Yellowstone Notebook
Old Faithful Inn
The Old Faithful Inn on the Web
Click here for the Old Faithful Inn Photo Gallery
Image © 2002-2007 F. Markley
For a report on the Inn's 100th birthday celebration, May 7, 2004,  Click Here

Also see links added below on the Inn at 100
OLD FAITHFUL INN PHOTO PAGES www.yellowstone-notebook.com/inn1.html Over 40 exterior and interior photographs of the Old Faithful Inn, taken from 1975 to the present. Views of the massive log lobby, guest rooms, dining hall, and more.
HISTORY OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN: Illustrated with old views www.yellowstone-notebook.com/innhist1.html A detailed history of the Old Faithful Inn, from its conception through the present, supplemented with vintage postcard views of the Inn. Concludes with a description of the Old Faithful Inn today.
OLD FAITHFUL INN RENOVATION UPDATE 2007 www.yellowstone-notebook.com/ A progress report on the extensive renovation of the Old faithful Inn. Also see Renovation Update 2005 and Renovation Update 2006.
NEW LIFE FOR THE OLD HOUSE: Planned renovations for the Old Faithful Inn (includes photos) www.billingsgazette.com/ This article gives details of planned extensive renovations which have already begun, and will continue through the summer of 2006. Includes photos of work in progress.
OLD FAITHFUL INN RESTORATION IN PROGRESS:  Over two dozen interior and exterior photos                                 http://yellowstone-notebook.com/innrenovation/ A series of photos from August 2005 showing extensive exterior work in progress as well as some of the interior changes that have already been made.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS     http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/hhhtml/hhhome.html Over two dozen black-and-white contemporary photographs of the Inn, including exterior and interior shots of the "Old House" section. Some unusual views such as a closeup of the "crow's nest" and shots from it looking down to the lobby floor far below.
The photos below are from
the OLD FAITHFUL INN PHOTO PAGES
Evening sunset at the Old Faithful Inn
A VISIT TO THE OLD FAITHFUL INN IN THE SUMMER OF 1904 http://memory.loc.gov/ An excellent first-person account of a visit to Yellowstone and the Old Faithful Inn in the summer of 1904, the Inn's first year. This narrative is part of a larger account of the Pilgrimage of Mary Commandery No. 36, Knights Templar of Pennsylvania, to an encampment in San Francisco. On the way, several days were spent in Yellowstone and described in a sometimes humorous and always entertaining style.
OLD HICKORY FURNITURE COMPANY www.old hickory.com/ One of the original furniture suppliers to the Old Faithful Inn, the Old Hickory Furniture Company is still in operation, and some of its original 1904 wicker chairs are still in use at the Inn. This site tells more about the company and its history as well as a catalog of traditional hand crafted furniture currently for sale.
AN ACCOUNT OF A STAY AT THE OLD FAITHFUL INN THE WEEK LEADING UP TO SEPTEMBER 7, 1988
http://yellowstone-notebook.com/1988_fires1.html This is a narrative "trip report" of a vacation in Yellowstone from Sept. 2 to 7, 1988, a climactic week during the park's "Summer of Fire." Although most of the report details sights and experiences in various parts of the park during this unusual week, each evening was spent at the Old Faithful Inn, including the Inn's last night before evacuation under the threat of the out-of-control North Fork fire.
Looking uo to the "bird's nest".
BEFORE THE OLD FAITHFUL INN: Historic Pictures of the Tent Hotel at Old Faithful   http://www.geocities.com/dmonteit/trivia3.htm#tent Rare old photographs from the collection of D. Monteith, showing the temporary structures that occupied the site of the future Old Faithful Inn just before its construction.
THE OLD FAITHFUL INN'S NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK LISTING http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl The Old Faithful Inn was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. This NPS page details the reasons for its listing and includes a condition summary, including the need for the major 3-year rehabilitation of the Old House section that is now underway.
Looking toward the Old Faithful Inn gift shop entrance.
PARKITECTURE IN WESTERN NATIONAL PARKS www.cr.nps.gov/habshaer/parkitect/lodg/ This National Park Service site has many photo examples of lodge-style architecture, or "parkitecture," throughout the National Parks of the west, including hotels, visitor centers, and other structures all done in the rustic style that was first popularized with construction of the Old Faithful Inn.
OLD FAITHFUL INN: Ghost Stories www.ghostinmysuitcase.com/places/faithful/index.htm This is part of the larger Ghost in my Suitcase Web site devoted to travel spots with spooky tales associated with them. Okay--you will have a hard time finding any historic basis for these brief tales, but with a little embellishment they are sure to add a chill to the next Halloween campfire!
FRAMER FINDS BONANZA IN PARK INN www.billingsgazette.com/
News article on one of the workers on the Old Faithful Inn renovation project who has saved miles of the original flooring and is fashioning it into picture frames of various sizes for those interested in owning a part of the historic structure.
MY STAMP ON HISTORY www.casperstartribune.net/
An update to the story above, tells of woodworker Rich Holstein's donation of 110 frames made of original 1904 fir flooring to hang in all of the Old House rooms of the Old Faithful Inn.
OLD FAITHFUL INN EAST AND WEST WING RENOVATIONS 1991-1993 (A&E Architects) www.aearchitects.com/
This page (pdf format) offers a "Project Profile," or brief description of A&E Architects' renovations of the Inn's East and West wings. Includes two photos of renovations. Another A&E project was Yellowstone's new Snow Lodge, and there is a link to a profile on that and other A&E architectural projects.  A&E Architects is currently involved in the extensive restoriation of the Old House and lobby sections of the Inn
PHOTOS OF OLD FAITHFUL INN CLOCK RESTORATION http://www.lastwindup.com/news/news1.html The restoration of the clock in the lobby of the Old Faithful Inn as reported by the Bozeman Chronicle. This article includes on-site photos of the restoration team and an interesting report on this history of the clock as well as details of the restoration.
PLANNED MEMPHIS ZOO GRIZZLY EXHIBIT TO INCLUDE OLD FAITHFUL INN REPLICA www.knoxnews.com/
News article on proposed three-acre grizzly bear exhibit at the Memphis Zoo, which plans to add a Yellowstone theme to its exhibit. Zoo president Chuch Brady states "It's not just a grizzly exhibit. You're going to feel like you're in the Yellowstone basin."
THERMAL FEATURE UNDER THE INN www.angelfire.com/wy/funkygeyserman
The Old Faithful Inn was built in one of the world's most active thermal areas. At this link Matthew McLean summarizes information he has learned on a reported thermal feature below the Inn.
FIVE PHOTOS OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN http://www.whitington.com/wyoming/ofi.htm These photos (with accompanying captions) were taken by the Whitington family of Texas during a summer 2000 visit. Includes interior shots of their renovated room in the 1913 west wing.
PIECES OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN GO TO AUCTION Click Here, and see bottom of page for links to results (with photos) from two contemporary auctions of antique Mission Style washstands that were once part of the original 1904 furnishings of the Old Faithful Inn. Many of the rooms in the oldest section of the Inn still use washstands identical to these.
OLD FAITHFUL INN GIFT ITEMS:  Fred Harvey Trading Co., Yellowstone National Park http://www.yellowstonegifts.com/anniversary.html A few gift items commemorating the Old Faithful Inn's 2004 anniversary are still available online, and can be shipped through the mail. Items include 2 styles of shirts as well as a commemorative 100th anniversary glass and jigsaw puzzle. Other Yellowstone souvenirs, books, and apparel are also available at this site.
PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE LOBBY OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN:  DOWNSTAIRS www.mtnvisions.com/QTVR/YellQTVR/OldFaith/OFI1Qtvr.html Pre-restoration 360 degree panoramic view of the lobby of the Old Faithful Inn, with sound. The next best thing to actually being there. Requires free downloadable QuickTime VR.
PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE LOBBY OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN: UPSTAIRS
More 360 degree views from the Inn's second floor level. www.mtnvisions.com/QTVR/YellQTVR/OldFaith/OFI2Qtvr.html
PANORAMIC VIEW FROM FRONT OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN http://virtualguidebooks.com/Wyoming/Yellowstone/OldFaithful/OldFaithfulInnFront.html Pre-restoration 360 degree view, including the front of the Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Geyser, and the surrounding area. Requires Quicktime Version 3 or 4.
SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN AND SURROUNDINGS http://terraserver-usa.com Satellite image of the Old Faithful Inn and surroundings, photographed on 25 Aug 1994 by the National Aerial Photography Program. This site can also be used for viewing satellite images of the rest of the park, as well as most other locations in the U.S. and Canada.
PBS GREAT LODGES OF THE WEST: OLD FAITHFUL INN http://www.pbs.org/opb/greatlodges/ From the companion Web site to the 2002 PBS series on Great Lodges of the West; several pages on the Old Faithful Inn, with accompanying photos. On the main site are links to 15 lodges of the West featured in the series.
OLD FAITHFUL INN VISITOR INFORMATION http://www.xanterra-yellowstone.com/ From Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the company that currently runs and manages the Old Faithful Inn, this site contains specific information on services and amenities, as well arranging a stay at the Old Faithful Inn.
A HISTORY OF CONCESSION DEVELOPMENT IN YELLOWSTONE http://www.nps.gov/yell/history/concessions/index.htm This is a complete online book detailing the history of Yellowstone's concessions 1872-1966. Written by Mary Shivers Culpin of the National Park Service, Yellowstone Center for Resources, this comprehensive work is illustrated with historical photos.
BEHIND THE SCENES AT OLD FAITHFUL INN (1904-2004) http://yellowstoneassociation.org/ From the Yellowstone Association's website, this is an excerpt from the 2004 book "Old Faithful Inn, Crown Jewel of National Park Lodges."
ARCHITECTURE IN THE PARKS: Excerpts from a National Historic Landmark Theme Study  www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/harrison/ From the National Park Service, this is a fact-filled history of the Old Faithful Inn, including a statement of its significance, as well as a similar treatment of Yellowstone's Norris, Madison, and Fishing Bridge Museums. The site also discusses over 30 other National Park Service buildings in Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mt. Rainier, and many other National Park Service locations. Mostly black and white photos.
THIS OLD HOUSE http://www.helenair.com/ A look at the extensive renovations underway at the Old Faithful Inn, including obstacles workers face each day, planned projects, and a description of how the renovations should preserve the original character of the Inn while helping to keep it healthy long into the future.
INN WITH THE NEW http://www.helenair.com/ More details on the renovation of the Inn, projected costs, and a photo of work being done on the sunken area around the fireplace.
HIGH COSTS STALL YELLOWSTONE PROJECTS http://www.billingsgazette.net/   With construction costs rising at an unexpected rate and a shortage of available labor, work on the Old Faithful Inn project has been halted during the winter of 2006-2007. Yellowstone chief of maintenance Steve Iobst is hoping to get the latest phases bid soon so work can resume.
Feature Stories, News and Websites on the Old Faithful Inn at 100
PHOTOS OF MAY 7 OPENING DAY CEREMONIES OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN
www.yellowstone-notebook.com/innanniversary.html Photos and a description of the events of May 7, 2004--the Old Faithful Inn's birthday celebration.
BILLINGS GAZETTE ARTICLE ON OPENING DAY CEREMONIES www.billingsgazette.com One of the best newspaper descriptions of the events appearing in the May 8, 2004 edition of the Billings Gazette.
VIDEO CLIPS OF MAY 7 OPENING DAY CEREMONIES OF THE OLD FAITHFUL INN www.nps.gov/yell/tours/thismonth/may2004/inncelebration.htm Video clips with sound of opening day ceremonies from Yellowstone's official webpage. Included are clips of Inn staff in period dress, the grand parade, speeches, children singing Happy Birthday to the Inn, the crowd socializing after the ceremonies, and the "postcard room" of the Inn.
THE OLD FAITHFUL INN CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL http://www.yellowstonetreasures.com/ Includes reminisces by author Janet Chapple of her girlhood in Yellowstone as the daughter of L. Worth Orvis, transportation agent at the inn for four years preceding World War II.
BOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLE'S ACCOUNT OF OPENING DAY CEREMONIES http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ An account of the events of May 7, 2004, the Old Faithful Inn's official birthday celebration. Includes news of planned major renovations for 2005 and 2006.
OLD FAITHFUL INN TURNS 100! Buffalo Bill Historical Center http://www.bbhc.org/visitor/OldFaithfulinn.cfm As one of the exhibitors in the Inn lobby during Heritage Days 2004, the BBHC has taken an active interest in the Old Faithful Inn's centennial celebration. This site includes photos of May 7, 2004 opening day ceremonies.
THE OLD FAITHFUL INN CELEBRATES 100 http://www.nps.gov/yell/oldfaith/ National Park Service page with links to various other NPS documents about the Inn.
HISTORIC OLD FAITHFUL INN TURNS 100 http://www.yellowstonepark.com/ Interesting thoughts and insights into the Inn's past and leading up to its anniversary year in 2004.
MADE IN YELLOWSTONE: OLD FAITHFUL INN STILL INSPIRES AFTER 100 YEARS http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com   Bozeman Daily Chronicle staff writer Scott McMillian presents this tribute to the Inn.
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