Hamilton's Stores (Yellowstone National Park) - Expansion

Expansion

In 1916 Hamilton agreed to a 50-50 share of the automotive service concession with the Childs and opened filling stations at Old Faithful and West Thumb. Hamilton offered cooked meals in the stores from 1927.

• Lower Store, Old Faithful - Built in 1897 as Klamer's General Store, Charles Hamilton bought this store in 1915 from Henry Klamer's widow, Mary. Substantially altered in 1904 with log and twig decoration, this store epitomizes the rustic style. The rustic detailing is attributed to Robert Reamer, who had completed the nearby Old Faithful Inn the year before. The building was enlarged in 1924, and the elaborate burled log porch was added in 1925. A plaque on the porch reads "Designed and built by M.C. Schwerdt, 818 Trd. Ave, SE, Great Falls, Mont". Old Faithful Historic District
• Upper Store, Old Faithful - A much larger store built in 1929 near main parking areas with employee dormitories upstairs. The store was originally known as the Basin Auto Camp store, and was built to serve automobile-borne visitors staying in the Old Faithful tent camp. Old Faithful Historic District
• Lake Store - Octagonal center structure with radiating wings near the Lake Hotel, built in 1922.
• Fishing Bridge Store - Faux-log concrete structure.
• West Thumb Store - Located in an old lunch station.

In 1953 Hamilton gained control of most park concessions with the purchase of stores at Mammoth Hot Springs and Canyon. Hamilton also operated bathhouses at Old Faithful from 1933, when he bought the geyser-fed pool from Henry Brothers until 1951, when they were demolished as inappropriate for a national park.

As a result of a 1998 change in National Park Service policy which eliminated preferences for established businesses in parks, Hamilton's Stores lost the concessions contract in Yellowstone to Delaware North in 2002, and ceased operations.