The Rainbow Inn was originally Gleason’s Tavern, located on Highway 5 (Central Ave.) in New Brighton.  The first glimpse in the papers is May 1, 1931.

There was at least initially a Rainbow Inn Orchestra, which was broadcast over WDGY radio.

After ten years, the Rainbow was in trouble when the U.S. government chose New Brighton for the site of a small arms ammunition ordnance plant, and the Inn was within the borders of the 2,400 acre tract.  Every resident of the area was ordered to move, although one family with a newborn was given special dispensation.  The Federal Government took possession of the land on August 4, 1941 at a cost of $30 million

The owners of the Rainbow Inn had tried to sell the April before this happened, revealing in their ad that it was at the intersection of State Highways 8 and 10, 1 1/2 miles north of New Brighton.  The building included living quarters.

Interestingly, the Rainbow and another tavern, the Hillside, were converted into temporary headquarters for the construction – the Rainbow was the administration office, and the Hillside was the field auditing headquarters.

About 200 men came for jobs on the first day, but the facility was not ready for them.  Construction began with about 60 men on August 16, 1941.  Eventually it was expected that 9,200 people would be employed by the plant.

Personnel moved out of the Rainbow on September 23, 1941.  From there the building was probably demolished.