Historic Anderson House Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Historic Anderson House Hotel is a hotel in Wabasha, Minnesota
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The hotel opened in 1856 and was Minnesota's oldest continuously operating bed and breakfast
inn west of the Mississippi River
. Most of the furniture dates back to 1856 as well.
The hotel was built by B.F. Hurd in 1856 and was known as the Hurd House until 1909. Hurd's son-in-law became owner of the hotel in 1885 and added a third story and a west wing. He also installed electricity and modern bathrooms, though owner Theresa Smith commented, "Whatever modern bathrooms were back then." In 1909, the Anderson family bought the hotel and renamed it the Anderson Hotel.
As Hurd House-Anderson Hotel, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
The hotel was known for the Dutch cooking in the restaurant; a 1948 Anderson family cookbook had 500 recipes. It was also famous for the cat
s which hotel guests could stay with for overnight companionship. A 1990 children's book, "Blumpoe the Grumpoe Meets Arnold the Cat," told the story of a curmudgeon who traveled to Wabasha and was endeared to the black-and-white cat that slept in his room.
The hotel closed for business on March 19, 2009, as a result of the economic downturn. Owners Teresa and Mike Smith had been trying to sell the inn for three years, but were unsuccessful. They had been subsidizing the inn with their retirement savings but eventually had to declare bankruptcy.
Wabasha, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,599 people, 1,062 households, and 665 families residing in the city. The population density was 318.4 people per square mile . There were 1,166 housing units at an average density of 142.9 per square mile...
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The hotel opened in 1856 and was Minnesota's oldest continuously operating bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
inn west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Most of the furniture dates back to 1856 as well.
The hotel was built by B.F. Hurd in 1856 and was known as the Hurd House until 1909. Hurd's son-in-law became owner of the hotel in 1885 and added a third story and a west wing. He also installed electricity and modern bathrooms, though owner Theresa Smith commented, "Whatever modern bathrooms were back then." In 1909, the Anderson family bought the hotel and renamed it the Anderson Hotel.
As Hurd House-Anderson Hotel, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
The hotel was known for the Dutch cooking in the restaurant; a 1948 Anderson family cookbook had 500 recipes. It was also famous for the cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s which hotel guests could stay with for overnight companionship. A 1990 children's book, "Blumpoe the Grumpoe Meets Arnold the Cat," told the story of a curmudgeon who traveled to Wabasha and was endeared to the black-and-white cat that slept in his room.
The hotel closed for business on March 19, 2009, as a result of the economic downturn. Owners Teresa and Mike Smith had been trying to sell the inn for three years, but were unsuccessful. They had been subsidizing the inn with their retirement savings but eventually had to declare bankruptcy.