Timeline: Fred Harvey

This timeline combines the Harvey family and company in addition to notable moments in American history. Most dates listed for the houses are when they first opened.

• 1835

  Fred Harvey born in London, England.

• 1853

  Fred Harvey sails to America from England.

• 1858

  Partners with William Doyle to operate the Merchants Dining Saloon and Restaurant in St. Louis.

• 1859

  Marries first wife, Ann.

• 1861

  • Civil War begins.
  • Fred Harvey contracts typhoid fever.
  • First son, Eddie,is born.
  • William Doyle takes their entire savings and then joins the Confederate Army, leaving Harvey penniless.

• 1862

  • Gains employment working on the rails as a government postal clerk.
  • Second son, Charles, born.
  • First wife, Ann dies from complications due to childbirth.

• 1863

  Marries Barbara Sarah "Sally" Mattas.

• 1865

  • Becomes a sales agent for the North Missouri Rail Road; moves family to Leavenworth, Kansas.
  • Sons, Eddie and Charley, succumb to scarlet fever.
  • Son, Ford Harvey, is born.

• 1871

  Daughter, Minnie, is born.

• 1876

  Fred Harvey opens first eating house in Topeka, Kansas; contracted with the Santa Fe Railway on a handshake

  
  

  

  View »

• 1877

  Son, Byron, is born.

• 1878

  Fred Harvey signs first formal contract with the Santa Fe Railway.

• 1879

  • Santa Fe Railway enters New Mexico.
  • Daughter, Sybil, born.

• 1880-1881

  Railroad main line reaches Albuquerque.

• 1881

  • El Ortiz, Lamy, NM opens.
  • Castañeda, Las Vegas, NM opens.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1883

  • The Alvarado, Albuquerque, NM opens.
  • First Harvey Girls hired as waitresses, Raton, NM.
  
  

  

  View »

• 1887

  • Fray Marcos, Williams, AZ opens.
  • El Garces, Needles, CA opens.
  • Casa del Desierto, Barstow, CA opens.
  • La Posada, Winslow, AZ opens.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1889

  Signs a formal contract to manage the AT&SF’s eating houses.

• 1892

  • Ford Harvey’s daughter, Katherine "Kitty" Harvey born.
  • Sante Fe Railway begins luxury service from Chicago to California.

• 1895

  • The Havasu, Seligman, AZ opens.
  • The Escalante, Ash Fork, AZ opens.
  • El Navajo, Gallup, NM opens.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1896

  • Ford Harvey’s son, Frederick Henry "Freddy" Harvey born.
  • Santa Fe Railway begins to advertise the Fred Harvey system.

• 1899

  Fred Harvey beings to commission tourist jewelry, a lighter and smaller version of what had previously been offered, Navajo Lite.

• 1901

  • Ford Harvey goes on expedition to Grand Canyon.
  • Minnie Harvey Huckel and J.F. Huckel begin the Indian Department with Herman Schweizer as the head.
  • Fred Harvey passes away, February 9th.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1902

  • The Alvarado opens in Albuquerque, NM
  • Indian Building opens in Albuquerque, NM
  • Mary Colter commissioned to design the interior of the Indian Building.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1903

  The New Santa Fe Hotel, Belen, NM opens.

• 1905

  • El Tovar opens at the Grand Canyon.
  • Hopi House opens at the Grand Canyon.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1913

  Sally Harvey dies at the age of 71.

• 1914

  • World War 1 begins in Europe.
  • Hermit’s Rest opens at the Grand Canyon.
  • Lookout Studio opens at the Grand Canyon.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1915

  • Panama-California Exposition in San Diego features Colter designed 10-acre Painted Desert exhibition.
  • Indian Detours begin; uses college-educated female guides, Couriers.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1917

  America enters World War 1.

• 1919

  • President Wilson signs the bill granting the Grand Canyon national park status.
  • Ford Harvey negotiates with the National Park Service to handle the Grand Canyon’s tourist business.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1922

  • La Fonda Hotel opens in Santa Fe, NM.
  • Phantom Ranch opens at the Grand Canyon.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1926

  Route 66 established.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1928

  Ford Harvey dies from the flu at the age of 62.

• 1929

  Great Depression begins.

• 1932

  Desert View Indian Watchtower opens at the Grand Canyon.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1933

  Fred Harvey sells Indian Department collection items to Nelson Gallery.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1934

  Hitler comes into power in Germany

• 1935

  Bright Angel Lodge opens at the Grand Canyon.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1936

  Freddy Harvey and wife, Betty Drage, die in plane crash.

• 1937

  Harvey stops using the whirling logs or swastika design in jewelry.

• 1939

  • Great Depression ends.
  • World War II begins, prompting Americans to explore America.
  • Los Angeles Union Station, CA opens.

  
  

  

  
  

  View »

• 1940-1945

  Railroad travel increases.

• 1942

  US enters World War II.

• 1943

  • Herman Schweizer dies at the age of 72.
  • Minnie Harvey Huckel dies at the age of 72 from Hodgkin’s Disease.
  • Sybil Harvey Parker dies at the age of 64.

• 1944

  Harvey Home in Leavenworth is donated to Cushing Memorial Hospital.

• 1946

  WWII ends.

• 1946

  The Harvey Girls movie starring Judy Garland premieres.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1947-1950

  Post WWII tourist industry revival.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1947

  Fred Harvey adds The Painted Desert Inn at the Petrified Forest to its houses. This re-design is Mary Colter's last Harvey project.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1954

  Bryon Harvey dies from colon cancer at the age of 78.

• 1958

  Mary Colter dies at the age of 89.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1959

  • Fred Harvey collection of Native American goods appraised.
  • La Posada items auctioned after closure in 1957.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1960

  Fred Harvey operates Grand Canyon Caverns in Dinosaur City, Arizona.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1962

  Katherine "Kitty" Harvey Collection bequeathed to Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff.

• 1968

  Fred Harvey Company merges with AMFAC.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1978

  Fred Harvey "Indian" Collection donated to Heard Museum--mainly curated by Herman Schweizer.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1980

  El Tovar celebrates 75th Anniversary.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1985

  Bright Angel Lodge celebrates 50th Anniversary.

  
  

  

  View »

• 1987

  Santa Fe Trail declared a National Historic Trail.

• 1997

  Restoration begins on La Posada.

  
  

  

  View »

• 2002

  AMFAC changes name to Xanterra.

• 2007

  Xanterra acquires Grand Canyon Railway.