Prescott in Yavapai County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Hotel St. Michael
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 6, 2010
1. Hotel St. Michael Marker
Inscription.
Hotel St. Michael. . The cornerstone of historic "Whiskey Row", the Hotel St. Michael, represents the coming of age of Prescott's hostelries. Constructed on the site of the modest Hotel Burke, which burned in 1900, the new three-story hotel was designed by D. W. Millard in the Second Renaissance Revival style. Built of brick and stone, it is decorated with stone faces or "gargoyles", which allegedly represent crude images of local politicians. Opened June 1, 1901, the hotel offered "gracious accommodations" and the most advanced amenities of the era. Significantly, the hotel has hosted many distinguished visitors, including President Theodore Roosevelt, John L. Sullivan, Jake Kilrain, Tom Mix, Zane Grey, Senator Barry Goldwater. The Hotel St. Michael is an excellent example of early twentieth century western style accommodations in Prescott and today presents a reminder of Prescott's colorful historic past.
The cornerstone of historic "Whiskey Row", the Hotel St. Michael, represents the coming of age of Prescott's hostelries. Constructed on the site of the modest Hotel Burke, which burned in 1900, the new three-story hotel was designed by D. W. Millard in the Second Renaissance Revival style. Built of brick and stone, it is decorated with stone faces or "gargoyles", which allegedly represent crude images of local politicians. Opened June 1, 1901, the hotel offered "gracious accommodations" and the most advanced amenities of the era. Significantly, the hotel has hosted many distinguished visitors, including President Theodore Roosevelt, John L. Sullivan, Jake Kilrain, Tom Mix, Zane Grey, Senator Barry Goldwater. The Hotel St. Michael is an excellent example of early twentieth century western style accommodations in Prescott and today presents a reminder of Prescott's colorful historic past.
Erected by The Historic Preservation Fund and the City of Prescott.
W. Marker is in Prescott, Arizona, in Yavapai County. Marker is on South Montezuma Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on mounted on wall next to doorway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 106A South Montezuma Street, Prescott AZ 86303, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Additional commentary. 1. Inscription is inaccurate as to Theodore Roosevelt President Theodore Roosevelt never slept here! He visited Arizona three times. Two of those trips he remained in northern Arizona and never reached Prescott. In 1911 he visited for the dedication of the dam bearing his name in central Arizona. He rode the train through Prescott the night before the dam dedication but there is no mention
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 6, 2010
2. Hotel St. Michael Marker
of his presence in Prescott in contemporary newspapers. There is a 1911 newspaper item where Roosevelt declined to change his schedule so he could visit Prescott before his arrival at the dam dedication. This report cited an invitation by Prescott officials and Roosevelt provided RSVP regrets. The St. Michael hotel staff has no documentation of a visit as a registered guest and local archives cannot provide any evidence of his alleged hotel stay. I interviewed the city's current and former historical preservation staff members and neither could provide documentation or any other information to document the alleged stay of Roosevelt at the hotel. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted February 24, 2020, by Michael Kelly of Lawrence, Kansas.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 6, 2010
3. Hotel St. Michael
Marker is on wall behind red car.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 6, 2010
4. Hotel St. Michael
West Gurley Street entrance.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,531 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 14, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
