Historic Calumet Inn

The Name Calumet Is The One French Fur Traders Gave To Ceremonial Pipes Used By American Indians. The Stone -Pipestone- Used To Create These Pipes Is Still Quarried At The Nearby Pipestone National Monument. The First Grand Hotel Was Located One Block North Of The Present Structure. The 60 Room Facility Was Built By The Close Brothers, English Land Agents, At A Cost Of 25,000 Usd. The Wood And Veneered Brick Structure Was Destroyed In Two Hours December 15, 1886 By Fire. The Calumet Was Built To Meet A Demand Which Was Growing As A Result Of Increased Railroad Traffic Passing Through This Midwestern Town. Two Bankers Accounced Plans To Build A New Bank At The Corner Of Hiawatha Avenue And Main Street, The Present Calumet Location. It Was Decided To Include The Hotel With The Bank And East And North Doors Would Be For The Hotel. Construction Began In The Spring Of 1887. The Grand Opening Was Thanksgiving Day In 1888. In 1900 A Large Addition To The Rear Of The Building Was Added. In 1913 Work Began On Adding A Fourth Floor And 30 Additional Rooms. In 1979 The Hotel Was Purchased For 60,000 Usd And A 3 Million Usd Renovation Began. The Building Was Returned As Much As Possible To The Looks Of Its Original Construction. In Addition To The Current 40 Guest Rooms -Many Furnished With Antiques- And The Elegant Dining Room, The Inn Now Includes A Lounge, Eddies Pub, And A Gift Shop Area. The Lounge Occupies What Once Was The Bank, With The Vault As The Wine Room.