Townsend Hotel (Casper, Wyoming) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Townsend Hotel
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Front facade, 2014
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | 115 N. Center St., Casper, Wyoming |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923, expanded in 2008-2009 |
| Architect | Garbutt, Weidner & Sweeney |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004303 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1983 |
The Townsend Hotel is a very old and important building in Casper, Wyoming. It used to be a fancy hotel, but now it's called the Townsend Justice Center and is used by the government. It was updated and made bigger between 2008 and 2009.
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What Does the Townsend Hotel Look Like?
The Townsend Hotel is a tall, five-story building made of brick. It stands right in the middle of downtown Casper, Wyoming. The first floor is shaped like a square. The floors above it are shaped like the letter "E". This special shape meant that all 135 hotel rooms had outside walls and windows.
The front of the building is made from special grey stone, mixed red and burgundy bricks, and some plaster. The sides and back show the strong concrete frame. Red bricks fill in these spaces. The bricks were later colored to match the front of the building. The old windows were replaced with newer, single-pane ones.
The Townsend Hotel's Story
The hotel was built in 1923 by Charles H. Townsend. He was an important person in Casper who helped settle the area and started many businesses. The building was designed by architects named Garbutt, Weidner & Sweeney. The Townsend Hotel was one of three big, fancy hotels built in downtown Casper. It is the only one still standing today. The other two were the Henning Hotel and the Gladstone Hotel.
A Busy Hub for Casper
The Townsend Hotel was a very important place for social and political life in early Casper. Many local groups, like the Casper Rotary Club, met there. During World War II, the hotel was used by the USO. This group provided support and entertainment for U.S. troops. Military officers also stayed at the hotel.
From Hotel to Justice Center
By the 1970s, the hotel started to get old and worn out. It finally closed its doors in 1982. Because it was so important to history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This list helps protect important buildings.
Over the years, the building was bought and sold a few times. In 2002, a company called Townsend Properties LLC bought it. They cleaned out the inside and removed all harmful materials, like asbestos, in 2006.
In 2007, the government of Natrona County bought the building. They spent 2008 and 2009 making it new again. They also added a large new section to the north side. This new part used bricks that matched the old hotel. In late 2009, the building opened as the Townsend Justice Center. It now holds important court offices. These include the district court and the county court clerk. The Natrona County Circuit Court also moved there.
Some parts of the old hotel are still there. The beautiful marble staircase in the lobby remains. Some of the hotel's old marble was even used again in the new building. You can also still see an old "ghost sign" on the back of the building. This faded sign used to advertise the hotel.
