Elms Hotel, building in Excelsior Springs, Missouri
The Elms Hotel is a lodging establishment in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, built in 1912 and designed with Tudor Revival and Gothic Revival architecture. The five-story stone building features private baths and was rebuilt after two fires destroyed earlier structures on the same site.
The first Elms Hotel opened in 1888 but burned down in less than a decade and was rebuilt in 1909. The current stone building was constructed in 1912 to be fireproof after a second fire destroyed the previous structure in 1910.
The hotel takes its name from a tree species and served as the social hub of the town in the early 1900s. Visitors can still observe how the architecture and spaces reflect the expectations of wealthy guests who came for the mineral springs.
The hotel sits in the center of Excelsior Springs, close to the town's famous mineral springs and water hall. Visitors can explore the building and appreciate its historic architecture while enjoying modern conveniences such as a spa, pool, and dining options.
According to local stories, notorious gangsters like Al Capone and "Pretty Boy" Floyd visited the hotel in the 1920s for secret meetings. President Harry S. Truman stayed overnight in 1948 without public notice and learned of his election victory while at the hotel.
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