Miles City in Custer County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
The Olive Hotel
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
1. The Olive Hotel Marker
Inscription.
The Olive Hotel. . Since the 1880s, Miles City has been the trade, service, and social center for Eastern Montana ranchers. After its famed McQueen House burned down, town booster Joseph Leighton built the Leighton, 1898-1899, which became an area landmark. Within a few years his son Alvin took over and renamed it the Olive Hotel. When the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway arrived here in 1908, the thriving economy called for expansion of the Olive, including a three-story addition to the rear. Architect Brynjulf Rivenes designed the new façade, lobby, and the east addition. Now the Olive also housed a cafe, barber shop, cigar and curio stand, buffet, and sample rooms, where ranchers and commercial travelers met. Two fireproof, poured concrete garages built in 1908 and 1912 demonstrate the rising importance of the automobile. The Olive Hotel stands as a symbol of the effects of post- World War I depression on this region. When thousands of homesteaders lost their lands because of drought and falling grain prices, the Olive’s business declined noticeably by the mid-1920s.
Since the 1880s, Miles City has been the trade, service, and social center for Eastern Montana ranchers. After its famed McQueen House burned down, town booster Joseph Leighton built the Leighton, 1898-1899, which became an area landmark. Within a few years his son Alvin took over and renamed it the Olive Hotel. When the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway arrived here in 1908, the thriving economy called for expansion of the Olive, including a three-story addition to the rear. Architect Brynjulf Rivenes designed the new façade, lobby, and the east addition. Now the Olive also housed a cafe, barber shop, cigar and curio stand, buffet, and sample rooms, where ranchers and commercial travelers met. Two fireproof, poured concrete garages built in 1908 and 1912 demonstrate the rising importance of the automobile. The Olive Hotel stands as a symbol of the effects of post- World War I depression on this region. When thousands of homesteaders lost their lands because of drought and falling grain prices, the Olive’s business declined noticeably by the mid-1920s.
Location. 46° 24.356′ N, 105° 51.092′ W. Marker is in Miles City, Montana, in Custer County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and North 5th Street, on the left when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 Main Street, Miles City MT 59301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
2. The Olive Hotel and Marker
The marker is on the porch to the left of the entrance.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
3. The Olive Hotel
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 2, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
