A collection of glassware, Bibles, invitations, dinner menus and a switchboard are a few artifacts left from the time when the Sheldon-Munn was known as one of the finest hotels in the Midwest.

The Sheldon-Munn hotel opened in 1916 becoming the largest hotel in town. Today the Sheldon-Munn houses years of history and opportunity for success with new ownership. Caleb Matthews, an Ames business owner, purchased Sheldon-Munn in March.

The finest hotel in the Midwest

“It was a cornerstone building and the tallest building in Ames at the time, which was amazing,” said Alan Spohnheimer, from the Ames Historical Society. “The Sheldon-Munn signified that we were growing and developing west.”

The Sheldon-Munn stood four stories tall with four floors and 72 fine guest rooms. The hotel also included a ballroom, a dining room, a four-chair barbershop and a full kitchen with six full-time chefs. The $150,000 hotel attracted people from all over the Midwest, and it would often be booked months in advance. The popularity led to an expansion with the 1926 west wing. The project cost $85,000 and doubled the hotel’s occupancy, including new rooms and commercial spaces on the ground floor.

“The new hotel was to be the meeting place for town and college, for there was no Memorial Union then. The hotel was booked months ahead for social events, fraternity and sorority dances. Professional meetings of many kinds met there,” reads an exhibit on the Sheldon-Munn at the Ames Historical Society. 

From elegant hotel to efficient living

As times changed in the ’60s and ’70s, the Sheldon-Munn gradually lost its appeal and grandeur. In 1971, the North Grand Mall opened its doors and became a center for entertainment and shopping. Many famous stores left their Main Street locations and moved to the mall.

In 1976, the Sheldon-Munn began the transition from hotel rooms to low-income apartments, which was completed by 1982. Rooms ranged from $5 to $8 a night, depending on if the room had a bathroom.

The future of Sheldon-Munn

Matthews bought Sheldon-Munn from Eglin Investment LLC. He looks for buildings like Sheldon-Munn for new opportunities.

“I’ve had a building down here for six years and so you walk by every day and see the big building, and the city knows it’s not quite up to what it was in the past,” Matthews said.

As for the future of the historical Sheldon-Munn, Matthews said they are still in the beginning stages for plans.