| World / Canada / Saskatchewan / Saskatoon, 3 km from center | Coordinates: 52°7'33"N 106°39'30"W |
The Bessborough Hotel, now the Delta Bessborough, was designed by Archibald-Schofield of Montreal. The finest Canadian materials were used; warm brick from Claybank in southern Saskatchewan, Tyndall stone from Manitoba, granite from Ontario, and bronzes from Toronto and Montreal. Sculptures of symbolic animals decorate the elaborate exterior finishing. Begun in the good times of 1929, it was finished in the bad times of 1932, and not formally opened until December 10, 1935, with 1,000 people at the opening dance.
It was the last of the grand railway hotels built in Canada; no more were built after the Depression. It was originally built by the Canadian National Railway, but sold to the Canadian Pacific Railway. It is currently owned by the Delta hotel chain, and remains Saskatoon's finest hotel. It is Saskatoon's most recognizable building and is featured prominently in tourist and promotional imagery. Legend has it that a tunnel once ran (and perhaps still runs) beneath 21st Street between 1st Avenue and Spadina Crescent, linking the CNR station and the Bessborough, and was used to bring baggage in for travellers staying at the hotel.
Category: hotel canada railway saskatoon saskatchewan
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