National Register of Historic Places

River Inn

Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Listed
December 20, 1988
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
88002831

About this property

River Inn is a historic building located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, United States. This was the third of three first-class hotels built in the central business district. Completed in 1929, it replaced the Hotel Kaddatz as the city's premier hotel. It also assured that the Federal Courthouse, located across the street, did not relocate to Detroit Lakes in the 1920s. The River Inn provided accommodations for judges, jurors, lawyers, and court visitors. Boston architect Vernon A. Wright developed the hotel and designed the building. His father was George B. Wright, one of the city's founders. Vernon Wright also co-founded the Otter Tail Power Company. The four-story brick structure with Indiana limestone trim, features elements of the Medieval Revival style, the only commercial building downtown in that style. It was built by the Lauritzen Construction Company. While owned by Wright until his death in 1938, the hotel was managed by the Roberts Hotel Chain of Winona, Minnesota. The building was extensively renovated after Al C. Kavli acquired the property in 1965, reducing the number of rooms from 96 to 15 and converting the rest into apartments. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Location

133 Mill St., South
Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota
46.28264, -96.07424

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Hotel Kaddatz
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fergus Falls City Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
United States Post Office and Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Otter Tail County Courthouse
Civil War
0.2 mi
Barnard Mortuary
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was River Inn listed on the National Register?

River Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1988.

What type of historic resource is River Inn?

River Inn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for River Inn?

The period of significance for River Inn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near River Inn?

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