West Glacier in Flathead County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Belton Chalet
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 30, 2024
1. Belton Chalet Marker
Inscription.
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 the Belton Chalet complex under Hill’s direction. It was the first of the Great Northern Railway’s sprawling hotels to serve Glacier National Park, created in 1910, 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 visitors’ 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
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rustic rockers, porcelain washbasins, Arts and Crafts 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, remain unaltered as a unique example of a Swiss theme park in America’s Alps.
Location. 48° 29.805′ N, 113° 58.647′ W. Marker is in West Glacier, Montana, in Flathead County. It is on U.S. 2 near Going to the Sun Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Mc Donald MT 59921, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana and in Glacier Country. It is also in the American
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 30, 2024
2. Belton Chalet and Marker
Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
