ISBN 978-0-9684235-3-0

www.cnrha.caISBN 978-0-9684235-3-0

Printed in Canada $44.95

A publication of the

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Opened in 1912 by the Grand Trunk Railway and greatly expanded in the late 1920s by corporate successor Canadian

National Railways, the Château Laurier was the flagship property of CNR’s cross-Canada chain of hotels and seasonal resorts.

Today, as Fairmont Château Laurier, it remains an Ottawa landmark and a Canadian icon.

In concept and construction at the heart of Canada’s capital, it gave form to the varied aspirations of a governor general,

a prime minister, and a railway baron. Architects’ reputations were made – and maligned. Its opening was overshadowed

by tragedy, and its expansion on the eve of the Great Depression contributed to the howling of political wolves bent on

bringing down one of North America’s most capable railway executives. It has been permanent home to Prime Minister

R.B. Bennett, renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Ottawa radio studios.

To many, young and old, it is the embodiment of a fairy tale castle – “A poem in stone,” in the words of its original owner.

160 pages

More than 240 black-and-white and colour photographs

CNRHA

Front cover Richard Rummell’s 1911 bird’s-eye panorama encompasses the Château Laurier,

Union Station, the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill. library and archives canada

Back cover The enlarged Château Laurier in the mid-1950s. canada science and technology museum collection

L’Auberge, 1964. canada science and technology museum collection

The Rotunda, 2015. courtesy fairmont château laurier

Canadian National Railways Historical Association www.cnrha.ca

© 2017, All Rights Reserved

Printed in Canada

Kevin J. Holland is a writer, editor and publications designer living near

Toronto. He has written extensively on the history, technology and architecture

of North American railways. He is editor of the CNRHA publication CN LINES,

design editor of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society journal Railroad

History and senior editor of Passenger Train Journal. A member of the Lexington

Group in Transportation History, his current book projects include Renaissance

Men, a post-World War II management study of Canadian National Railways

passenger service.

Château Laurier – A Splendid CenturyThe Life and Times of Ottawa’s Grand Railway Hotel

Kevin J. Holland

Château Laurier – A

Splendid Century H

olland

Splendid Century Jacket.indd 1 2017-03-09 09:43

Château Laurier – A Splendid CenturyThe Life and Times of Ottawa’s Grand Railway Hotel

Kevin J. Holland

Built by the Grand Trunk Railway and greatly expanded by Canadian National, the Château Laurier remains an icon in Canada’s capital. Its 1912 opening was delayed by tragedy, and its expansion on the eve of the Great Depression contributed to the demise of one of North America’s most capable railway executives. Flagship property of CNR’s nationwide chain of hotels, it was permanent home to renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Ottawa radio studios. Coverage also includes a chapter on Ottawa Union Station.

“Meticulous archival research, inspired photographic selections and carefully crafted text lift the volume above mere history.” –Canadian Rail

“Rich with information, and full of fabulous photographs.” –karsh.org

Canadian National Railways Historical AssociationHardbound, 11x8.5", 160 pages, list price $44.95. Limited-time special pricing available direct from cnrha.ca or on Amazon.

Order before February 28, 2019 and save 20% off the list price:Special price of only $35.95 eachplus shipping (and tax where applicable)