Bozeman in Gallatin County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Bozeman Hotel Annex

Bozeman Main Street Historical District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 25, 2021

1. Bozeman Hotel Annex and Marker

Inscription. When Montana achieved statehood in 1889, Bozeman was more cowtown than cosmopolitan as it vied with other towns to become the state capital. Architect George Hancock of Fargo, North Dakota, put form to Bozeman’s aspirations by designing several elegant buildings to grace the unpaved, muddy streets. These included the Hotel Bozeman and its two-story annex, completed in 1890. Three real estate firms were the original annex tenants, but by 1900 the Chronicle Publishing Company occupied one of the storefront bays. The firm eventually took over the entire ground floor where, from the turn of the century until 1977, daily issues of the Bozeman Chronicle were published. Architectural motifs and ornamentation visually unify the separate annex and hotel. Rectangular storefront windows with stone lintels and sills mimic the hotel’s second- and third-story windows. The second floor of the annex features rounded windows with linked hood moldings like those on the hotel’s fourth floor. Although the annex storefronts have been redesigned, two original stained glass transoms remain intact.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 45° 40.768′ N, 111° 1.953′ W. Marker is in Bozeman, Montana, in Gallatin County. It is on East Main Street (Old U.S. 10) (Business Interstate 90) near North Rouse Avenue (State Highway 86), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 307-315 East Main Street, Bozeman MT 59715, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Montana’s Yellowstone Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Early Bozeman (a few steps from this marker); Bozeman Comes of Age

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(a few steps from this marker); Electric Block (within shouting distance of this marker); 226-232 East Main (within shouting distance of this marker); Gallatin Lodge No. 6 A.F. & A.M (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bozeman Carnegie Library (about 600 feet away); 219 East Olive Street (about 800 feet away); 213 East Olive (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bozeman.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 25 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on February 13, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.