Wildflowers This Wednesday!

Tomorrow, July 1st at 7:00 p.m., we continue our exciting Summer Enchanted Evenings series with speaker Marlene Borneman. Avid hiker and native plant expert, Marlene Borneman will discuss local flower families and how they are connected in her talk: 

🎕Wildflowers in Your Backyard🎕

Hear all about the virtues of growing native plants and ideas on what native plants may best fit your garden. 

To reserve your spot, please call 970-568-5397. For your safety, seats are limited to 25 in-person guests at The Baldpate Inn Key Room & Museum. We are live-streaming our Summer Enchanted Evenings on The Baldpate Inn YouTube Channel for all our virtual attendees. 
See you tomorrow!

Written by Danielle New
Museum Curator

Key to the Sky

The key that I want to highlight today is a rarity in our collection, the cockpit key to a Boeing 737. This key was donated by Retired Captain Art Jarvis and is special to our collection because it is a relic of simpler times. Pre-9/11 air travel was a simple affair with minimal security where the cabin of the plane could be secured with a simple key.

The Boeing 737 has been one of the staple passenger aircraft for the last five decades, but the newest iteration, the 737 Max, has seen much controversy over the past two years. It is ironic that such a simple piece of metal could be the key to the skies while the high-tech aircraft has run into so much trouble. 

From Fiction to Reality

As you may know, The Baldpate Inn was named after the fictional mountain getaway described in Earl Derr Biggers' 1913 novel Seven Keys to Baldpate. The Mace family, the original owners and builders of the inn, chose the name "Baldpate" after Biggers visited their lodge and marveled at the resemblance between his imagination and the real property.

So, in 1917 The Baldpate Inn was born!

I have always found the story of the Baldpate's namesake funny and fascinating. Here is a rare case of fiction becoming reality. If it weren't for the Seven Keys to Baldpate novel, there would be no Inn, no Key Room, and none of the rich history that goes along with it. So today, I'd like to celebrate the inspiration behind our amazing collection: Biggers' 1913 novel.

In our Library, we have several first editions of Seven Keys to Baldpate, in various conditions of wear and tear. As you can see, some of the hard covers are faded, spines warped, and pages crumbled. One of our books features a lovely watercolor drawing of the book's characters, dated 1912.

Through the years, these books were presented to the Mace family as gifts from friends and guests. Today they live on as a reminder of the deep-rooted history accompanying this little old mountain inn and museum. If you've ever dreamt of living in a storybook, this is surely the place to be!

Written by Danielle New
Museum Curator

The Key to All Human Knowledge

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso lives an incredible library system with a rich history.
Sometime in the 1970's, an unknown donor gave the Baldpate Inn the key to the El Paso Library. It is framed and reads:

"This key opens the door to a building, 742,643 books, government documents and bound periodicals. A library key opens not only the door to a building but to all recorded human knowledge."

The El Paso Public Library is the oldest library in the state of Texas.It was founded by Mary Irene Stanton who donated her personal collection of 1,000 books to the Boy's Reading Club in 1894. The next year, women were granted access to the reading club, which was originally located at Sheldon Hotel. The library soon outgrew the hotel and moved to the El Paso City Hall building in 1899. 

Citizens quickly called for the library to have a building of its own, and in 1902 Andrew Carnegie, the industrialist millionaire, donated $37,500 to build and stock the El Paso Library. 

In order to qualify for Carnegie's grant, the city of El Paso had to abide certain rules called the "Carnegie Formula." One of these rules required the local government to pay the staff and maintain the library. So, the citizens of El Paso voted in a local tax to maintain the library. 

The library system now has 13 branches and a BookMobile to provide the masses of El Paso with accessible information and additional classes and social groups to encourage the social and intellectual growth of it's population.

Libraries are a priceless resource, even as the world continues to transfer to online resources. Aside from books, libraries often provide services (such as tax-filing assistance, job searches, etc) and classes (knitting, English as a Second Language, computer literacy, etc). Having free access to limitless education is a sacred public work.

As this key implies so succinctly, a library holds access to all human knowledge.

Written by: Maddie Anderson

Key Room Curator (and library assistant)

Dragon Boat Festival

Imagine: several fleets of decorative canoes lined up at the starting point. Athletes and fans tingling with anticipation. You see the smiling dragons parallel with each other above the still water. Then: 

Ready. Set. Go! 

Before you know it, the horn sounds off and the race has begun! 

This is what it might be like to attend the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated today, June 25th, 2020. This ancient holiday features dragon boat racing, feasts, and festivities and is celebrated all over East Asia.

What is dragon boat racing, you might ask? It is a competition with ancient Chinese origins in which 22 crew members (20 paddlers, 1 drummer, and 1 steerer) race the other teams to the finish line. A dragon boat is similar to a canoe but in the shape of a dragon, with a dragon head at the helm and tail at the rear. 

Painting of ancient dragon boat racing found in a temple in Taiwan

Here in the Key Room, we have one key which aptly claims to unlock "the heart of the dragon." The dragon is a central symbol in Chinese culture and spirituality. It traditionally represents good fortune, water, and royalty.

The Baldpate Inn Key Room houses keys that hail from over 42 countries around the world. Although we have only a handful of keys from China, we are proud of our international community and wish them a wonderful day of festivities! May the quickest dragon win 🐲

Written by Danielle New

Museum Curator

University of Michigan Chemistry Building

Hello again, everyone!

Today I was searching through the keys donated from my home state of Michigan and came across a key that struck me. In July of 2012, a Dr. Z.A. Buchan donated a key to the University of Michigan Chemistry Building.
By 1908, the University of Michigan chemistry department had outgrown the original 1856 Chemistry Laboratory, the first such structure in America designed, constructed, and equipped for instruction and research in chemistry. The new Chemistry Building was part of an effort for the University to accommodate the increasing number of students, as well as provide plenty of space to experiment and learn. U of  M's well equipped chemistry department brought in an influx of students-- enrollment doubled between 1910 and 1920. The building was again modified both in 1948 and 1988.

Thousands of great scientists have passed through the halls of the University of Michigan Chemistry Building, including:

• Sanjay Gupta: news reporter and cheif medical correspondent for CNN
• Douglas Futuyma: evolutionary biologist 
• Antonia Novello: 14th Surgeon General of the United States
• Marie Tharp: created the first scientific map of the Atlantic floor
• Nathan Rosen: developed wormhole theory with Albert Einstein

University of Michigan Chemistry Building, ca. 1911

As you may have gathered from my previous posts, I am a huge proponent of education-- and I love Michigan-- so finding this key was exciting. 

What has been a (real or metaphorical) key to your education process? 

My Father's Key

Hello key-lovers and Happy Father's Day!

On this special holiday honoring all great Dads out there, I thought it would be fun to see if we had any stories to share here in the Key Room. As I searched our database, it turns out we have over 100 keys mentioning Dads and Fathers! That's a lot of stories.

I have selected a few keys that stand out to me.

The mysterious key of Bamberg, Germany

At the start of this season, one of my fellow Baldpate Inn employees donated a key belonging to her father. He found it in Bamberg, Germany while deployed on military operations in 1992 and has carried it for 28 years. Both father and daughter wish they knew what it unlocked!

Charles B. Akerson donated his great, great, great grandfather's watch key that he carried during the War of 1812. Even though Charles probably never met his great, great, great grandfather, family bonds between father and son can last for generations.

In 1999, the Spigarelli family donated a key in memory of husband and step-father Mike Spigarelli. On the tag, they celebrate Mike's life and mention that they had planned this trip to Estes Park, CO with him before he passed away just two months prior. This key reminds me of all the inspirational father figures who have passed away and are remembered on this day.

So folks, whether you're feeling excited, angry, saddened, or indifferent today, Happy Father's Day from The Baldpate Inn Key Room!

Written by Danielle New

Museum Curator

The Cherokee Female Seminary

Hey y'all!

Today I found a key camouflaged against the walls of the Key Room. This is the key to the Cherokee Female Seminary, donated to the Baldpate Key Room in 1936.

After being removed from their home, the Cherokee Nation settled in modern-day Oklahoma. The newly developed Cherokee syllabary (a set of written characters, similar to the alphabet) and establishment of a printing press allowed for the publishing of a national newspaper in both Cherokee and English. By the 1890s, the literacy rate of the Cherokee Nation was higher than both Arkansas and Texas. The increasing investment in education and literacy led to the creation of schools of higher learning (similar to a modern-day Prep high school).

The cornerstone for the Seminary was laid in 1847. This was the first school of higher-learning for women west of the Mississippi River. The Women's Seminary officially opened in 1851 and tuition was $45 a year. The first graduating class of 1856 consisted of 26 women who studied Latin, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, and Music.






The school closed due to border conflicts and financial distress during the Civil War. By the mid 1870s, the Cherokee nation was able to renovate the Seminary and hire additional teachers. To attract more students, the Seminary began to admit students from other tribes, admission requirements were reduced, and the Nation created primary schools for introductory education.

On Easter Sunday 1887, a fire demolished the building. It was able to reopen two years later just north of Tahlequah. Although the school offered an education significantly better than those provided by the state of Oklahoma, in 1907 federal officials began to systemically reduce the authority of tribal government over many facets of their lives, including education. The Seminary was sold to the State of Oklahoma in 1909 to join the state college system.

After being obtained by Oklahoma, the Cherokee Female Seminary was renamed Northeaster State Normal School, where teachers were trained. The school later broadened it's curriculum to include baccalaureate degrees for secondary school teachers.
The Cherokee Women's Seminary is now Northeastern State University, and over 25% of students are Native American. The university offers Cherokee Language Education as a major and offers language courses in Cherokee.

Needless to say, this key holds some serious history. The power of education transcends time. Though it is sad to see the honorable Cherokee Female Seminary is no longer in existence, it is heartening to know the traditions of the Cherokee Nation are able to live on, to some extent, at the Seminary's successor.

Written By: Maddie Anderson

Keys?!

Howdy y'all,

Today we're taking a journey into the strange side of our collection, a side where we ask the question: "Is that really a key?" Hopefully today we'll find some answers to that question.

The idea for this piece came to me when my fellow curator Maddie, when they plopped some objects on our desk and said something like, "Do you know what these are?". I answered promptly, "Probably keys." Which is fair answer, considering what encompass the scope of our humble museum. But upon a more thorough inspection, I came to the obvious question: what qualifies a key?

Object B

Object A

These little metal objects really sparked my curiosity about this question, but first I had to find out what on earth they are. With my archaeology training kicking in, I first did a close examination of the artifacts and wrote out a vivid description, cataloging every detail that I could. These object appear to be exact copies of one another with the only slight difference being the level of corrosion on the metal suggestion that one maybe older than the other. They are approximately 1 1/2" in length and 2/3" in width at the widest and tappers to 1/2" at the narrowest. Upon further inspection, I found inscriptions that were pressed into the metal when it was still hot.

This is where things get interesting. While the design of the two objects appears to be identical, the inscriptions are different. Object A says "U.S. SPEAKER" with the U.S. about twice the fount size as SPEAKER. Object B on the other hand says "U.S. G.G. GREENE 1955", again with the US being twice as large as the other text. It is my assumption that, on object B, the date indicates the year in which this object was created, but outside of pure speculation there is no further evidence for this.
After gathering all the evidence a physical description could provide, it was time to hit the internet to find more information. My first approach was a reverse image search. That means uploading a photo of one of these objects and seeing results for similar images. Right away I was able to find a match. These little metal objects are actually U.S. Army issue can openers! More specifically they are p-38 can openers. So in a way, they are the keys to the MRE's.

It is unclear how these little can openers found their way into our collection. It is possible that someone mistook them for a strange little key, as I did, and donated it to us, or someone who used them during their service to our country saw fit to leave a memory in the form of their old can opener. No matter how these little things found their way to the Baldpate, we are happy to add them to our collection and serve the memory of those who bravely served our country.

The Key to Buried Treasure

If you've spent much time in the Rocky Mountains, you've likely heard of art dealer Forrest Fenn's famous treasure hunt.

In 2010, Fenn published The Thrill of the Chase in which he left clues to the location of a cache of gold, jewelry, and gems hidden "in the mountains somewhere north of Santa Fe." Fenn's book prompted a wild chase for the illusive treasure, with thousands of people embarking on searches that ultimately ended in disappointment. The hunt for Fenn's jewels has even claimed the lives of at least five treasure hunters over the years, the latest of which was a 58-year-old Colorado man who was found in March.

After 10 years of relentless pursuit, Fenn announced on June 6th, 2020 that the treasure had finally been found.

So, who holds the key to Fenn's buried treasure?

The details of the treasure's location, the exact amount it is worth, and the individual who found it have not been released, but Fenn has confirmed that the search has indeed ended.

An actual photo of Fenn's treasure chest as it was found in 2020

After reading about this fascinating story, I figured we must have keys to buried treasure here in the Key Room!

One key from 1932 claims to open a treasure chest, challenging brave treasure seekers to "come to Green Bay, Wisconsin to find the treasure."

And in 1937, we received a key with the following note attached:

This padlock key you will never guess 

holds promise for treasure yes, yes 

Just bring the lock and the key together 

and hearts you will find to bring you fair weather 

Whether real or symbolic, legends about hidden riches have existed for centuries. Come visit the Key Room to unlock a hidden treasure of your own.

Written by Danielle New
Museum Curator

Summer Enchanted Evening TONIGHT!

Hey folks! Today is the day we start our Summer Enchanted Evening series, with the wonderful Bruce Davies presenting on: A History of Women in Rocky Mountain National Park. Mr. Davies is a good friend of the Baldpate, and we have been eagerly looking forward to his presentation. Tonight, starting at 7p.m. we will be live streaming his presentation on our YouTube channel, you can view his talk at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiruKjhsw7M . The anticipation grows as the chairs are set, dining reservations made, and the cookies are baked.

Bruce Davies, of Tour Estes Park, is a native of Colorado and grew up along the Front Range.  He studied at Grand Canyon College in Phoenix, AZ, and in 2009 he  moved to Estes Park. Bruce's knowledge of things to do in the area and the history of Rocky Mountain National Park is
an absolute treat to experience.

Bruce now runs his own personal guided tour service and has introduced hundreds of people from all over the United States and the world to this amazing place called Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park. 

We are honored to feature Mr. Davies at our first Summer Enchanted speaking about the History of Women in Rocky Mountain National Park. This topic will include historical figures, significant developments made by local women, and involvement of women in Rocky Mountain National Park today. This topic is especially important as we collectively advocate to make our outdoor spaces more inclusive.

Robin Hood, Revisited

In 2016, one of the Baldpate Inn's curators, Natalie, wrote about the key to the Sherwood Forest where the legendary Robin Hood lived. Today I will be writing about the goings-on of the time of Robin Hood, to see what inspired the legends of the (perhaps) mythical man to flourish.

The tales of Robin Hood arose in the 13th century by balladeers. In the height of British feudalism, social and political turbulence rose-- specifically around agrarian disparities and baronial rebellions. The feudal system of medieval Britain left over 90% of the country hungry, poor, and forced to work land they could never own. The tension came to a head in 1381, when the serfs and peasants revolted against unfair tax, labor and political systems. Rebels marched to London and attacked gaols (jails), burned the Savoy Palace, and burned law books and legal buildings. They were put down by Royal guardsmen, sending over 1,500 peasants to the gallows.

In a time of socio-economic upheaval, the ideologies of Robin Hood ("steal from the rich and give to the poor") were inspirational to the poor and oppressed. The balladeers wrote and sang of their aspirations toward change-- even on a small scale, such as Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Robin Hood secretly hunted in the Sherwood Forest, which was illegal, as the monarchs owned about 1/3 of the forests in England and only royalty could hunt on the land. Punishments for hunting on royal land were severe and inhumane.This decree left peasants to find food on "common land" which was often over-hunted and scarce. 

Robin Hood was dangerous and radical in the eyes of the Monarchs. Yet to those struggling peasants, the concept of a free outlaw enjoying forbidden hunting and outwitting the forces of law and order was naturally appealing. 

The ballads of Robin Hood would continue to be created well into the 17th century, often adding side characters or changing his backstory to one of a fallen nobleman, but the heart of Robin Hood stayed in the forbidden lands of Sherwood Forest giving hope to the masses. 

Written by: Maddie Anderson, Key Room Curator

The Poetry of Baldpate: A Tradition Lost to Time

An Ode to Keys -

Oh, the "to my hearts",

how the unlocking of an organ plays a part.

 Oh, the "to friendship"

how you know they'll never lose their grip

Oh, the "to long life",

how secrets keep you well away from strife

To pick is to obfuscate the meaning,

to gift is to know ones housekeeping.

To turn is to engage the bit,

to unlock is to release ones spirit.

They teach history as we walk below them

It is our guests to whom we bestow them

They keys to my heart

Will never split apart

The Baldpate poems are great if you know them

In the earliest day of the Baldpate, key donation was often accompanied by a clever poem surrounding the origin of the key. This inspired me to create a little poem of my own. Although my favorite poem that I have found so far is accompanied by the key to Mozart's wine cellar.

Key of A. Mozart

This Key has a history

That smacks of a mystery;

It came to us secretly, too.

An Austrian city,

Exceedingly pretty, 

Gave us Mozart and all that he knew.

Its churches and towers

Are much older than ours;

Old Salzburg has little that's new.

It's famous old cellar

Is St. Peter's Keller

Where wine features every menu.

It's made by the priests

For their functions and feasts

And served to a fortunate few

In a cavern of rock

Near the Musical Clock

Where Mozart came daily to brew.

So welcome was he

They gave him a key

To a vault of his own special "dew."

Now Mozart is gone

But his spirt lives on,

So we're sending his key on to you.

Written by Adam Dohn

Summer Enchanted Evening Series

Join us this Wednesday, June 17th at 7 PM for the first installment of our annual Summer Enchanted Evenings series. Bruce Davies will be discussing the History of Women in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Seats for Mr. Davies talk are filled!  No worriess though, you can also tune into our live-stream on the Baldpate Inn YouTube Channel. See you then!

Our next Enchanted Evening will be June 24th at 7 PM! Baldpate Inn's very own Museum Curator, Adam Dohn, will be presenting History of Modern Rock Climbing in Estes Park and Long's Peak. Please call 970-568-5397 to reserve your spot for the in-person event. Seats are going fast! This talk will also be available to view on our YouTube Channel.  

Here is a sneak-peek at our schedule for this summer:

Sorority and Fraternity Keys

As I am cataloging keys, every now and then I run across a sorority or fraternity key. These keys will be accompanied by the typical Greek lettering and organizational pride that is very unironically still part of this sub-culture. I did not attend a college that had "Greek life" as it is so called, so I have always been more than a little curious about the trappings that  make these organizations so popular in American undergraduate institutions. Perhaps we can learn something more about them from their keys.

Most of the tags that we have in our sorority and fraternity sections are not attached to individual keys. These tags are tied to the collective ceremonial keys that have the appropriate Greek lettering. From what I've gathered, many Greek life organizations revolve around the house, and to that house there are undoubtedly keys.

To be entrusted with the key to a sorority or fraternity house implies a great power an responsibility. Some houses are small, with just a few inhabitants, but some of the bigger houses can hold hundreds people. Having the key to "the house" is very attune to being a member of a club, being trusted to not give access to those outside of the accepted circle. Of course this type of elitism leads to toxic exclusivity, and can lead to some of the negative stereotypes of the typical sorority or fraternity house.

Despite their national reputation, sorority and fraternity are more popular than ever as an increasing percentage of young people are attending college. The benefits of Greek life are so often understated that many of the detractors against these organizations fail to recognize them. Sororities or fraternities offer young men and women positions of leadership and responsibility that goes beyond just having a key to the house. They are spaces in which young people can create their own worlds, and that is a valuable experience to some as they turn of age.The keys on our wall represent the pride that people hold for these organizations.

by Adam Dohn

Key Puns: The funny-bone of the Keyroom

One thing that has consistently drawn me to the Key Room is all the clever key puns. My personal favorite, the Mon"key", is low hanging fruit, but some puns are far more thoughtful. Por"key"pig is popular amongst our guests, as is Mick"key" Mouse, another Disney creation.

 

Looking around, it is obvious to see that our collection contains two general types of keys, functional keys, and novelty keys. It seems to me that most of the key puns fall into the novelty category. Many advertisements that use key in a play on words also fall into this novelty category. Things like "the Key to Foot Comfort" and "the Key to Smoking Perfection", are good copy when it comes to advertising, but pretty poor in their play off of the word key.

A good pun requires good word play, timing, and, most importantly, humor. That is something I think a lot of these key puns lack, they are just cheap copy to get people to buy foot cream or tobacco. However, the spirit of this museum comes from those who donated the key, and not just the keys themselves. The stories behind how each key ended up here is what's important, and that is what I hope to tell through out this summer!

Introductions & Event Alert!

Hey y'all!

It's a beautiful sunny day in Estes Park and we would like to introduce another one of our Museum Curators for this 2020 Summer season: Danielle New!

My name is Danielle and I am a graduate student in Museology (Museum Studies) at the University of Washington. With a background in anthropology and art, I am passionate about telling stories through powerful exhibitions. The last exhibition I curated, Surreal, was an interdisciplinary exploration of dreams and the subconscious that featured over 15 artists, scientists, writers, and makers of all kinds. I believe that access to art and culture is a human right, and this summer at Baldpate I am looking forward to creating one-of-a-kind experiences for our in-person visitors and beyond.

Event Alert! Join us next Wednesday, June 17th at 7 PM for the first installment of our annual Summer Enchanted Evenings series. Bruce Davies will be discussing the History of Women in Rocky Mountain National Park. Please call 970-568-5397 to reserve your spot for the in-person event. Seats are going fast! You can also tune into our live-stream on the Baldpate Inn YouTube Channel. See you then!

Written by Danielle New
Museum Curator

Kentuc"key"

Today's special key comes to us from the city of Danville Kentucky. With a beautiful bow, (the end of the handle) this key stood out to me by looks alone. This key came to us in a protective case that pales in comparison to the key inside it. The bit (the part that goes in the lock) of this key is a symmetrical shape that reminds me of a space invader.

There is not attached any information about who brought this key to us, but judging by the design I would guess that it came from a government official who worked for the city of Danville. This type of key is symbolic, and is given out in recognition in service to a city, much like the "key to the city" trope used in superhero comics.

The most impressive part of this key is, by far, the ornate design of the bow. Encircled by an imprinted wreath lies the seal of the city of Danville. This seal contains, in clockwise order, the scale of justice, the staff of Hermes or the caduceus, a lit oil lamp, a homestead, two opposing scrolls, and in the center is a star. Each one of these symbols is meant to represent a historic "first" attributed to the city of Danville. The scale is to represent the first court house in Kentucky established in 1785 while Kentucky was still a territory and not yet a state. The Staff of Hermes represents the first laparotomy, an operation performed by a physician from Danville, Dr. Ephraim McDowell. While these symbols have be easy to determine, the rest of them are far more vague. I'm assuming that the oil lamp is meant to represent the first post office west of the Allegheny mountains. The homestead could be associated with the first capital of Kentucky being located in Danville. The twin scrolls could be because the first constitution of Kentucky was written and signed in Danville. As far the star, any guess is a good as mine. I believe that it is included in the seal simple for design purposes and holds not exterior symbolism at all.

All the little things about this key is why I love our museum so much. The amount of information contained within the small package of a key can be so enlightening, whether this is in the design of the key or within the teeth themselves. There is a code behind each key, no matter how big or small, and so far I have thoroughly enjoyed cracking these codes.

Written by Adam Dohn
Museum Curator

Howdy, y'all!

Today in the Key Room, I am cataloging all they keys donated in the 2019 season. It is fascinating to read each tag of each key and feel the weight of love, grief or just boredom (key tag of the day "I just like keys") that each key carries with it.
I would like to take a moment to thank all our lovely key donors for their generosity. I hope you all make it back here one day to find your keys adorning the ceilings and walls of the Baldpate Key Room.

Never Too Old to Change

Hello again! Today is opening day and I cannot wait to meet everyone who is able to come out to the Baldpate Inn this summer!

Today I would like to give y'all a little update on the Keyroom's hours for this summer, as we are working with the ever-changing guidelines.

Guests are now able to dine in the Keyroom! This is Baldpate's first time offering seating in the Keyroom for guests to be amazed by the Key Collection as well as our tasty soups and salads.
As such, the Museum hours have changed to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Our new hours are:

Daily*
8 am-11 am
2 pm-5 pm
7 pm-10 pm

We have been working tirelessly to find the best way to provide our Baldpate Family the timeless experience you know and love.

*these hours are subject to change

The San Diego Club, Room 504

I found today's key in our "Orphan Key" collection. Our orphan keys include keys that have lost their tags, or the tags become so faded they are no longer legible. Luckily, they are up for "adoption," so if you forget to bring a key to the Baldpate, there are keys in dire need a loving donor. Looking through the basket of orphans, this key jumped right out to me. Its distinct circular red tag has a beautiful design that begs attention.

This key comes from sunny San Diego, as is clear from the tag. With a quick search of the National Register of Historic Places,  I have gathered from the building's registration that the San Diego Athletic Club was a place of wealth and cultural development.

Athletic clubs were a prominent part of city life in the early twentieth century and were created to hep foster business connections and social lives. The San Diego Athletic Club was proposed by Colonel Ed Fletcher in 1924, and a group of local San Diego businessmen undertook the project. Constriction of the building was completed in 1928.

The San Diego Club (or San Diego Athletic Club) was designed  in an Art Deco Ziggurat and Late Gothic Revival style. Meant to enhance the life and business of San Diegans, the Club was to be housed in an affluent building. The interior featured 96 sleeping rooms, two solariums, four hand-ball courts, a gymnasium, swimming pool, main lounge, main dining room, grill, ladies’ dining room and lounge, and a separate exclusive entrance for ladies (1). Standing 12 stories high, the San Diego Club was a social hub and clubhouse available to those who could afford membership.

The Club fell into financial hardship during the Great Depression but survived through the 1940's, Increasing debts into the '50s put immense finical stress on the club, and there were doubts that the San Diego Club would survive. While the Club managed to stay open into the '60s, it wasn't long for this world as changing times made Club membership less of a social necessity for upper class San Diegans . The building was sold in 1965 and, in 1968, the Club was converted into office spaces for the publishing firm Harcourt.

In 2010, the City of San Diego published plans to turn the building into a homeless shelter and resource center, including a medical clinic and social services center. In 2012, Turner Construction Company spent $24 million returning the building to its original state. Affirmed Housing now owns the building and uses it for interim housing for the homeless and to provide housing assistance, education, and employment services (2).

If I had to guess, I would say this particular key was created in the 1930's, after the Club was renamed the San Diego Club. This story goes to show that nothing is permanent, and even the most prestigious institutions are subject to the changing times. As the Baldpate Inn enters its 103rd consecutive year of operation, we are pressed to think about all those who have come and gone during this time.




Written by Maddie Anderson, KeyRoom Curator