Steve Martin Speech Transcript

Speaker: Steve Martin, Intermountain Regional Director for the National Park Service

Suzanne Lewis (Yellowstone National Park Superintendent: Congresswoman Cubin's description of the Old Faithful Inn as an innovative and spectacular historic building reminds us that we are forever indebted to the visionaries who made this remarkable structure a reality. I've asked this morning for Steve Martin, the Intermountain Regional Director for the National Park Service, to help us celebrate the work of Robert Reamer who not only designed the Old Faithful Inn, but left his distinctive mark on buildings throughout this park. Many of you in this audience are no stranger to Steve as he served for many years here in Yellowstone as a ranger right here at Old Faithful. That was long before he went on to several other important assignments, including serving as the superintendent of Denali and Grand Tetons National Parks, and the Gates of the Arctic national park and Preserve. Ladies and gentleman, please join me in giving a warm welcome to Mr. Steve Martin.

[Applause]

Steve Martin: It's really, truly a pleasure to be here. It's some that this place represents so much to me and our family. Our twins celebrated their first birthday in this building. It's just great to be back, looking at all the new facers and all the old faces, and people I remember, but I just want to take a minute. Suzanne, over the last couple of days, has been so gracious in recognizing everyone in the crowd, and everything that has been going on, and I just want to take a minute to thank Suzanne for all of the incredible work that she has done in leading the park over the last couple of years.

[Applause]

And we have Bob Barbie who is here, who was superintendent, and I am sure he would echo it. It certainly takes the staff and dedication of the people in concessions, our staff in the park service, the communities, all the friends, but it takes a great leader and I think Suzanne has really stepped up to that task. She's completely dedicated to the visitors and the resources of the park, and I just want to take a minute on this great occasion to recognize her for some of the work that she's been doing.

[Applause]

Suzanne Lewis: Now can I go sit down? (laughs)

Steve Martin: It's really a pleasure in being here, and this building means so much I think it symbolizes so much that I think you can go all over the country and people remember this-they've worked here, literally tens of thousands of people have been touched by this building. And a lot has gone into it, maintaining it and keeping it up. One of things it says here is Steve may wish to personalize something here, and I'll just give one quick story. [Laughter] And that's it, because if I get started it's never going to stop.

A lot has gone into maintaining this building over the years. It's really been an incredible undertaking. Hats off to the service that's gone into that. I'll still remember the look on Steve face, who was the general manager here at that time when he heard that the new renovation in the east wing, the visitors really loved it. And patrons in the bar loved it because those new opaque windows in the showers were not quite as opaque as we thought they were (laughs) and the people in Room 227 were taking a shower. [Laughter] So, it's one of those where I think these places tie us in to our roots. It's great to look at history, and I think that the times and the memories that our national parks give us are phenomenal. But the Old Faithful Inn stands as a great symbol of a long tradition in Yellowstone, and that tradition of hospitality of welcoming visitors, of teaching people the respect for the land, and I think that rejuvenation that parks give us. I'd like to ask Mr. Harry Child Jr. and Yellowstone's Deputy Superintendent Frank Walker, who are here, to help unveil a panel that is dedicated to the brilliant architect of the Old Faithful Inn, Robert Chambers Reamer.

The Old Faithful Inn is the foremost monument to Reamer's creative gifts, but few people realize how much that influence of a single young architect made the huge difference in architecture and I think a whole era of construction built the environment within the national parks. It was a vision in style that is reflected, as Suzanne said earlier, throughout the national parks. We are especially pleased to have Mr. Harry Child with us today because he provides a direct link with the creation of this building. A century ago it was Mr. Child's grandfather the president of Yellowstone Park Association who recognized the talents of this young architect and allowed him to carry out a vision in this incredible national park. It was Frank Walker, a great interpreter and educator and manager in his own right, with a long career that spans just a little bit of that time that the Inn has been here (laughter). He came up with the idea that we need to remind people as time goes by and we take it for granted that this is an incredibly undertaking and I think that it is something that deserves recognition, but also to thank Jo Suderman and Linda Young for putting the panel together.

[Applause]

When people come to parks, I think that in no time in our history have parks been more important as places of understanding our culture, our history, the hundreds of parks we have across the nation, and to have the dedication and the great staff and the work that goes on here in Yellowstone is the leader in that. It's really phenomenal and it's a great honor to be here today.