic integrity. Photo: F. Markley

(right) Haynes postcard, showing the Old Faithful Inn as it looked soon after opening in 1904.

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READING

    Richard A. Bartlett, Yellowstone: A Wilderness Besieged (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ, 1989).
    Aubrey L. Haines, The Yellowstone Story (University Press of Colorado, Niwot, CO, 1977), Vols. 1 and 2.
    Dorothy K. Hilburn, The Old Faithful Inn: A National Historical Landmark (Canyonlands  Publications, Bellemont, AZ, 1997).
    Library of Congress, American Memory Collection, "Pilgrimage of Mary Commandery No. 36, Knights Templar of Pennsylvania to the Twenty-Ninth Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment U.S. at San Francisco, California", Part 5, Sunday, August 28, 1904 (http://memory.loc.gov).
    Outside Magazine, Summer Special Issue: "Greetings from Yellowstone!", August 1990, p. 69.
    Gwen Petersen, Yellowstone Pioneers:  The Story of the Hamilton Stores and Yellowstone National Park (Oak Tree Publications, San Diego, CA, 1985).
    Susan C. Scofield (with Jeremy C. Schmidt), The Inn at Old Faithful (Crowsnest Associates, 1979).
    Lee H. Whittlesey and the Yellowstone staff, managing editor Marsha Karle, A Yellowstone Album (Roberts Rinehart Publishers, Boulder, CO, 1997).
    Christine Barnes, Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park (W.W. West Inc., Bend, OR, 2001).
    Megan McCullen, in Proceedings of the 6th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, 2001 (Yellowstone Center for Resources and the George Wright Society, Yellowstone).

    Additional information from Xanterra and the National Park Service.

GO TO INN HISTORY 1 2 3 4 5

The Old Faithful Inn Photo Pages (click here)

LINKS: The Old Faithful Inn on the Web (click here)

Old Faithful Inn 100th Anniversary (click here)

Old Faithful Inn Major Renovations (click here)

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