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Resorts and Hotels
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| The early years of the
summer resort
began in the first half of the nineteenth century, when health spas
gained
popularity, and the idea of the large resort hotel began to
evolve. They
were often very large and spacious, built with large verandahs and
tall
pillars. Resorts of this type became popular in places such as
Newport,
Rhode Island, the White Mountains, and along the coast. Summer
cottages
also grew to become popular in the beach communities. |
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The colonial revival period of the late nineteenth
century
produced the most well-known and best resort spas, some of which
are still
popular vacation spots today. Probably the most famous of summer
resort
towns, Newport, Rhode Island counted many of the wealthiest
families in
America among its summer residents. These mansions, or cottages,
as they
were called, were some of the most lavish vacation homes
built. Seen here
is a mansion in Newport. Click to enlarge.
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| Savin Rock, in West Haven,
Connecticut,
became a very popular vacation spot for people in western
Connecticut by
the 1870's, when transportation was made available by ferry boats
and horse
drawn cars from New Haven. It was known for its recreational
facilities,
including a playground and carousel. On the right is a bill of fare,
ca.
1861, from the Savin Rock House. On the left is a drawing of the
grounds
at Savin Rock. Click to enlarge. |
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Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore (1829-1892), a bandmaster from Salem,
Massachusetts,
composed three pieces of music to honor the Crawford House, in
Crawford
Notch, New Hampshire. The façade of the Crawford House is
shown
on the cover of "The Dinner Bell Polka," sheet music,
ca. 1858.
Click to enlarge.
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The formal opening of the magnificent Sea View Hotel took place
with
a dinner and social on July 23, 1872. Built at a cost of $102,000
by the
Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company, it measured 225 feet in length,
with
a tower 100 feet high. The hotel remained a summer haven for those
of
fashion and wealth until it was destroyed by fire in 1892. Shown
is the
"Oak Bluffs Galop" sheet music cover, ca. 1872.
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| As the nineteenth century
progressed,
larger hotels were built for visitors who sometimes stayed the
entire summer,
rather than just a few days. Among the famous hotels were the Glen
House
(1852), the Crawford House (1852), and the Mount Washington Summit
House
(1873), successor to the earlier Tip-Top House (1853). Seen here are
Trade
Cards from these resorts. Trade Cards are equivalent to today's
business
card, and were a popular means for advertisement. Click to
enlarge. |
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With it's splendid new hotels, the Sea View, Pawnee House,
Highland House,
and Grover House, Oak Bluffs flourished during summer months in
the 1870's
and 1880's. Steamers came from mainland with thousands of
vacationers.
This image is a stereocard view of the Highland House. Click to
enlarge.
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Located in Dixville Notch, NH, the Balsam's was originally built
in the
1860's as the Dix House, a small twenty-five room inn, named after
the
town's founding father Col. Timothy Dix. It was renamed and
enlarged with
new additions in the 1890's by the Hale family, and remains
relatively
unchanged today. Alongside the Mount Washington Hotel, it is one
of the
most reputable old resort hotels still in existence. Seen here is
a ca.
1913 postcard. Click to enlarge.
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This site and all contents © 2004 American Antiquarian
Society
Last updated December 10, 2004
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