Hotel de Paris Museum, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, opened its tour season on Saturday, May 28. Visitor access to an outstanding collection of over 5,000 objects original to the site has been improved through newly developed visible storage located in the hotel’s 1878 commercial kitchen. Hand-painted French tableware, common kitchen tools, and pressed glassware, once stored away and hidden from public view, now help convey the dramatic tale of hotel proprietor Louis Dupuy’s rise from humble and hard-working labor camp cook to celebrated chef and renowned restaurateur.
“When the unpacked furnishings are seen by the public, they discover why Hotel de Paris has been described as the most complete historic parcel in Colorado,” says the museum’s executive director Kevin Kuharic. “Famous the wide world over,” Hotel de Paris began in 1875 and is older than the State of Colorado itself.
A rich and storied past included visits from no-table guests, however, after the Silver Panic of 1893, Hotel began a steady decline. In 1954, it was purchased and opened as a museum. Restored period rooms showcase the site’s original furnishings, which are faithfully arranged, providing a fascinating window into the lives of the hotel’s proprietors, workers, builders, and guests.
The site is open daily May 28-September 30, and on weekends October-December 11. Admission is $7; with discounts for youths, seniors, active military and their families, AAA, and members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Hotel de Paris Museum is situated at 409 6th St., Georgetown. ADA accessible. Gift shop. Free public parking next to the museum.
For information: http://www.hoteldeparismuseum.org/, http://www.preservationnation.org