Historic Passenger Rail Hotel Hosts Fourth of July Event Honoring the Glory Days of the Santa Fe Railroad and the Harvey Hotels

Over the Fourth of July weekend the La Posada Hotel will host a grand event celebrating rail transport's role in settling the Southwest and the contributions to civilizing the frontier made by the Harvey Corporation. Fred Harvey was the legendary proprietor of the Harvey Hotels and Restaurant chain best known by his employees, the Harvey Girls. Harvey's hospitality enterprise partnered with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line throughout the southwestern United States to provide food and lodging to the railroads passengers. Winslow was an important stop for the Sante Fe passenger trains and for seventy-five years travelers have streamed through the train depot at the La Posada Hotel, the final hotel built by the Harvey Corporation. Historians have named Harvey the "great civilizer" bringing good food, great service, clean beds and respectable single women to the west.

Winslow, AZ (PRWEB) June 21, 2005 -- Weekend events for both the guests staying at the hotel and day participants include architectural tours, an authentic Fred Harvey dinner, an auction of the largest known collection of Fred Harvey memorabilia, a meet and greet with the last of the living Harvey Girls and a screening of the MGM Harvey Girls movie starring Judy Garland. The weekend's events will conclude with a traditional western BBQ which will be held on the front lawn of the La Posada Hotel.

Items being auctioned during the course of the weekend will include Harvey dinner china, railroad documents, menus, and the original contract executed between Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe Railroad creating his hospitality enterprise. Other auction events include the offering of western and American Indian artifacts and a Marklin Train auction in the working train depot.

A limited number of event participants will be staying at the Spanish hacienda style hotel with wide open spaces, courtyards, spacious entertainment parlors and luxurious overnight accommodations. The La Posada hotel built in 1930 is considered the masterpiece property of architect Mary Colter, America's most renowned female architect and the originator of the Southwestern style of architecture incorporating elements of native culture. Her work includes the Bright Angel Lodge at the Grand Canyon and Union Station in Los Angeles. The grandeur of the La Posada has been the feature of architectural journals, documentaries; Bob Villa's Travel America and is on the national historic register. Participants for this event will be traveling by train available from Flagstaff or Los Angeles or by car on Route 66. Guests who wish to participate in this nostalgic experience may contact Auction Systems at 800-801-8880 or visit their website at www.auctionANDappraise.com.

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