History

The present structure is the fourth at this location to welcome visitors to Decorah. The Day family, original settlers in Decorah, built a log cabin on the site in 1849. To accommodate the many travelers who asked for lodging, the Day family expanded their cabin to a two-story structure, the Winneshiek Inn, in 1855. The Winneshiek Inn was demolished and replaced with the Winneshiek House, built in 1877. To improve on the quality and size of the lodge, it was torn down and replaced by the Winneshiek Hotel, built 1904-05.

Architects for the Winneshiek Hotel were Turnock & Ohrenstein of Chicago, Il. Anton Zwack of Ossian, Iowa, built the hotel.  Seventy-four people and firms subscribed $32,500 toward the building in early 1904. The money was raised in under twenty-four hours.  Work began in July 1904, with Calmar Manufacturing Company of Calmar, Iowa as one of the contractors.  Calmar Manufacturing was contracted ninety-five years later to prepare the magnificent cherry millwork found throughout the hotel today. A formal opening was held on April 27, 1905, after being open for most of April. 

The turn-of-the-century Winneshiek Hotel had 51 guest rooms. In the elegant Victorian setting guests entered through doors of mahogany and plate glass flanked on each side by pillars. Passing through the vestibule and a twenty-two foot long corridor, visitors were led into the octagonal-shaped rotunda known as The Office.  It was here that the front check-in desk was located along with a writing room, toilet room, sample rooms, baggage room, cigar counter and passage to the ladies’ entrance. Also on the first floor were the dining room, billiard room, a barbershop, and The Buffet (a bar).

The second floor consisted of guest rooms, some with attached baths and terrazzo floors. On the third floor visitors to the hotel found additional guest rooms and the servants’ quarters, including a private stairway and bathroom.

     
Purchased in the 1930s by the Boss Hotel chain, the turn-of-the-century look was “updated” in a remodeling effort that included covering up the stately atrium and octagonal lobby.

Norway’s Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha stayed at the hotel in 1939. Three rooms and two bathrooms were redecorated for their visit.  The center room of the 3-room suite was remodeled for a living room.  Other rooms accommodated their Secret Service personnel.

In the mid-70s Theola Haugen and her husband purchased the building for use as apartments, living in their own apartment in the building they owned adjacent to the hotel. In 1997 the Haugens sold the hotel and the adjacent building to Helen Basler, a philanthropist from Chicago with strong ties, deep roots and a love for the Decorah community. Mrs. Basler began the demolition of the hotel interior structure in early 1998, with rehabilitation work following immediately. She also purchased the building to the west of the hotel, the Steyer Building.

The second floor of the Steyer Building was used for lodging at the end of the 19th century and divided into apartments in the 20th century.  Mrs. Basler’s 21st century vision calls for the use of the space as a conference center. The conference center design includes state-of-the-art technology as well as professional staff and service. 

Mrs. Basler’s visionary project also calls for the restoration of an 1860s opera house located on the third floor of the Steyer Building. Featured prominently in the book Opera Houses of Iowa, the opera house was used for entertainment, enlightenment, and education.  It was a social, cultural and political center for the times. 

Mrs. Basler carried out the original vision of the opera house by restoring the space in 2003 that is listed on the National Historic Register. It once again is used by the community for social and cultural events.  Further, it serves as a complement to the hotel and the conference center. 

The restored Hotel Winneshiek opened its doors April 13, 2000, looking much the same as its opening date in 1905. Attention to detail and a commitment to preserving the historical integrity of the property were the standards guiding Mrs. Basler as she oversaw construction of the project every step of the way. On Thursday, April 27, 2000, prominent community members attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the hotel’s foyer and octagon lobby. The ceremony was held exactly ninety-five years to the day after the hotel’s original opening. Attendees recognized Mrs. Basler for her generous gift of restoration and revitalization of downtown Decorah.