Oxford Hotel (Denver, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Oxford Hotel
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1612 17th St., Denver, Colorado |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000590 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1979 |
The Oxford Hotel is a very old and special building in Denver, Colorado. It was designed by a famous architect named Frank E. Edbrooke and finished in 1891. This hotel is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Inside the hotel, there's a cool bar called The Cruise Room. It has a unique old-fashioned style called Art Deco.
Hotel History
The Oxford Hotel first opened its doors in 1891. It has been a part of Denver's history for a long time.
In 1908, a famous labor leader named Bill Haywood stayed at the hotel. He and two other leaders were held there secretly by the Denver police. This was done to keep their supporters from stopping them. They were taken to Idaho the next morning for a trial.
By the 1950s, the hotel was not doing very well. But in the 1980s, a new owner bought it. They worked hard to make the hotel much better.
The hotel's restaurant has changed over the years. From 1987 to 2016, McCormick's Fish House was there. Today, a restaurant called Urban Farmer Steakhouse serves guests at The Oxford Hotel.
The Cruise Room
The Cruise Room is a special bar inside the Oxford Hotel. It is known as a fancy place to get drinks. People love its well-kept Art Deco style. This bar officially opened the day after a time called Prohibition ended. During Prohibition, it was against the law to sell alcohol.
The Cruise Room is a single room with no windows. It is on the ground floor of The Oxford Hotel. You can find it between the hotel lobby and the restaurant.
Bar History
The bar first opened with the Oxford Hotel in 1891. It was famous for its martinis even then. However, it was not called the Cruise Room at first.
During the time of Prohibition, The Cruise Room was a secret place. It operated as a hidden bar where people could get drinks. Some employees even know about secret panels and tunnels.
The Cruise Room fully opened with its special interior and full bar right after Prohibition ended. Since then, this bar has been open continuously. It is still a part of the hotel and its restaurant.
The Cruise Room works closely with the hotel and the restaurant. In 2012, the bar was made new again. Workers used paint colors that were just like the original ones. The marble floor was also replaced. This work was started by Dana Crawford, who became a partner in the hotel in 1980.
The drink menu was also updated. It now includes modern "mixology" drinks. These are creative drinks like "Pineapple Julep" and "Whiskey Clover Smash." The bar also serves many kinds of martinis. The wait staff at the bar wear outfits like "flapper girls" from the 1920s.
Interior Design
The inside of The Cruise Room looks like a lounge on an old ocean liner. It was designed by an architect named Charles Jaka. The walls have special bas-relief panels. These panels go from the floor to the ceiling. They were made by artist Alley Henson. Each panel shows a "toast" from a different country around the world.
The room has interesting colors. Red lights shine on shiny chrome parts. The walls are a light pumpkin color, just like they were long ago. The whole room is subtly shaped like a wine bottle.
One of the wall panels used to show Germans toasting. This panel was taken down during World War II. It was replaced with a panel showing Ireland.
Images for kids
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The Oxford Hotel in 1921
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