The last of the great lodges connected with Glacier Park is Many Glacier. If you guessed it was named for the many glaciers in the area, you are correct. Many Glacier is halfway (roughly) between Glacier Park Lodge and Waterton and the site was chosen for the waterfront as well as the views of the glaciers on the opposite side. Hill had 400 men working day and night from May to September in 1914. The building opened July 4, 1915, and the annex was completed in 1917. If you ever get to see this lodge, you can’t help but marvel at how it could be built in such a remote area (no trains come anywhere near here). The workers had to construct a sawmill and their own kiln on the grounds to accomplish their work.
Unfortunately, it is now time to return home. Just a short ride (or walk) across the front lawn of Glacier Park Lodge, is the Amtrak station. After a group photo, we board our motorcoach to catch the iconic Empire Builder, naturally once part of the Great Northern Railroad. Hill considered this a 1st class train and Amtrak continues the tradition. If you are in a roomette, as you cross through the badlands of eastern Montana and western North Dakota, you will be invited to a wine tasting party in the diner. What a great way to savor the sites you have just visited on your way back to Chicago.
Editor’s Note: To read more in-depth about this area, check out Kileen’s book “Journey Beckons”. You can order through her website: www.kileenprather.com or at Amazon either in book format or the Kindle edition. Her latest, “Journey To Port” now also on Kindle.
