Hotel Becker

Hardin was founded by the Lincoln Land Company in 1906, which began to sell lots beginning on May 30th, 1907. One of the first settlers to the new community was Anton Becker, who arrived from Billings and bought the lot on which the building now stands (and three other properties). He constructed a two-story building in in 1908 called the Montana Saloon. He, his wife and six children lived on the second floor. In 1917, Becker decided to expand the building to the size it is today and transform the business into a hotel.

When it opened, the hotel boasted a 38 guest rooms (one of which was a large suite), a lobby on each floor, a bar, dining room, parlor, and a kitchen. Unfortunately, Becker died in 1920 but the family continued to operate the hotel. The dining room was enlarged in 1921 to accommodate 150 people. Later in 1937, the first cocktail lounge in Hardin opened. The family owned the hotel until 1950. It is unclear what happened in the following decades but it appears that the building became a hotel named the Hotel Becker Bed and Breakfast in 1997. The first floor lobby, seven rooms on the second floor, and a meeting room were renovated. When the hotel closed is not readily apparent.

"Commercial District." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. August 14, 1985. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/85001845_text.

"Hotel Becker Bed and Breakfast." TravelMT.com. Accessed July 20, 2020. http://www.travelmt.com/mt_sites_11018_Hotel+Becker+Bed+and+Breakfast.html.

The Montana National Register Sign Program. “Hotel Becker.” Montana Historical Society - Digital Vault Accessed July 20, 2020, http://digitalvault.mhs.mt.gov/items/show/20515.

Shay, Becky. "Hardin celebrates 100 years of history." Billings Gazette. June 29, 2007. https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/hardin-celebrates-100-years-of-history/article_5f7def6f-2729-539a-bedd-9864ad3b2ad4.html.