Belton Chalets - West Glacier, Montana - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Belton Chalet

Great Northern Railway chairman of the board Louis Hill dubbed the rugged mountains of Glacier National Park "America's Alps."  Between 1909 and 1913, the great Northern Railway constructed Belton Chalet complex under Hill's direction.  It as the first of the Great Northern Railway's sprawling hotels to serve glacier National Park, created in 1919, and marks the beginning of tourism in the park.  Hill drew upon the Chalet and American Rustic styles for his hotels to create harmony with Glacier's natural landscape and help define visitor's perceptions of the "controlled wilderness."   He costumed employees accordingly throughout Glacier Park.  Waitresses in alpine dress, cowboy guides, and local Blackfeet Indians created a true theme park preceding Walt Disney.  Belton Chalet is the most traditional, purely Swiss of Glacier's hotels.  Stylistic elements include front-facing gable ends, wide eaves with heavy braces, balconies, and ornamental fretwork.  Inside, taxidermy, American Indian motifs, and a large oil landscape of Glacier Park by artist John Fery complement the rustic wood timbers.  Guest rooms at the Belton Chalet featured rustic rockers, porcelain washbasins, Arts and Craft style dressers, Hudson's Bay style blankets, metal bedsteads, and Swiss style curtains.   After being closed for many years and then completely restored under private ownership, Belton Chalet is one of six original park hotels.  The buildings as a group, designated a National Historic Landmark Landmark, remain unaltered as a unique example of a Swiss theme park in America's Alps. ~ text of marker on site

Street address: U.S. 2 West Glacier, Montana County / Borough / Parish: Flathead County Year listed: 1978 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event Periods of significance: 1900-1924 Historic function: Domestic - Hotel Current function: Domestic - Hotel Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/27/2020 Rock Chalk visited it 07/14/2017 wildernessmama visited it 09/05/2013 ChapterhouseInc visited it 04/28/2012 kdczy visited it 08/15/2011 nomadwillie visited it 08/14/2010 TinmanUT visited it 03/27/2010 ZenPanda visited it

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