Baxter Hotel

Introduction

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Baxter Hotel was built in 1929 and has remained an important Bozeman landmark ever since. It gets its name from wealthy county rancher Robert Baxter, who provided most of the funding for the building. Prominent Montana architect Fred F. Willson designed it in the Art Deco style. Notable features include a light-buff colored brick exterior, terra-cotta trimmed arched windows over the main entrance doors, and six windows on the top floor with iron balconies and terra cotta arches forming an arcade. A large neon light "Hotel Baxter" sign is located on the roof. The Baxter no longer operates as a hotel but is now a residential building and a wedding and event venue. It also home to three restaurants including the Bacchus Pub, which has been here since 1929 (it was originally called the Baxter Coffee House).

Images

The Baxter Hotel was built in 1929. It is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The idea for the hotel originated from a group of prominent businessmen and professionals who formed an organization called The Bozeman Community Hotel, Inc. They sold stock to the public, hoping to raise $200,000 for the project. Robert Baxter gave $50,000 (he and his family lived on the top floor of the hotel for a number of years). In addition to operating as a hotel, the Baxter was an important social gathering place for the community. It also was able to survive the Great Depression, maintaining high occupancy levels. The Baxter was converted into a condominium in the early 1980s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The current owners acquired it in 2004.

Sources

DeHaas, John N. "Hotel Baxter." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. April 19, 1984. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/64559c7c-ca1f-4d74-869b-204c405c9657.

"History." The Baxter. Accessed July 2, 2020. http://www.thebaxterhotel.com/history.

Ricker, Amanda. "Baxter celebrating 80th birthday." Bozeman Chronicle. June 4, 2009. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_39095a5c-6901-59d8-98ed-455e274d5f6e.html.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hotel_Baxter

Additional Information

The Baxter Hotel