The Murray Hotel

Last updated

The Murray Hotel
Murray lobby1.jpg
Lobby of the Murray Hotel
The Murray Hotel
General information
Location Livingston, Montana, United States
Address201 West Park Street, Livingston, Montana 59047
Coordinates 45°39′41″N110°33′44″W / 45.66139°N 110.56222°W / 45.66139; -110.56222
Opening1904
OwnerDan and Kathleen Kaul
Technical details
Floor count4
Other information
Number of rooms29
Number of restaurants1
Parking
The Murray Hotel
Added to NRHPSeptember 5, 1979
Website
http://murrayhotel.com/

The Murray Hotel, originally named the Elite Hotel, is a historic hotel in Livingston, Montana, United States. The original two story hotel was built at the corner of Park and Second St. in 1904 by Josephine Kline to accommodate passengers from the Northern Pacific Railway. [1] The Elite was one of thirteen hotels built in downtown Livingston between 1884 and 1914 to service railroad travelers. [2] Its construction was financed by the family of a future U.S. Senator from Montana, James E. Murray. The hotel's location opposite the Northern Pacific Railway's Livingston Depot made it a prime destination for railroad travelers. The hotel is located within the Livingston Commercial District, a registered National Historic District. [3]

Contents

Expansion, foreclosure and renaming

Street view of the Murray (to left) Murray Hotel exterior.jpg
Street view of the Murray (to left)

In the 1920s, the hotel expanded to four floors and 66 rooms. In the mid-1920s, the Murray family foreclosed on Josephine Kline, took over the operation of the hotel and renamed it The Murray. [1] Although Kline contested the foreclosure all the way to Washington D.C. as late as 1934, she failed to recover ownership from the Murrays. One of the unique aspects of the Murray was the installation of a 1905 hand-cranked Otis Elevator, at the time the only elevator in Livingston. [1]

Watering hole

Dogs are usually welcome at the Murray Bar Murray sign.jpg
Dogs are usually welcome at the Murray Bar

The Murray has always hosted a café or restaurant and a bar. The Murray Bar is well known for its celebrity visitors during filming of movies in the Paradise Valley. The 2nd Street Bistro, opened in 2004 and preceded in years prior by the Peterson and the Winchester Cafe, is the current hotel restaurant. [4] The Bistro was featured in Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 2009 episode on Montana where he dined with author Jim Harrison and artist Russell Chatham. [5]

Ownership

The Murray experienced a serious reduction in business during the 1960s, mostly due to the decline in rail travel and growth of the Interstate Highway System. [1] In 1978, local Montana ranchers Cliff and Pat Miller purchased the hotel from the Murray family and made modest renovations. The hotel was purchased by Dan and Kathleen Kaul, formerly from Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1991. They undertook major renovations and reduced the number of hotel suites to 29. In 2001 the Kauls changed the business model of the hotel allowing individual investors to own individual suites, much like a condominium. [6] Today, most of the hotel is available to the public, with 30 rooms and suites available. [7]

Notable visitors and events

The following notable individuals have lived or stayed at the Murray Hotel: [1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Cohen, Stan (2004). "The Murray Hotel". Montana's Grandest-Historic Hotels and Resorts of the Treasure State. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. pp. 77–80. ISBN   1-57510-111-4.
  2. "Livingston Montana Historic Walking Tour" (PDF). Livingston Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  3. "National Historic Districts-Park County, Montana". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  4. "About 2nd Street Bistro" . Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  5. "Bourdain set to dish about Montana". Billings Gazette. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  6. "Home Suite Home (Or Why Real Men Love the Murray". Bozeman Chronicle. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  7. The Murray Hotel: Rooms

Melcher, Joan (2009). Montana Watering Holes: The Big Sky's Best Bars. Guildford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. pp. 4–5. ISBN   978-0-7627-4948-5.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Livingston, Montana</span> City in Park County, Montana, United States

Livingston is a city and county seat of Park County, Montana, United States. It is in southwestern Montana, on the Yellowstone River, north of Yellowstone National Park. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 8,040.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algonquin Hotel</span> Hotel in Manhattan, New York

The Algonquin Hotel is a hotel at 59 West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States. The 181-room hotel, opened in 1902, was designed by architect Goldwin Starrett for the Puritan Realty Company. The hotel has hosted numerous literary and theatrical notables throughout its history, including members of the Algonquin Round Table club during the early 20th century. Its first owner-manager, Frank Case, established many of the hotel's traditions, including an official hotel cat as well as discounts for struggling authors. The hotel is a New York City designated landmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayflower Hotel</span> Hotel in Washington DC

The Mayflower Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., located on Connecticut Avenue NW. It is two blocks north of Farragut Square. The hotel is managed by the Autograph Collection Hotels division of Marriott International. The Mayflower is the largest luxury hotel in the District of Columbia, the longest continuously operating hotel in the Washington D.C. area, and a rival of the nearby Willard InterContinental and Hay-Adams Hotels. The Mayflower is known as the "Grande Dame of Washington", the "Hotel of Presidents", and as the city's "Second Best Address" —the latter sobriquet attributed to President Harry S. Truman. It was also a charter member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Today it is a four-star hotel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peabody Hotel</span> Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, United States

The Peabody Memphis is a historic luxury hotel in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, opened in 1925. The hotel is known for the "Peabody Ducks" that live on the hotel rooftop and make daily treks to the lobby. The Peabody is a member of Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Many Glacier Hotel</span> United States historic hotel in Glacier National Park

Many Glacier Hotel is a historic hotel located on the east shore of Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The building is designed as a series of chalets, up to four stories tall, and stretches for a substantial distance along the lakeshore. The building has a Swiss alpine theme both on the outside and on the inside. The foundation is made of stone, with a wood superstructure. The outside is finished with brown-painted wood siding, and the window framing and balconies have wood sawed in Swiss jigsawed patterns. On the inside, the four-story lobby is surrounded by balconies, whose railings are patterned after Swiss designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redmont Hotel</span> United States historic place

The Redmont Hotel Birmingham, or simply the Redmont Hotel, is a 14-story-tall, 120-room boutique hotel and conference center located on the corner of 5th Avenue North and 21st Street in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The Redmont, named after Birmingham's Red Mountain is the oldest hotel in Birmingham still in use. It is currently owned by Bayshore Company Tampa, Florida, is managed by Rhaglan Hospitality LLC, and operates as a historic boutique hotel under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kowloon Shangri-La</span> Hotel in Hong Kong

Kowloon Shangri-La is a five-star hotel of the Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts group. It is located on Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui East overlooking Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island skyline. It is the sister hotel to the Island Shangri-La in Admiralty district, Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlyle Hotel</span> Building in Manhattan, New York

The Carlyle Hotel, known formally as The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, is a combination luxury apartment hotel located at 35 East 76th Street on the northeast corner of Madison Avenue and East 76th Street, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1930, the hotel was designed by Dorothy Draper, in the Art Deco style and was named after Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle.

Courtyard by Marriott is an American brand of hotels owned by Marriott International. One of Marriott's mid-priced brands, the hotels are primarily targeted to business travelers, but also accommodate traveling families. Rooms have desks, couches, and free Internet access. The majority of locations have a bistro that sells fresh cooked and prepared breakfast, appetizers, sandwiches, and more. All have 24-hour "markets." Premium upgrades are also offered, such as Enhanced Internet upgrades and larger "suite-style" rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotel Métropole, Brussels</span> Hotel in Brussels, Belgium

The Hotel Métropole is a currently closed five-star luxury hotel in central Brussels, Belgium. It was built in 1872–1874 in an eclectic style with neo-Renaissance and Louis XVI influences. The hotel opened in 1895 and was the only 19th-century hotel still in operation in Brussels, until it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, after 125 years of continuous operation. The hotel had 251 rooms and 22 spacious suites. It was sold in 2022 and the new owners announced plans to restore it and reopen it in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin Hotels Chicago</span> Historic building and hotel

The Virgin Hotels Chicago is a historic building in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, that has been converted from use as an office building to use as a hotel run via a mobile app-based business model. The 250-room hotel is the first of Richard Branson's Virgin Hotels brand boutique hotels geared toward the female business traveller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila Hotel</span> Historical five-star hotel in the City of Manila

The Manila Hotel is a 550-room, historic five-star hotel located along Manila Bay in Manila, Philippines. The hotel is the oldest premiere hotel in the Philippines built in 1909 to rival Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the President of the Philippines and was opened on the commemoration of American Independence on July 4, 1912. The hotel complex was built on a reclaimed area of 35,000 square metres (380,000 sq ft) at the northwestern end of Rizal Park along Bonifacio Drive in Ermita. Its penthouse served as the residence of General Douglas MacArthur during his tenure as the Military Advisor of the Philippine Commonwealth from 1935 to 1941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Meurice</span> Luxury hotel in Paris

Le Meurice is a Brunei-owned five-star luxury hotel in the 1st arrondissement of Paris opposite the Tuileries Garden, between Place de la Concorde and the Musée du Louvre on the Rue de Rivoli. From the Rue de Rivoli, it stretches to the Rue du Mont Thabor. The hotel was opened in 1815. It received the "Palace" distinction from the French government in 2011. Le Meurice is owned and operated by the Dorchester Collection, a luxury hotel operator based in London. The hotel has a staff of over 400 and houses 160 rooms decorated in the Louis XVI style, which start at US$1,235 per night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hôtel Le Bristol Paris</span> Luxury hotel in Paris

Le Bristol Paris is a five-star hotel located at 112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, France. It opened in 1925 and is famous for its historic architecture. The hotel is part of the Oetker Collection, Masterpiece Hotels, which is owned by the Oetker family that was founded by Rudolf August Oetker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Hotel</span> Building in Victor, Colorado

The Victor Hotel is a historic hotel in the mining town of Victor, Colorado in the United States. The hotel is a four-story Victorian brick building built in 1899-1900 by the town's founders, the Woods brothers. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel</span> Hotel in Manhattan, New York

The InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel is a hotel at 111 East 48th Street, on Lexington Avenue between 48th and 49th Streets, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. The 14-story hotel, operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts, was designed by Cross and Cross in the Colonial style and contains 702 rooms. The Barclay was one of several large hotels developed around Grand Central Terminal as part of Terminal City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padre Hotel</span> Hotel in Bakersfield, California

The Padre Hotel is a historical landmark hotel located on the corner of 18th and H streets in Bakersfield, California. Originally constructed in 1928 as a luxury hotel and restaurant, the eight-story building went through an extensive renovation and reopened in 2010. The Padre Hotel features 112 rooms and suites, several meeting spaces, a restaurant, a bar, a cafe, a bistro, and an outdoor bar with a cabana and firepits. Guests of the hotel are required to be at least 21 years of age, unless accompanied by an adult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotel Jerome</span> Historic hotel in Aspen, Colorado

The Hotel Jerome is located on East Main Street in Aspen, Colorado, United States. It is a brick structure built in the 1880s that is often described as one of the city's major landmarks, its "crown jewel". In 1986 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is operated by Auberge Resorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown</span> Building in D.C., U.S.

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C., is a luxury hotel located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is near The Kennedy Center and the Georgetown waterfront. It is an AAA 5-star luxury hotel, and has 86 rooms, 27 premier suites, and five luxury suites. All rooms and suites have a view of the Potomac River and historic Georgetown. It contains a 140 feet (43 m) smokestack coming from the lobby fireplace. It is a small hotel and is known to be good for privacy. The hotel contains a restaurant, bar, and a fitness center with a newly refreshed spa after a $1.5 million renovation in 2016. The rooms are on average 450 square feet (42 m2) in size and is located in a historic industrial building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Wailea Resort</span> Luxury resort in Hawaii

The Grand Wailea Resort & Spa is a 40-acre Waldorf Astoria luxury resort located on the beach in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. The hotel opened in 1991 as the Grand Hyatt Wailea. The Grand Wailea is owned by BRE Hotels & Resorts and is the largest private employer on the island of Maui.