After Crafty Wonderland, I hopped in a cab and visited the Kennedy School, an elementary school turned hotel by the McMenamins brothers. The brothers have many fun places around Washington and Oregon including pubs, theatres, and hotels many of which in unconventional and/or historic buildings like this. (You can read more about their history here). The school/hotel (built in 1915) from the outside is pretty much unchanged as you can see here...
Inside are 35 guestrooms, each in a previous classroom complete with original chalkboard and cloakroom. I tried to stay at the Kennedy School one night while in Portland, but they were all booked up. Being put on a waiting list did not yield a room either so this walk through had to do! I did not get a picture inside a room (I was too scared to ask one of the guests for a peek), but I did get pictures of the common areas of the hotel...
main hallway
door to guestroom
water fountain
There is also a soaking pool (sort of a heated large wading pool), which the community is free to use for a small fee. But, I didn't think the swimmers would appreciate me taking a picture of them in their skivvies. There are also classroom turned meeting/event rooms, which also have chalkboards and other original features.
I love all the old pictures hanging on the walls. Many of them were taken at the Kennedy School. Others were just school related. Here are some of my favorites...
The hotel has three bars - Detention Bar, Honors Bar, and Boiler Room Bar. I stopped in at the Boiler Room Bar to sample one of the hotels own brewed in house beers...
You head down a bunch of steps to get to the bar...
This is the view straight up from my seat at the bar...
And, this is the pool tables which are on the upper level where the preceding shot actually is...
Before I headed back to my own hotel, I watched a $3 movie ("I Love You Man") in the Kennedy School theatre. I snapped the pictures below (albeit a bit blurry) before my camera batteries died. The inside of the theatre was the best part - a huge room with rows and rows of antique loveseats and high backed chairs, but alas my camera batteries had died and I didn't get any pictures. One of the schools own brewed beers could also be purchased here along with a pizza before heading in to the theatre.
The only negative I can say for the school is that I wish it would have stayed totally vintage in its decor. I didn't get the astrological themes and murals. I have been told this is a recurring theme throughout all the properties, but I wish each one stayed true to its history and felt more authentic in that aspect. But, who asked for my opinion?
The last night of my trip, I will be staying at one of the McMenamins brothers other hotel properties, The White Eagle. Not quite as interesting as the school, but I do get to stay in a bunkbed room. More on that to come...
Inside are 35 guestrooms, each in a previous classroom complete with original chalkboard and cloakroom. I tried to stay at the Kennedy School one night while in Portland, but they were all booked up. Being put on a waiting list did not yield a room either so this walk through had to do! I did not get a picture inside a room (I was too scared to ask one of the guests for a peek), but I did get pictures of the common areas of the hotel...
main hallway
door to guestroom
water fountain
There is also a soaking pool (sort of a heated large wading pool), which the community is free to use for a small fee. But, I didn't think the swimmers would appreciate me taking a picture of them in their skivvies. There are also classroom turned meeting/event rooms, which also have chalkboards and other original features.
I love all the old pictures hanging on the walls. Many of them were taken at the Kennedy School. Others were just school related. Here are some of my favorites...
The hotel has three bars - Detention Bar, Honors Bar, and Boiler Room Bar. I stopped in at the Boiler Room Bar to sample one of the hotels own brewed in house beers...
You head down a bunch of steps to get to the bar...
This is the view straight up from my seat at the bar...
And, this is the pool tables which are on the upper level where the preceding shot actually is...
Before I headed back to my own hotel, I watched a $3 movie ("I Love You Man") in the Kennedy School theatre. I snapped the pictures below (albeit a bit blurry) before my camera batteries died. The inside of the theatre was the best part - a huge room with rows and rows of antique loveseats and high backed chairs, but alas my camera batteries had died and I didn't get any pictures. One of the schools own brewed beers could also be purchased here along with a pizza before heading in to the theatre.
The only negative I can say for the school is that I wish it would have stayed totally vintage in its decor. I didn't get the astrological themes and murals. I have been told this is a recurring theme throughout all the properties, but I wish each one stayed true to its history and felt more authentic in that aspect. But, who asked for my opinion?
The last night of my trip, I will be staying at one of the McMenamins brothers other hotel properties, The White Eagle. Not quite as interesting as the school, but I do get to stay in a bunkbed room. More on that to come...
how cool! I love stuff with a story. thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteThat is truly ah-mazing! What a great find. I have one more place to add to my list!
ReplyDeleteThanks