Florence Hotel - Missoula, MT
Posted by: T0SHEA
N 46° 52.221 W 113° 59.724
12T E 271729 N 5195113
This Art Moderne Hotel opened in 1941 and was the third attempt at building a Florence Hotel on this site. The first two, built in 1881 and 1913, burned in 1913 and 1936, respectively. This Florence Hotel has, to date, escaped a similar fate.
Waymark Code: WMKNRA
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 05/07/2014
Views: 2
The original Florence Hotel, built on this site in 1888, offered weary railway travelers and settlers a comfortable night’s lodging. When it burned in 1913, the Florence was rebuilt as a major 106-room hostelry and was a longtime regional gathering place until it, too, was destroyed by fire in 1936. Missoula’s lack of a major hotel had serious implications, and even though the nation was then in the midst of the Depression, Walter H. McLeod and other influential businessmen secured community support to rebuild.
When the elegant new Florence Hotel opened in 1941, Missoulians were especially proud that 67 percent ownership belonged to community shareholders. Spokane architect G. A. Pehrson masterfully designed the $600,000 “jewel of a hotel” in the new Art Moderne style, characterized by its rounded corners and horizontal emphasis. Terra cotta and glass blocks accent the shiny-smooth concrete and metal surfaces. The splendid 140-room hotel boasted the Northwest’s first central air conditioning system, novel glass shower doors, and first-class interior appointments in a “harmony of color.” One of only two local examples of the style, the third generation Florence reflects the town’s steadfast regional importance into the twentieth century, the growth of tourism, and the civic pride that prompted its construction.
From the NRHP Plaque
Street address: 111 North Higgins Missoula, MT USA 59802
County / Borough / Parish: Missoula County
Year listed: 1992
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Commerce, Architecture
Periods of significance: 1925-1949
Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic - Business, Restaurant, Specialty Store
Current function: Commerce/Trade - Hotel, Restaurant, Specialty Store
Privately owned?: yes
Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2014 To: 12/31/2014
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions: Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
Recent Visits/Logs:
There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|