The Ahwahnee Hotel (formerly The Majestic Yosemite Hotel) page 6

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At the far end of the Great Lounge three large doorways open into the Stairway Lounge, which could be, and often is, considered part of the Great Lounge. A massive fireplace in the Stairway Lounge mirrors the one at the other end of the Great Lounge. There are two smaller lounges that protrude from the side of the building on either side of the Stairway Lounge.

On the west side of the Stairway Lounge is the Mural Room, (originally called the Writing Room) which features a hammered copper corner fireplace that looks something like a dunce hat. A large mural by artist Robert Boardman Howard fills the top half of the entire length of one wall. The mural depicts various animals and flowers of the Yosemite Valley. Dark wood paneling makes this room feel dark and formal even though there are large windows.

The fireplace in the Mural Room.

On the opposite side of the building from the Mural Room is another lounge, called the Winter Club Room. The white walls of this room make it just the opposite of the Mural Room, bright and cheery. It also has a corner fireplace, but it is a simple design. This lounge features photos and memorabilia of various historic winter activities in the park, along with some antique skis and snowshoes mounted on the wall. There are some great photos of long-gone winter features of Yosemite, like the Curry Village Toboggan run and the tow sleds used prior to installation of the ski lifts.

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