Harvey Hotels & Restaurants Along the Rails – Legends of America

In the annals of American hospitality, few names resonate with the same blend of innovation, quality, and cultural impact as that of Fred Harvey. In the late 19th century, as the iron horse relentlessly pushed westward, the Fred Harvey Company emerged as a beacon of civilization along the burgeoning railroad lines. Founded in 1876, this visionary enterprise not only catered to the rapidly expanding number of train passengers but also revolutionized the dining and lodging experience for travelers across the American West. The Harvey Houses, as they became affectionately known, were celebrated for their unwavering commitment to service excellence, consistently exceeding the expectations of even the most discerning railroad passengers. Today, many of these historic structures still stand as testaments to Harvey’s enduring legacy, inviting visitors to step back in time and savor a taste of the Old West.

The Genesis of a Hospitality Empire

Fred Harvey’s journey to becoming a hospitality magnate is a classic tale of American entrepreneurship. Born in Liverpool, England, on June 27, 1835, he immigrated to the United States at the tender age of 15. Initially, he took on humble jobs, such as working as a dishwasher in New York City for a meager $2 a day. Driven by ambition and a relentless work ethic, he saved his earnings and eventually moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. There, he immersed himself in the restaurant business, diligently learning the intricacies of the trade from the ground up.

In 1853, Harvey relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where his entrepreneurial spirit truly began to flourish. Five years later, he partnered with William Doyle to establish the Merchants Dining Saloon and Restaurant, a venture that showcased his culinary and managerial talents. In 1859, he married his wife Ann, and the couple welcomed their first son the following year.

However, the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 brought unforeseen challenges. Harvey’s business partner absconded with their shared funds to join the Confederacy, leaving Harvey financially devastated. With the city plunged into turmoil and patronage dwindling, his restaurant was forced to close its doors.

Undeterred, Harvey sought employment on riverboats before eventually joining the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, which was later acquired by the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. His dedication and competence earned him promotions, leading to his transfer to Leavenworth, Kansas, a city that would become his permanent home.

A Vision Born from Necessity

During his time with the railroad, Harvey observed a glaring deficiency in the services available to rail passengers. Dining options were often subpar, and many trains lacked dining cars altogether, even on long-distance journeys. The prevailing custom involved brief dining stops every 100 miles, but the restaurants at these stations were frequently inadequate, offering unappetizing fare and rushed service. Passengers were given little time to find a restaurant, order their meal, and be served before the train departed, often leaving them stranded if they were unable to finish their meal in time.

Recognizing this unmet need, Harvey drew upon his previous restaurant experience to develop a groundbreaking concept: a network of high-quality restaurants strategically located along the railroad line. However, his initial proposal was rejected by his manager. Undeterred, Harvey partnered with Jasper "Jeff" S. Rice in 1873 to establish three railroad eating houses in Lawrence and Wallace, Kansas, and Hugo, Colorado, along the Kansas-Pacific Railroad. Unfortunately, this venture proved short-lived, dissolving within a year.

Yet, Harvey remained steadfast in his belief in the potential of providing exceptional food and service at railroad eating houses. His persistence paid off when he met Charles Morse, superintendent of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Morse, a discerning gourmet, was immediately captivated by Harvey’s vision. An agreement was struck, sealed with only a handshake, granting Harvey the opportunity to establish several eating houses on an experimental basis, free of rent.

Harvey began by taking over the 20-seat lunchroom at the Topeka, Kansas, Santa Fe Depot Station, which opened under his management in January 1876. His business philosophy centered on cleanliness, efficient service, reasonable prices, and delectable food. The venture was an instant success, quickly leading to the establishment of more cafes along the rail line.

The Rise of the Harvey Houses

Impressed by Harvey’s accomplishments, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad soon entrusted him with complete control of food service along its entire network. The Harvey Houses became the first restaurant chain in the United States, with the Topeka depot serving as the training center for the new enterprise. Before long, Harvey’s lunchrooms stretched from Kansas to California. He even devised a telegraph system to allow trains to communicate their estimated arrival times, enabling his staff to prepare and serve guests promptly.

In 1877, Harvey expanded his offerings by purchasing and opening his first hotel in Peabody, Kansas, providing travelers with elegant accommodations. The following year, he established the first of his combined eating house-hotel establishments in Florence, Kansas, along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad tracks.

By the early 1880s, Harvey operated 17 restaurants along the Santa Fe’s main line, solidifying his reputation as a pioneer in the hospitality industry.

The Harvey Girls: Civilizing the West

While the Harvey Company restaurants were generally successful, some locations in the West faced challenges with inconsistent service, despite Harvey’s established standards. The all-male workforce was often unruly, prone to absenteeism, drunkenness, and disruptive behavior. A turning point came when Harvey dismissed all the waiters and the manager at Raton, New Mexico, after a drunken brawl. The newly appointed manager requested permission to replace the dismissed employees with female staff members.

Despite his commitment to standardized processes, Harvey was open to innovative ideas, especially those that could be tested. He approved the new hiring criteria and quickly recognized the value of women in the workforce. Thus, the "Harvey Girls" were born.

Harvey launched recruitment campaigns in newspapers across the nation, seeking young, unmarried women between the ages of 18 and 30, primarily from the East Coast and Midwest. To qualify as a Harvey Girl, applicants had to possess at least an eighth-grade education, impeccable moral character, refined manners, neatness, and articulateness.

In return for their service, Harvey offered competitive wages, as high as $17.50 per month, along with free room, board, and uniforms. The Harvey Girls agreed to a minimum six-to-nine-month contract, adhering to all company rules, relocating to assigned locations, and remaining unmarried during their employment. If they chose to marry, they would forfeit half of their base pay.

Upon hiring, the Harvey Girls received a complimentary rail pass to their designated destination. Their attire consisted of a black shirtwaist dress that hung no more than eight inches off the floor, a perfectly starched white apron and cap, opaque black stockings, and black shoes. Their hair was to be restrained in a net and tied with a regulation white ribbon, and makeup and chewing gum were strictly prohibited while on duty.

Harvey House employment presented a novel opportunity for women in an era with limited career options beyond nursing and teaching. Many Harvey Girls used their earnings to support their families back home. Harvey recognized the importance of safeguarding their reputations in the Wild West, where single women were often viewed with suspicion.

He established comfortable dormitories, enforced strict curfews, and implemented behavioral guidelines both on and off duty. The most senior Harvey Girl supervised the others, ensuring adherence to curfews and chaperoning male visitors. As a result, the Harvey Girls gained a reputation for virtue and were often credited with civilizing the West by introducing good manners and wholesome values. These positions quickly became highly sought after, with approximately 5,000 Harvey Girls venturing westward to work. They became one of Fred Harvey’s most enduring legacies.

A Culinary Oasis in the Desert

By the late 1880s, a Harvey establishment could be found every 100 miles along the Santa Fe line, coinciding with the intervals at which trains needed to refuel and replenish their water supply. Harvey House establishments provided a clean, safe haven where travelers could relax and enjoy a delicious meal in elegant surroundings. Where beans and biscuits had once been the norm, diners could now savor thick, juicy steaks and hot, crispy hash browns. Meals were served on tables adorned with Irish linens, silver table service, and fine china, all at reasonable prices. To enhance the atmosphere of sophistication, Harvey mandated that all men in the dining room wear coats, providing a supply of dark alpaca coats to ensure no one was turned away.

The railroad agreed to transport fresh meat and produce free of charge to any Harvey House via its private line of refrigerator cars, the Santa Fe Refrigerator Despatch. These cars carried food from across the United States. The Harvey Company also operated two dairy facilities, the largest in Las Vegas, New Mexico, to guarantee a consistent supply of fresh milk.

At its peak, there were 84 Harvey Houses, catering to both wealthy and middle-class travelers. Fred Harvey became known as "the Civilizer of the West."

Expanding Horizons

In the 1890s, the Santa Fe Railway began incorporating dining cars on some of its trains, awarding Harvey the contract for food service. Advertisements proclaimed "Fred Harvey Meals All the Way."

In the early 1900s, Harvey hired architect Mary Colter to design iconic hotels in Santa Fe and Gallup, New Mexico, and Winslow, Arizona, as well as at the South Rim and bottom of the Grand Canyon. Colter’s rugged, landscape-integrated design principles influenced subsequent generations of Western American architecture.

Around the same time, the Fred Harvey Company established an "Indian Department," commissioning artists and photographers to capture the exoticism of Native Americans in the Southwest. These images were used on menus and brochures to promote Indian Country and Harvey’s tourist enterprises. The company also employed Native Americans to demonstrate rug weaving, pottery, jewelry making, and other crafts at its Southwest hotels.

Fred Harvey continued to refine his service until his death in 1901, when his sons assumed control of the company. At the time of his passing, 47 Harvey House restaurants, 15 hotels, and 20 dining cars in 12 states were operating on the Santa Fe Railway.

Mary Colter began working full-time for the company in 1910, transitioning from interior designer to architect. For the next 38 years, Colter served as chief architect and decorator for the Fred Harvey Company. As one of the few female architects in the country and one of the most talented, Colter often worked in challenging conditions to complete 21 landmark hotels, commercial lodges, and public spaces for the Fred Harvey Company. Seeking to integrate her architecture with the natural splendor of the Grand Canyon, she drew inspiration from its beauty and focused on authenticity. Hopi House and Bright Angel Lodge, both located on the South Rim of the Canyon, exemplify her work.

Adapting to a Changing World

After World War I, the rise of automobile travel led to a gradual decline in the company’s fortunes. Faster, more luxurious trains that required fewer stops also contributed to the closure of Harvey House restaurants in smaller towns. While those in larger cities remained open and were frequented by car travelers, most Harvey Houses lacked the volume needed to sustain profitability without a consistent flow of train passengers. The Harvey Company continued to operate some dining cars for the Pullman Company, but this business also declined as train ridership decreased.

Despite the decline in passenger train travel, the company adapted by marketing its services to the motoring public. Moving away from a complete reliance on train passengers, the company began to offer motor trips of the Southwest, including tours of Indian villages and the Grand Canyon, especially after it became a national park in 1919. After 1926, Harvey Cars were used to provide the "Indian Detours," chauffeured interpretive tours that transported guests at his Southwest hotels in comfortable Harvey Cars for one-to-three-day excursions into Indian settlements in New Mexico and Arizona. These tours aimed to provide an authentic Native American experience by having actors stage a particular lifestyle in the desert. Fred Harvey’s son Ford initiated the series of guided tours, and the company acquired a hotel in Santa Fe called La Fonda, which became the headquarters for the Indian Detours. These "Indian Detours" continued into the 1940s.

During the Great Depression, the Harvey Company and the rest of the nation suffered as people could not afford to travel. However, Bright Angel Lodge at the Grand Canyon was completed in 1935, and other Harvey Houses were built during the Depression.

Beginning in the 1930s, the Fred Harvey Company expanded beyond the reach of the Santa Fe Railroad and away from rail passenger routes. Restaurants were opened in the Chicago Union Station (the largest facility owned by Harvey), San Diego Union Station, the San Francisco Bus Terminal, the Albuquerque International Airport, and the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal in 1939, which could accommodate nearly 300 diners.

The declining trend was reversed with the onset of World War II. Trains were filled with troops, and the Harvey Houses began to feed them. Many closed Harvey Houses were reopened and became mess halls for the troops traveling on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. However, the loss of many Harvey employees to the war effort and supply disruptions left "Harvey a fragmented system where the standards and quality of food and personnel fluctuated from house to house."

In 1943, it was estimated that the Fred Harvey Company served more than one million meals each month in dining cars and Harvey Houses. However, by 1948, all but a handful of Harvey Houses had permanently closed.

In 1946, the Harvey Girls were immortalized in the MGM musical film of the same name, starring Judy Garland.

A Lasting Legacy

By the 1950s, railroads were cutting back as newer and better highways were being built nationwide, and air travel became more popular. Passenger trains declined rapidly, and railroads gradually began to eliminate passenger service. In the late 1950s, the Harvey Company began to operate the new landmark Illinois Tollway "Oasis," which were rest stops built on bridges above Interstate 294 in the Chicago suburbs.

In 1954, the Harvey family purchased the Grand Canyon hotels from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, ensuring that the Fred Harvey Company would continue to generate revenue. In 1966, the Fred Harvey Company purchased the Furnace Creek Inn, near Death Valley National Park, from U.S. Borax.

Harvey Houses continued to be built and operated into the 1960s. The hotel and restaurant chain operated under the leadership of his sons and grandsons until 1965. In 1968, the Hawaii-based Amfac Corporation bought the Harvey Company, applying its high standards to Amfac’s list of hotel and resort properties worldwide. When the Harvey Company was sold, it was the sixth-largest food retailer in the United States. Amfac was renamed Xanterra Parks & Resorts in 2002. Xanterra purchased the Grand Canyon Railway and its properties in 2006.

Though most of the original Harvey Houses and hotels are gone, a few survive. The El Tovar Hotel, built in 1905, and the Bright Angel Lodge, built in 1935, on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, are particularly notable. The Fray Marcos Hotel in Williams, Arizona, built as a Harvey House in 1908, now houses a gift shop, offices, and the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel train depot. The new hotel nearby reflects the original style. Xanterra operates these hotels and the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel.

The Painted Desert Inn, located in the middle of Petrified Forest National Park, opened in 1940. However, World War II slowed travel, and it closed in 1942. Five years later, the Fred Harvey Company took over management and hired Mary Colter to renovate the property, and the legendary Harvey Girls were brought to the Petrified Forest. The property operated until 1963. In 1987, it was declared a National Historic Landmark; the property was rehabilitated and returned to its former glory and serves as a museum today.

The 1929 La Posada in Winslow, Arizona, is still in operation and provides accommodations for many Route 66 travelers.

Fred Harvey is credited with establishing the first restaurant chain in the United States and successfully bringing higher standards of civility and dining to the Wild West. His company also became a leader in promoting tourism in the American Southwest in the late 19th century. Fred Harvey was also a postcard publisher, touted as "the best way to promote your Hotel or Restaurant." Most postcards were published in cooperation with the Detroit Publishing Company.

A Fred Harvey Museum is located in the former Harvey residence in Leavenworth, Kansas, preserving the legacy of this remarkable entrepreneur and his enduring impact on American hospitality.