Astor House (Golden, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Astor House Hotel
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 822 12th St, Golden, Colorado |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architectural style | Georgian (modified) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000478 |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1973 |
The Astor House, located at 822 12th Street in Golden, Colorado, is a historic stone hotel. It was built in 1867, making it one of the oldest buildings from Golden's early days. This building has also been called the Astor House Hotel, the Lake House, and Castle Rock House. Today, it is known as the Astor House Hotel Museum.
The Astor House is connected to important people who helped settle the area. It also played a big part in saving old buildings in the region. Now, it is a museum that used to be open to the public. The Astor House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is a two-story building made from sandstone that was cut by hand.
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The Astor House Story
The Astor House was first built in 1867 by Seth Lake. He was a hotel owner who came to the Golden area in the early 1860s. This new hotel was a big improvement from his first one, called the Lake House. The stone for the Astor House came from a quarry owned by Charles R. Foreman & Co. This quarry was at the far west end of 12th Street, the same street where the hotel stands.
A Popular Place to Stay
The Astor House became the best hotel in Golden. Many different people stayed there, from miners to important lawmakers. These lawmakers were part of the Territorial Legislature, and they met nearby in the Territorial Capitol building. Over time, the hotel slowly changed from a fancy hotel to a boarding house. It also had four fires, but each time it was repaired to look like it does today.
Saving the Astor House
In 1971, a group called the Golden Downtown Improvement District bought the Astor House. They planned to tear it down to make a parking lot. Many other old buildings in Golden had already been destroyed for similar reasons.
A Community Effort
However, City Councilor Ruben Hartmeister spoke up. He wondered if such a historic place should be saved instead. At first, not many people listened to him. But his concern helped start Golden's modern movement to save historic buildings. Citizens quickly joined together to help the Astor House. They formed a group called the Golden Landmarks Association to try and save it.
A Vote to Preserve History
On June 13, 1972, the people of Golden voted on whether to save the Astor House. A large majority, 69% of voters, said yes! After this important vote, the building became the Astor House Hotel Museum. This museum showed what life was like in the hotel in the early 1900s. While it is no longer open to the public as a historic house museum, its story of preservation remains important.
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