Vintage Alaska Railroad Mt. McKinley Park Hotel Cup & Saucer
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:790013 | Country/Region of Manufacture: USA |
| Type: Cup & Saucer |
This is a vintage Alaska Railroad Mt. McKinley Park Hotel cup and saucer. Made by Shenango China in New Castle, PA. The cup is 2 1/2" tall and the saucer is 5 5/8" in diameter. Good condition, no chips, cracks or crazing. From the web:
Mount McKinley National Park was established by President Woodrow Wilson on February 26, 1917. Initially, the area was designated a game preserve. By 1923 tourists began visiting the area and tent lodging was provided by a private concessionaire.<...br>
In 1937 the National Park Service began construction of the McKinleyPark Hotel near McKinley Station. Final construction and ownership was turned over to the Alaska Railroad in 1938. The hotel opened June 1, 1939 with accommodations for 200 guests. The hotel had 86 rooms and was open to the summer tourist from June 1st to September 1st. During the winter, most ofthe railroad service to this area was sporadic at best with the line usually being shut down due to heavy snowfall. The hotel was a very popular place for people going to Mt. McKinley National Park.
The Alaska National Highway reached the park in 1942, but even at that, the primary means for transportationto and from the hotel remained via the Alaska Railroad. The actual Alaska Railroad depot was conventionally located directly next to the hotel and was built in the same décor as that of the hotel.
Eventually, a 50-room addition was built onto the hotel making it 136 total rooms. The hotel was advertised as being “123 Miles South of Fairbanks and 233 MilesNorth of Anchorage”. The Alaska Railroad, during this era, was operatedby the United States Department of the Interior; rather, than as it is today operated by the State of Alaska. In 1942, the Alaska Railroad hotel was managed by M.J. MacDonald.
During World War II the park closed down its conventional operationsand basically became an Army recreation center. The hotel also was controlled by the U.S. Army who used it as a place for R&R for the troops.
In 1953 the Alaska Railroad pushed the debt-ridden hotel off to the National Park Service who in turn contracted its operations to a private concessionaire. In 1954, the U.S. Department of the Interior seized control of the government-owned McKinley Park Hotel because of the unsatisfactory operation record of the concessionaire.
The hotel burned down on September 3, 1972, but was quickly replaced. All of the guests and staff were evacuated in time, but almost all of the hotel’s china and silver plate was lost in the fire. As a footnote, several rare pieces of Alaskan artwork were destroyed in that fire also. The Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) commissioned this artwork in 1937 from 12 different artists. Several old Alaska Railroad sleeping cars were also used outside the hotel for lodging.
Construction of hotels just outside the park began in the 1970s and today over 1, 000 rooms are located within a mile of the park entrance. Thus the need for the park hotel was gone and in September of 2001 it closed for good. The current plan is to demolish the hotel and use the location for a new two-story visitor's center and related service buildings.
Most of our items are old and have been in homes where smoke is present.
We will be listing more covers, patches, AYPE, camping/rafting gear and Alaskan items and we DO combine shipping!
Parcel Select can take 4 weeks to arrive from Alaska, first class/priority mail usually arrives within a week. Ebay estimated delivery times do not work for Alaska!
Mount McKinley National Park was established by President Woodrow Wilson on February 26, 1917. Initially, the area was designated a game preserve. By 1923 tourists began visiting the area and tent lodging was provided by a private concessionaire.<...br>
In 1937 the National Park Service began construction of the McKinleyPark Hotel near McKinley Station. Final construction and ownership was turned over to the Alaska Railroad in 1938. The hotel opened June 1, 1939 with accommodations for 200 guests. The hotel had 86 rooms and was open to the summer tourist from June 1st to September 1st. During the winter, most ofthe railroad service to this area was sporadic at best with the line usually being shut down due to heavy snowfall. The hotel was a very popular place for people going to Mt. McKinley National Park.
The Alaska National Highway reached the park in 1942, but even at that, the primary means for transportationto and from the hotel remained via the Alaska Railroad. The actual Alaska Railroad depot was conventionally located directly next to the hotel and was built in the same décor as that of the hotel.
Eventually, a 50-room addition was built onto the hotel making it 136 total rooms. The hotel was advertised as being “123 Miles South of Fairbanks and 233 MilesNorth of Anchorage”. The Alaska Railroad, during this era, was operatedby the United States Department of the Interior; rather, than as it is today operated by the State of Alaska. In 1942, the Alaska Railroad hotel was managed by M.J. MacDonald.
During World War II the park closed down its conventional operationsand basically became an Army recreation center. The hotel also was controlled by the U.S. Army who used it as a place for R&R for the troops.
In 1953 the Alaska Railroad pushed the debt-ridden hotel off to the National Park Service who in turn contracted its operations to a private concessionaire. In 1954, the U.S. Department of the Interior seized control of the government-owned McKinley Park Hotel because of the unsatisfactory operation record of the concessionaire.
The hotel burned down on September 3, 1972, but was quickly replaced. All of the guests and staff were evacuated in time, but almost all of the hotel’s china and silver plate was lost in the fire. As a footnote, several rare pieces of Alaskan artwork were destroyed in that fire also. The Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) commissioned this artwork in 1937 from 12 different artists. Several old Alaska Railroad sleeping cars were also used outside the hotel for lodging.
Construction of hotels just outside the park began in the 1970s and today over 1, 000 rooms are located within a mile of the park entrance. Thus the need for the park hotel was gone and in September of 2001 it closed for good. The current plan is to demolish the hotel and use the location for a new two-story visitor's center and related service buildings.
Most of our items are old and have been in homes where smoke is present.
We will be listing more covers, patches, AYPE, camping/rafting gear and Alaskan items and we DO combine shipping!
Parcel Select can take 4 weeks to arrive from Alaska, first class/priority mail usually arrives within a week. Ebay estimated delivery times do not work for Alaska!
