Oxford Hotel (Denver, Colorado)

The Oxford Hotel
Location 1612 17th St., Denver, Colorado
Coordinates 39°45′7″N 104°59′55″W / 39.75194°N 104.99861°W / 39.75194; -104.99861Coordinates: 39°45′7″N 104°59′55″W / 39.75194°N 104.99861°W / 39.75194; -104.99861
Area 0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built 1891
Architect Multiple
NRHP Reference # 79000590[1]
CSRHP # 5DV.47.62
Added to NRHP April 17, 1979

The Oxford Hotel[2] is a historic building in Denver, Colorado was designed by early Denver architect Frank Edbrooke,[3] and built in 1891. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[1] The Cruise Room is a hotel bar with historic art deco interior, that was operated as an illicit speakeasy.

History

The Oxford Hotel was built in 1891.[2]

In the 1950s, the Oxford Hotel was considered a flophouse. In the 1980s a new owner improved the hotel.[4]

The hotel restaurant is has been operated by McCormick's Fish House since they signed a lease with the Oxford Hotel in 1987. McCormick's renovated its interior significantly. Landry's acquired McCormick's in 2011.[5]

The Cruise Room

The Cruise Room is a bar located within the Oxford Hotel, considered a historic, upscale cocktail lounge, and known for its preserved Art Deco interior. It officially opened the day after prohibition ended.[4] The bar is a single, windowless room, on the ground floor of The Oxford Hotel, located between the Corner Bar at McCormick's Fish House and the hotel lobby.[6]

History

The bar opened as part of the Oxford Hotel in 1891, and was known for its martinis, though not originally named the Cruise Room.[4]

During prohibition, The Cruise Room operated as an illicit speakeasy. Employees know of secret paneling and underground tunnels.[7]

After prohibition, The Cruise Room was officially opened (with its full interior and full bar) the day after Prohibition ended.[4] As an extension of the hotel and its restaurant, this bar has operated continually since its official opening.[4]

The Cruise Room has remained an independent establishment, managed in a partnership between the operator of the restaurant (now McCormick's, owned by Landry's) and the Oxford Hotel.[5]

In 2012, the Cruise Room was restored, including historically accurate paint and light-pumpkin color. The marble floor was also replaced.[5] This restoration was initiated by owner/developer Dana Crawford, who became a partner in the Oxford Hotel in 1980.[5]

The drinks menu was also updated, emphasizing "mixology", and includes drinks like "Pineapple Julep", "Whiskey Clover Smash", and "Pomegranate Sling".[8] The bar also offers more than a dozen martinis, served from over-sized martini shakers.[7]

Wait staff wear flapper girl attire.[9]

Interior design

The interior was modeled after a lounge on the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary. The design was by architect Charles Jaka,[10] and featured Art Deco bas-relief wall panels stretch from floor to ceiling, created by Denver artist Alley Henson. Each panel depicts a "toast" from a different culture around the world.[11] The interior has an unusual color juxtaposition, with red lighting shining down on chrome trim and historically accurate light-pumpkin-colored walls.[4][5] The entire room is subtly shaped like a wine bottle.[7]

One of the wall panel depicts Germans toasting, and features Hitler. This panel was taken down during World War II, and was replaced by one depicting Ireland.[5]

Awards

See also

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 Official website
  3. ↑ "Directory of Railroad Properties in the Colorado State REgister of Historic Properties, Fourth Edition" (PDF). History Colorado. Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Flynn, Katherine (August 14, 2014). "[Historic Bars] The Cruise Room in Denver". PreservationNation Blog. The National Trust for Historic Preservation. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Calhoun, Patricia (October 17, 2012). "Cruise Room Gets a Facelift -- but the History Remains". www.Westword.com. Westword Magazine. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "The Cruise Room". The Oxford Hotel. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Cruise Room Bar, 10Best Says". 10Best. USA Today. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ http://www.theoxfordhotel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Cruise-Mixology-List.pdf
  9. ↑ Green, Conner (November 12, 2015). "The 7 Oldest Bars in Denver". Thrillist.com. Thrillist Media Group. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  10. ↑ Noel, Thomas Jacob; Norgren, Barbara S. (1987). Denver, the city beautiful and its architects, 1893-1941. Denver, CO: Historic Denver, Inc. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-914248-04-0.
  11. ↑ "Cruise Room". Denver.org. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
Oxford Hotel, 1921
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