Born in London on June 27, 1835, Frederick H. Harvey immigrated to the United States in 1850. Initially, he found jobs in restaurants in New York and later in New Orleans. In 1855 he moved to St. Louis where he married Barbara Sarah Mattas. He and a partner opened a restaurant which later folded during the Civil War. Fred and Barbara moved to St. Joseph, Missouri where he worked for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. In 1865 they moved to Leavenworth, Kansas. The H&SJ became the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad, and Harvey became a ticket agent, then general western freight agent. Traveling in performance of his work, he recognized the deplorable lack of decent meals and lodging for railroad travelers. In 1876 he persuaded the manager of the new Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe (AT&SF) Railroad that he could provide quality food in pleasant restaurants inside railroad stations.

The first Harvey House Restaurant opened in the Topeka Santa Fe Depot Station in 1876. It was an immediate success, which led to other Harvey House Restaurants, and later Harvey House Hotels along the entire Santa Fe route. When dining cars were added, "Meals by Fred Harvey" were featured on the Santa Fe railroad. Mr. Harvey insisted "Maintenance of standards, regardless of cost". This meant that the food must be first rate, served promptly, in fashionable surroundings, at a reasonable cost. Young women were recruited to become "Harvey Girls", efficient poised waitresses. When he died in 1901, there were 47 Harvey House restaurants, 15 hotels, and 30 dining cars on the AT&SF Railroad.

About the Residence

The three story, 12 room, rim rock building was constructed in 1869 for Mr. A.A. Higginbotham, a wealthy real estate broker. Fred Harvey paid nearly $25,000 in 1883 to purchased the mansion for his family. The Harveys filled their home with the finest furniture, art objects, and comforts of the era. The family remained in the residence until 1944 when they donated it to nearby Cushing Hospital to become a dormatory for nurse candidates. In 1949 the building was turned over to the Leavenworth Board of Education. During two years of remodeling, the building was converted into meeting rooms and offices. In 1984 the Board of County Commissioners received the property and used it for various county services. In 1997, the structure was deeded to the Leavenworth Historical Museum Association, Inc but actual change of possession did not occur until 2001.