link to a display of 5 royal alexandra doors (pdf 12.5mb)

The GRAND CAFE of the Hotel, restored as ROYAL ALEXANDRA HALL• Restoration spanned 1999 to 2004, with a new structural shell built in which were hung the original oak contents of the cafe.• This remarkable heritage ARTIFACT-ROOM opened in April 2004 and made available for rentals as well as museum events.• The Hall is also on regular daily tours as part of the museum trains, since the room is from a former C.P.R. Hotel. Besides local events, thousands of tourists per year view the room, as part of the railway tours.• The room is a recipient of a Heritage Canada Achievement Award in 2007

HOTEL BACKGROUND• Built in 1906 - Demolished 1971• The Hotel was named after Queen Alexandra (1844-1925),

Consort of Edward V11 (1841-1910), the son of Queen Victoria.(1819-1901).

• It was connected to the station, but was demolished in 1971 “end of an Era” as passenger rail services declined due to increasing air travel.

• Edward’s reign from1901-1910 is often referred to the “Height of Empire”, when Britain was at it wealthiest. The Edwardian Era is named after him starting just after the Victorian Era.

• The Hotel is of Edwardian design with interior and exterior opulence - no price was spared by the CPR to make this one of its’ showpieces.

• It was a major CPR edifi ce with fi rst class service at the centre if its railway system in Canada located in Winnipeg, the “Gateway to Western Canada”.

• The hotel was also a major conference centre due it its cen-tral location and ease of access, since the station was con-nected directly indoors to the Hotel.

• When rail travel was the only long-distance alternative, the hotel location was strategic - about equal distance from ei-ther Vancouver or Montreal &Toronto.

• When it was demolished in 1971, it was considered the largest convention hotel in Western Canada.

• Today, a park designates the location of the former hotel. Although the adjacent station remains, it has other uses to-day and is no longer used for passenger train use, this func-tion now being located at the Union Station in the central downtown area.

FAMOUS CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY HOTELS IN CANADA• The CPR hotel system developed corporate & tourist business• The Royal Alexandra was primarily a corporate hotel due to its

strategic location

HOTEL IMAGES IN LEFT COLUMNTOP

L1 PlaceViger, Montreal. Quebec, (terminus of eastern end of the transcontinental CPR line).L2 Royal Alexandra Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba, (middle of the transcontinental CPR line)L3 Palliser Hotel, Calgary, AlbertaL4 Emerald Lake Lodge, Kootenay National Park in the Rockies, British ColumbiaBOTTOM

HOTEL IMAGES IN CENTER COLUMNTOP

C1 Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario,C2 Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Banff National Park in the Rockies, Alberta. C3 Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Banff National Park in the Rockies, Alberta.C4 Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, Quebec BOTTOM HOTEL IMAGES IN RIGHT COLUMNTOP

R1 Algonquin Park Lodge, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New BrunswickR2 Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, BC., (terminus of western end of transcontinental CPR line)R3 Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina, Saskatchewan R4 Empress Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia.BOTTOM

1AAll material is on the Museum Website, www.trainsdeluxe.com All images are for educational use only. Printed by Kootenay Kwik Print Ltd. April 2013.

The former Royal Alexandra Hotel(1906-1971)

Canadian Pacifi c Railyway, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Edwardian Opulence A superb urban railway hotel designed for

corporate and royal use

1A

1B

QUEEN ALEXANDRA (Queen consort 1901-1910)

Edward, Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria (reigned 1837-1901)

Alexandra, Princess of Wales, (Photo taken 1882)

King Edward V11 (reigned 1901-1910)

Dowager Queen Alexandra (widow 1910-1925)

All material is on the Museum Website, www.trainsdeluxe.com All images are for educational use only. Printed by Kootenay Kwik Print Ltd. April 2013.



Named After Royalty Queen Alexandra,

Consort of King Edward VII (Reigned 1901-1910)and daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria

1B

GRAND CONCEPT - Hotel Connected to the station (at right)

The original much smaller Winnipeg station of 1882

Built of steel for permanency with a commanding presence

The brick and granite exterior wasmeant to be noticed from afar and promote the increasing power of the CPR as a tourist and coporate business. In 1909 for example the revenue of the CPR was reported to be more than the Govt. of Canada.

A new wing added in 1912-13 (in the center) covered up two of the dining room windows of the original building, (at the left). The dining room fi replace was located in a space to the right of the 3 windows on the original building.

Back view of of the hotel seen from just north of the railway underpass showing the passenger train sheds on the overpass with the hotel behind.

2A

Original 1906 Addition 1912-13 Trains connector




Designed to Impress Part of a complex with the hotel connected directly to the station by an indoor corridor.

2A

The Alexandra Room

The Fireplace .......

The GRAND CAFE (1906)

(1920’S)

The hotel-station complex (in green) was built several blocks north of Portage & Main (the center of the city) with the Union Station (orange) in a more central location.

Main Floor Plan - The Grand Cafe (solid green) and the Dining Room (adjacent to the right in green outline) were on the main fl oor directly off the lobby. A light well beside the Cafe gave light into the windows of the Cafe, as well as its skylight. This well went right to the top of the hotel to provide windows to all rooms.

Second Floor Plan - On the second (mezzanine) fl oor were located the vice-regal suite (in green) and several other public rooms such as the ballrooms.The addition of 1912-13 to the right of the original square plan was actually a trapezoid as it followed the angle of main street

Bottom Floor Plan (Half Basement) showing Services and Under-ground Connection to Railway Station (dotted green line to right).

Typical Uppper Floors Plan with Rooms Services and Elevators, with the large interior light well, and a smaller well to the right.

2BAll material is on the Museum Website, www.trainsdeluxe.com All images are for educational use only. Printed by Kootenay Kwik Print Ltd. April 2013.



Location & Floor Plan The hotel was not built in a vibrant area since the CPR Mainline was several blocks from the main downtown, but it remained fi rst class to the end.

2B

A 1906 picture of the Rotunda, the hotel lobby, was spacious, inviting and was the largest hotel lobby in western Canada taking up one quarter of the main fl oor. The Hotel quickly became to social center of Winnipeg, a distinction it held until the 1960’s.

The main staircase with mar-ble and bronze railings created an impressive entrance and last-ing fi rst impression for the mil-lions of visitors over 65 years.

A decorative capital on the top of one of the 31 columns in the large lobby and the ceiling cof-fers above shows the attention to expensive detail required in fi rst class hotels of this period.

A 1906 drawing of the Cafe side wall shows the intention of having stained glass transoms & decorative ceiling stenciling (in green).

THE ALEXANDRA DINING ROOM

This vast main din-ing room, adjacent to both the lobby and the Café, was 40’x125’ and seated 450.The massive 2 storey-high (at left) carved oak fi replace can be seen opposite the main entrance.It was originallyvarnished.

This photos shows the fi replace after a modernization of the room with cloth valences and drapes covering the win-dows. The carved oak fi replace has been painted white, but the ornate ceiling beams can still be seen at the top of the room. These are similar, but larger, than the ones in the dining room at the Empress Hotel in Victoria.




Interior Elegance The spectacular interior of this expensive hotel

provided fi rst class services, including the formal dining room called the Alexandra Room.

3A

THE GRAND CAFÉ WAS RESTORED HERE AS THE ROYAL ALEXANDRA HALL

Set up in 1971 for the auction of some of the hotel and café contents.

The place to go in Winnipeg for many years, this picture dates from the 1940’s.

This shows the room in the 1950’s basically intact, but with some modernized curtains and the rounded backed chairs - a replacement for the 1906 chairs.

This is rare 1906 view of the room shows the windows on the side against the light well built into the hotel for light and ventilation for the public rooms, this room and rooms on the upper fl oors.

Demolition workers carefully remove parts of the Cafe, like this giant crest on the upper end walls. Parts of the room were packed away into a semi-trailer in 1971 along with the fi replace - mostly forgotten for the next 26 years.

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE This spring 1971 view show the empty café along with some water damage to some of the ceiling plaster. The lights were turned off after this photo, and the hotel demolition began.




The Grand Cafe This beautiful room was restored at this

museum as the ROYAL ALEXANDRA HALLbetween 1999 and 2004.

3B

The Hotel stood out in its rather poor surroundings almost as a city-within-a-city.

This photo shows how the hotel stood out against its poorer surroundings that ultimately contributed to its demise.

The Fort Garry Hotel (a rival) and the Union Station (built 1914) serving the rival Canadian Northern Railway and Grand Trunk Pacifi c Railways, were located in a more advantageous location. These last two railways were later combined to form the Canadian National Railway about 1920.

As other forms of transportation developed, the Royal Alex use declined. With the advent of air travel in the 1960’s, hotel use plummeted.

It closed in 1969 and demolished in 1971, while an auction sold the hotel contents.

Interior demolition from the top fl oor.Seen through the opening at the upper right is the con-necting building to the station (out of view). It was the lower level of this connection that provided an indoor corridor between the hotel and the station.

The wrecking ball destroys history.

The Main St. facade demolition in July 1971 - expensive carved granite destroyed.




End of an Era (1971) Demolition of the hotel was caused by a decrease

in rail travel due to air travel popularity.Demolition like this would probably not occur today.

4A

DINNERS, LUNCHEONS & MEETING USE

Depending on the performance area required, the max seating is 280

- Set up for a dinner for 184 at 23 tables of 8 per. For a small dance area and head table, seating is up to 152.

Set up for performance sideway in the HallDecorative railings.A 12-ft. chandelierSide view of ceiling.

One of the eight oak French doors with curved oak mullions and glass.

The imposing Entrance Hall with the 2-storey high oak fi replace opposite the main doors for a lasting impression.

(1/2 window shown)

A proposal forstained glass transoms based on original intentions. (see 3A)

A view of the high Entrance Hall & Fire-place seen from lower Freight Shed level.

Impressive carved oak face on front of fi replace. (1 of 2)

Fireplace detail and with ornate over-panel above rising to a height of 17 feet.




Royal Alexandra Hall The restored CAFE & other features plus the restored fi replace from the formal Alexandra

dining room (now located in the Entrance Hall).4B


PRE-CHRISTMAS GALA DINNERS

Elaborate table settings, an extensive menu and entertainment.

Music on the 1864 Broadwood Concert Grand. Waiting in the Reception Hall to go to dinner.

PRE-CHRISTMAS GALA BRUNCH

A CHORAL CONCERT REHEARSAL



Royal Alexandra Hall Some events sponsored by the museum are the

Pre-Christmas Gala Dinners. Public and private rentals are also available.

5A


5B

A COLOURFUL, DRAMATIC DANCE EVENT

Exotic masks and adjustable colourful capes provide exceptional visuals.

An opening Aria. A Blackbird of Paradise.

THE “MASQUERADE WALTZ” (Khatchurian) - a dance performance by 5 couples.

Masquerade WaltzersLine up on the stairs.The evening starts with a reception where capes are worn over comfortable informal dance clothing and hand-held masks are used to disquise identity.

Guests then form a procession to the Royal Alexandra Hall where capes & masks are hung up and dancing begins.

Dancing, a great buffet and some dance entertainment.The evening is primarily an evening of social dancing to music from various era from the 1940’s to current.

Guests are treated to a buffet and beverages, and during the evening there are several specially-choreographically dance entertainments.

FUN FOR ALL.

Special LED lighting on an overhead temporary truss creates a colourful fl oor & people.

Elaborate capes and masks (removable after the begining reception.


Canadian Pacifi c Railyway,Winnipeg, Manitoba

Royal Alexandra Hall One of the most colourful and

dramatic museum events are the Royal Alexandra Masquerades.

5B

link to a display of 5 royal alexandra doors (pdf 12.5mb)

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