Murphys Hotel facts for kids
| Murphys Hotel | |
Quick facts for kids  Murphys Hotel |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
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| Location | 457 Main St Murphys, California United States |
| Coordinates | 38°08′15″N 120°28′02″W / 38.1374446°N 120.4671844°W |
| Opening date | August 20, 1856 |
| No. of floors | 2 |
The Murphys Hotel in Murphys, California, is one of the oldest hotels still operating in California. It has a long and exciting history, welcoming many famous guests over the years. This historic hotel is a special part of California's past.
Welcome to the Murphys Hotel
The Murphys Hotel first opened its doors on August 20, 1856. It was originally called the Sperry and Perry Hotel. James L. Sperry and John Perry were the first owners. The town of Murphys was a very popular stop. It was on the main stagecoach route. Travelers would stop here on their way from Milton to the amazing Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
A Historic Beginning
The hotel was built with stone and had strong iron shutters. People thought it was fireproof because of this. However, a big fire in 1859 damaged most of the downtown area. The hotel was hurt too. But it was quickly fixed up! By the spring of 1860, the hotel was open again.
The new Sperry and Perry Hotel was considered one of the best hotels. Many people said it was the finest outside of San Francisco. It became a popular place for many famous people to stay.
Famous Visitors
The hotel's old guest books show many well-known signatures. Imagine seeing the names of these important people:
- Mark Twain, a famous writer
- John Jacob Astor, a very rich businessman
- Ulysses S. Grant, who later became a U.S. President
- John Bidwell, a pioneer and politician
- Charles Bolles, also known as Black Bart, a famous outlaw
- Henry Ward Beecher, a well-known speaker
- Horatio Alger, a popular author
- J. P. Morgan, a powerful banker
- Thomas Lipton, who started a famous tea company
A Landmark Hotel
The hotel's name changed a few times over the years. In 1882, it was renamed the Mitchler Hotel. Then, in 1945, the McKimins family changed its name to the Murphys Hotel. It has had several owners since then.
The Murphys Hotel is a very important historical site. It is registered as California Historical Landmark #267. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history.
On TV!
The Murphys Hotel has even been on television!
- It was featured in an episode of Gordon Ramsay's show, Hotel Hell. This episode aired on September 9, 2014, on the Fox network.
- The hotel also appeared in the public television series Road Trip with Huell Howser. It was part of an episode about the Mother Lode region.
