The Historic Hotel Boulderado

Day 337 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Detail on Piano Organ

2012-01-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is a close-up shot of the detail found on the antique piano organ found on the third floor of our Historic Section. They just don't make them like they used to!

Day 336 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Topsy Turvy Lobby

2012-01-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

I managed to capture this topsy turvy shot of the lobby while I was walking along the Mezzanine one day . . . but what is that little spot on the "B" rug? I have captured other photos containing the same spot in the lobby, but in different places. Is it a speck of dust on my lens? What do you think it is?

Day 335 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Opening Day Registration

2012-01-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Please excuse my glare in this photo -- two layers of glass are not easy to deal with in photographing, but what lies behind is too special NOT to share in the 365 Days of Boulderado Photos. You are looking at a reproduction of the Hotel Boulderado's registration log from our opening day on January 1st, 1909. The left most column asks for the guest's full name, the next for their city, then the next two columns are for the hotel staff to list the check-in time and room number for each guest.

Day 334 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Private Bathroom Window in 300

2012-01-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

This is one of those unique features you don't see anywhere else in the Hotel Boulderado -- a window in the wall between the bedroom and bathroom. We are not entirely sure what the purpose of this window is. However, one theory from a "lifer" (a Boulderado employee of 15+ years) is that the window provided natural light for the private bathroom. She believes room 300 was the only hotel room from the original floorplan that offered a private bathroom -- a true luxury in 1909. She also believes it would be logical to install an extra window to provide this private bath with natural Colorado sunshine if it was indeed the most luxurious room available.

Honestly, this is how we figure out a lot of things at the Hotel Boulderado about our own history. Many times, when a question is asked, there is no answer written down in the history book or our own records. We have to use logic, supposition, and our own knowledge of the period, Boulder, and the hotel to figure things out the best we can.

Day 333 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Express Checkout

2012-01-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

We know many of our guests are busy, especially on their departure day. Guests at the Hotel Boulderado have the option of Express Check-Out with this Key Drop available in our North Wing.

Day 332 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Veggie Baskets

2012-01-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Chef Pete has these fresh veggies all ready for steaming!

Day 331 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Piano Leg

2012-01-25T14:22:00.002-07:00

This piano was first brought to the Hotel Boulderado by Winnie Hutson, a former owner, during the 40s/50s era. For a long time, it resided in our lobby and was used for community caroling during the holidays and other such events. Somehow, our employees managed to get it out of the Historic Section and into the North Wing, where it has been ever since. The piano's legs have been scuffed and weathered over the years, but the end result, to me, looks like a great griffin's leg perched over a claw.

Day 330 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Boulderado Mouse Pad

2012-01-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

When it came time to furnishing the Business Center at the Hotel Boulderado, at least one decision was a no-brainer: Boulderado mouse pads for all four stations!

Day 329 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Drawer That Locks

2012-01-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

I photographed this bureau because it has a feature you see all over the Boulderado but very rarely in modern and contemporary furniture. One of the drawers has a keyhole and could have been locked once upon a time; too bad the key to this bureau was misplaced at some point and lost forever.

Day 328 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Stained Glass Ceiling Supports

2012-01-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

This shot of our stained-glass canopy gives you some idea of the mechanics behind it -- or, rather, above it. Support beams and wires anchor the ceiling to the building to keep it safe.

Day 327 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Patterns in 300

2012-01-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

The pattern on this upholstered chair in Room 300 with the pattern on the wallpaper behind it looks almost as though they were planned to go together!

Day 326 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Event Decor Storage

2012-01-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

This speed rack in the catering kitchen was recruited into storing some of the decor that gets used at our events, like tea light holders and brass lanterns.

Day 325 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Wallpaper in 311

2012-01-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

This wallpaper pattern has already become slightly famous on the Internet and has been called "the girliest" ever. Do you agree?

Day 324 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Sun Setting from 315

2012-01-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

The sun setting behind the mountains is always worth pausing to look. The rooms on the west side of the Hotel Boulderado enjoy spectacular views of the Flatirons. This specific shot was taken from room 315.

Day 323 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Antique Photo of Telephone Room

2012-01-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

This was another shot that I had to sneak into the General Manager's office to capture. You are looking at a photograph taken of the telephone switchboard that used to be behind the Hotel Boulderado's Front Desk.

Day 322 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Columbine Room for Social Events

2012-01-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

Here is our Columbine Room getting prepped for a social event. You might remember seeing the Columbine Room before in the 365 Days project.

Day 321 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Door That Goes Nowhere

2012-01-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

I see this in a lot of places at the Hotel Boulderado, but none are in such a public space. This door is located on our Mezzanine, right next to the dancefloor, and it leads absolutely no where. Once upon a time, there was a stone portico entrance at our Spruce Street entrance, and this door would have led to a small patio over the portico. When the portico came down in the 1960s, so did the patio, but the door remained.

Day 320 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Room 314

2012-01-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Room 314, a Traditional Queen room located on the west side of the Historic Section of the Hotel Boulderado. It might be easy to think this photo was taken at our opening, except for that flat screen television!

Day 319 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Detail of Dresser Trunk

2012-01-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

Check out the gorgeous detail found on a dresser trunk we have on display here at the Hotel Boulderado. Like so many other antiques around here, whenever I gaze upon this, I think "They just don't make them like they used to."

Day 318 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ North Wing from 311

2012-01-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Just think, when we first opened in 1909, this view from 311 would have been of a few houses in the nearby Mapleton neighborhood. Now it is of our own North Wing!

Day 317 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Stained Glass Window in General Manager's Office

2012-01-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

This stained-glass window can be found in our General Manager's office, but it originated from our dining room. The semi-circle windows found in our dining room, aka Q's Restaurant, used to all be like this one you see here. They were removed over time, and the one seen here is the only still original remaining.

Day 316 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Soap Sink

2012-01-10T14:02:00.001-07:00

We like to have fun reminding guests we are a historic hotel. One small way we do that is offering soap dishes shaped like antique sinks in our guest rooms and suites, as seen here.

Day 315 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Woodwork

2012-01-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

All the woodwork around the Hotel Boulderado, as well as all the different kinds of woodwork, consistently amazes me, even after four years on the job. This shot shows you part of our cherrywood tree staircase's railing behind a loveseat with a rose carved into the wooden frame.

Day 314 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Perfume Bottle and Purse

2012-01-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

This (empty) perfume bottle and handbag both date back to the Victorian era and actually originate from a long-term employee's own family!

Day 313 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Reading Nook

2012-01-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

We like offering small touches around the Hotel Boulderado to let guests know we are always trying to make a guest's stay a better experience. One such touch is our reading nook, with a bookcase stocked with old library books and two chairs, which reminds our guests that they are on vacation and should delve into a good book. Guests who find their read truly engrossing are welcome to take their book home with them.

Day 312 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Stone Portico Entrance

2012-01-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

This closeup of a photograph taken in 1912 of the Hotel Boulderado is one of my favorites because it shows you the stone portico entrance that once greeted guests at our Spruce Street entrance. The portico began crumbling in the 1960s and had to be taken down, making this photo of the entrance that much more valuable to our history.

Day 311 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Wallpaper in 312

2012-01-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

This wallpaper is found in room 312, among others, and always makes me think of a Victorian jungle.

Day 310 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Soft Seating on Skywalk

2012-01-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

One thing we run out of regularly around here is space, so we are used to finding creative storage solutions. One we use is to stash soft seating along the skywalk.

Day 309 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Antique Photo of Boulder Chamber of Commerce

2012-01-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

This photo hangs outside the Spruce Room and reminds us that the Spruce Room once was the home of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Day 308 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ General Manager's Desk

2012-01-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

I had to sneak into the General Manager's office to get this shot of his desk, but I was willing to risk it to add it to the 365 Days of Boulderado Photos!

Day 307 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Exterior in January

2012-01-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

As dawn breaks over the hotel in 2012 for the first time, Happy New Year from the Hotel Boulderado, and Happy 103rd Anniversary to Us!

Day 306 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Balloons with Stained-Glass Ceiling

2011-12-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

Uh oh! Looks like some balloons have escaped from their netting for our Masquerade Ball tonight!

Day 305 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Tree Coming Down

2011-12-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

It's really difficult to say which more dramatic, watching the tree go up, or watching the tree come down. The Tree Team starts at the bottom pulling off ornaments and lights, then takes a chainsaw to the empty branches. They then work their way up the tree. The branches are composted, and the trunk is chopped into firewood, as we try to be as "green" as a hotel as possible.

Day 304 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Mezzanine from Piano

2011-12-29T13:59:00.002-07:00

The mirrored effect you see in this photo is actually the reflection of the Mezzanine off the top of our highly polished piano.

Day 303 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Norfolk Pine

2011-12-28T14:56:00.003-07:00

The seasonal spirit that is so evident in our lobby and throughout the hotel also comes into each guest room by way of our Norfolk pines, which replace the fresh flowers in the rooms and suites for the month of December.

Day 302 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ North Wing Poinsettia

2011-12-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

This poinsettia keeps an eye on both the Historic Section and the North Wing from its vantage point, making sure to greet guests with seasonal cheer.

Day 301 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Ball Ornaments

2011-12-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

The ornaments are getting put away, the lights are being wound up, and the tree will soon be a distant memory in a composting heap.

Day 300 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T14:07:00.004-07:00

From all of us here at the Hotel Boulderado, have a merry Christmas!

Day 299 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Events Center Tree and Reindeer

2011-12-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Next year, I will need to make a point of counting how many Christmas trees we have around the hotel. There has to be close to a dozen! Here's one done up in blue lights with silver touches.

Day 298 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Snowflakes

2011-12-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes Mother Nature doesn't want to cooperate and give us a naturally snowy white Christmas. So we took matters into our own hands in the Events Center by hanging plenty of snowflakes to ensure a white Christmas no matter what the weather.

Day 297 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Tree with Stained-Glass Ceiling

2011-12-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

The very top of our Christmas tree is just below our lobby's stained-glass ceiling canopy. Lovely to see the glass glittering while the tree lights twinkle!

Day 296 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Icy Face on the Plaza

2011-12-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

I could not have taken this photo if it wasn't for one of my fellow employee's tipping me off to it, and I'm so glad she did! Those icicles are in no way artificial, that's the real thing hanging off the arch and planters. Click here for a reminder of what this arch looks like during the summer months.

Day 295 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Decorating the Tree

2011-12-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting all month to share with you how we decorate the top half of our Christmas tree, and here it is! We have to use long poles attached with hooks at one end. As one member of the Tree Team put it, "The hardest part every year is getting that first ornament onto the tree. Once the first gets on, the rest goes a lot easier."

Day 294 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Tree from Staircase

2011-12-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

Everyone who climbs up or down our cantilevered cherrywood staircase is confronted with an amazing view of the tree in the lobby against the spectacular ceiling and Mezzanine.

Day 293 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Festive Front Desk

2011-12-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

Between the garlands, Santa, candy canes, and extra information on our tree, our Front Desk is looking especially festive this time of year!

Day 292 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Candy Canes on Tree

2011-12-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Not even Boulder's largest living indoor tree would be complete without some candy canes on its boughs!

Day 291 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Reindeer Looking at Mezzanine

2011-12-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Some of Santa's reindeer are keeping a close eye on our Mezzanine in between holiday parties this season.

Day 290 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ "Pleasantville" Theater

2011-12-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple in "Pleasantville" trotting off to the Vaudeville Theatre -- or maybe that's the Leaning Vaudeville Theatre, judging by the angle!

Day 289 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Wires for Tree

2011-12-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

You'll need to look very closely at this photo of our Christmas tree to see the wires on either side keeping it steady. This is one of our safety precautions for having a 28' tree in our lobby, as the wires are connected to nearby pillars, which anchor the tree.

Day 288 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Detail of Peacock in Tree

2011-12-13T13:56:00.001-07:00

Peacocks, pheasants, and owls, oh my! That is the theme of the four Christmas trees located in the atrium of the North Wing at the Hotel Boulderado. Here is a closeup shot of one such peacock, ready to wish our guests a happy holiday season!

Day 287 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Ornaments with Tile Floor

2011-12-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

The same song always pops into my head whenever I look at our tree ornaments . . . "Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head!"

Day 286 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Ribboning the Tree

2011-12-11T15:23:00.001-07:00

This is potentially one of the most dramatic moments I captured during the tree decorating process. Yes, that is a real piece of fabric that is being fluffed and coaxed to wrap around the tree -- no shortcuts here!

Day 285 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ "Pleasantville" Fire House

2011-12-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

In addition to Ed, this is the other new feature in "Pleasantville," our miniature village found north of the Front Desk here at the Hotel Boulderado -- the Fire House!

Day 284 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Santa at Front Desk

2011-12-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

Santa has been overseeing each and every check-in and check-out at the Front Desk to make sure every guest is as jolly as he is.

Day 283 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Nutcrackers

2011-12-08T08:59:00.003-07:00

It just wouldn't be Christmas time without having a cozy fireplace and some friendly nutcrackers out and about!

Day 282 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ North Wing Atrium with Christmas Decor

2011-12-07T08:47:00.004-07:00

Granted, the lobby gets most of the attention during the month of December because that is where the big tree is. But the decor and spirit can be found in all areas of the hotel. The atrium in the North Wing gets some special attention with bows, garlands, and four "regular sized" trees, each with their own theme.

Day 281 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Ornaments with Ladder

2011-12-06T16:15:00.001-07:00

I snapped this shot while the Christmas tree was being decorated. I wonder if they picked the ornaments based on how well they hang between the rungs of our ladders for decorating ease?

Day 280 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Pleasantville

2011-12-05T16:13:00.001-07:00

Here is a wide shot of "Pleasantville" so you can see the entire miniature collection. Can you find Ed?

Day 279 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ 2011 Christmas Tree

2011-12-04T15:40:00.001-07:00

Here it is, in all its splendor and glory! Our 2011 Christmas tree is a 28' white fir from New Mexico.

Day 278 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Antique Photo of Firefighting Drill

2011-12-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

This antique photos is on display in a couple of places around the Hotel Boulderado, and what you are seeing is a drill being performed by the Boulder fire department in the early 20th century. This was a common for many of Boulder's earliest community events, for the fire department to show off their efficiency and speediness with which they could fight fires.

Day 277 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Ed in Pleasantville

2011-12-02T14:42:00.004-07:00

Each year in the lobby, the Boulderado staff sets out some very beloved Christmas decorations, which collectively are known as "Pleasantville." You can find "Pleasantville" just north of the Front Desk, near the cash register. There a couple of new additions to "Pleasantville" this year, and pictured here is one of them. This is Ed, and Ed has a funny way of moving around "Pleasantville" without telling anyone. Next time you're in the lobby checking out the decor and the tree, stop by "Pleasantville" and see if you can find Ed.

Day 276 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Exterior in December

2011-12-01T14:37:00.002-07:00

Baby, it's cold outside! I'm glad it snowed this morning so you can see the hotel like this. If you look very closely, you can see some of the Christmas lights still glowing in the early morning light.

Day 275 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Tree with Ladders

2011-11-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

The bottom half of the tree is decorated using our three tallest ladders. Stay tuned for a special "behind the scenes" photo in December that shows how we decorate the top half!

Day 274 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Tree Strategizing

2011-11-29T14:47:00.003-07:00

Here you can see three members of the Tree Team discussing their strategy for placement of ornaments and ribbon to make the best Christmas tree ever.

Day 273 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Victorian Clothing Ad

2011-11-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

This advertisement for ladies clothing dates back to the Victorian era. To view it here at the Hotel Boulderado, head to the west side of the third floor of the Historic Section, where you will find it in a display case with other period items.

Day 272 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Christmas Tree Decorations

2011-11-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Our Christmas tree will arrive this week, so we have pulled all the decorations, accessories, and tools in preparation. We have a dozen jumbo tubs filled with ornaments, not to mention the HUGE tree stand we need to anchor our lobby tree.

Day 271 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Blue Feather Fan

2011-11-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

I just love this soft blue feather fan we have on display right now -- makes me wish there were more social occasions I could attend with a fan like this!

Day 270 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ First Christmas Lights

2011-11-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

We have been getting ready with some garland and Christmas lights to make the lobby feel more festive. Can you believe the pair of hands you see in this photo have been wrangling our Christmas decorations for the past 23 years?

Day 269 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving! These turkeys are ready for roasting and will be ready for our guests to enjoy at our annual Thanksgiving Buffet.

Day 268 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Salt and Pepper Shakers

2011-11-23T14:19:00.004-07:00

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and our catering department is hard at work inside the kitchen and out in preparation for tomorrow's buffet. Even the salt and pepper shakers are lining up to march!

Day 267 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Mezzanine Ceiling Center Square

2011-11-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

The next time you are in the lobby at the Hotel Boulderado, look up and really study the panels of the stained-glass ceiling. If you look long enough, you will start to notice that the color and clarity of the "center squares" are quite different from the rest of the ceiling. Rumor has it that the glass used in the center squares were from the original stained-glass ceiling.

Day 266 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Lobby Tree from 1920s

2011-11-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

Our annual Christmas tree will be delivered and decorated next week, so to celebrate I thought I would share a photo from the 1920s of a Boulderado Christmas lobby. This photo gave us the idea in 1988 to bring back the larger-than-life Christmas tree, which usually ranges in size from twenty-five to twenty-eight feet tall. Click here to learn more about our Christmas tree, and how it could help you win an overnight stay at the Hotel Boulderado!

Day 265 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Damaged Original Stained-Glass Ceiling

2011-11-20T09:49:00.001-07:00

In a follow-up to yesterday's post, this black-and-white photograph shows the damage done to our lobby's original stained-glass ceiling in 1959. That Halloween, an early season snow storm hit Boulder and dumped heavy, wet snow across the city. The weight was too much for the skylights built into the the Hotel Boulderado's roof, which had been installed to allow the bright Colorado sunshine to stream through the stained glass into the lobby. One of the skylights broke, and the snow and debris fell through the canopy to the lobby's floor. Luckily, it was about 7:00am when it happened, and most of our guests were still sleeping in, so there were no injuries. I'm sure, however, that whoever was working behind the Front Desk that morning found this to be a very unique "wake up call."

Day 264 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Original Stained Glass Ceiling -- In Color!

2011-11-19T09:41:00.001-07:00

This is my absolutely positively FAVORITE photo of the Hotel Boulderado that isn't available to the public, and I'll share why. This innocent looking photo is the only color photograph we have of the original stained-glass ceiling. You aren't able to see more because by this time, the ceiling had been damaged and the glass was waiting to be taken down.

Day 263 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ 1960s South Entrance

2011-11-18T09:34:00.004-07:00

I've decided to show you some old photos from the hotel's collection over the next couple of days. This photograph, provided by June Howard, is of the hotel's south entrance from the early 1960s. There are two items in this photo of the hotel that no longer are there -- the stone portico structure over the south entrance, and the neon sign on the roof.

Day 262 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ "Old Boulderado"

2011-11-17T14:52:00.004-07:00

This is another photo I can't take credit for. Jeffrey Spahr-Summers, a Boulderado employee, took this the west side of the Historic Section and focused in on the fire escape that dates back to the 1920s.

Day 261 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Foyer

2011-11-16T13:41:00.000-07:00

Guests who are familiar with our Events Center will recognize the Foyer pretty readily. The Foyer is a pre-function area available for guests who book the Ballroom or Executive Boardroom. The Foyer also leads to our only outdoor space, the Plaza.

Day 260 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Three Ladies, One Hat

2011-11-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

This image is from a postcard we have on display. The hat is so big it takes three women just to wear it!

Day 259 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Tri Pattern

2011-11-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

One thing the Victorians absolutely loved was patterns. Something they loved even more was combining patterns. The Hotel Boulderado, having been built and opened during the Victorian era, strives to keep decor that would pleased the Victorians. Which is why you can find multiple patterns in one place quite a bit. Here, I found three different floral patterns all in the same place -- the west area of the Mezzanine.

Day 258 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Fan Detail: Figure Playing Trumpet

2011-11-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

I've passed by this fan dozens of times through the last year or so, but it wasn't until I look a very close look at the detailing that I realized there is a figure playing the trumpet on this blue fan in our displayed collection.

Day 257 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Clipboard Room

2011-11-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Clipboard Room! This is how we share information, notes, and updates with the staff regarding all of our events.

Day 256 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Victorian Vignette

2011-11-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

This shot came from a display case of interesting Victorian items found on the west side of the third floor of the Historic Section.

Day 255 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Caberet Table on Mezzanine

2011-11-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

This is my first time experimenting with black and white images, which is certainly nothing new to the Hotel Boulderado. Color photography didn't reach the Boulderado until the early 1960s, but sometimes it's fun to see things as they used to be.

Day 254 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Steamer Trunk

2011-11-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

This is the last in the mini-series on trunks at the Hotel Boulderado. The steamer trunk (aka flat-top) first showed up in the late 1870s, though most of them date between 1880 and 1920. Their signature flat lid and durable coverings in canvas, leather, or patterned paper made them durable for long travels.

Day 253 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Dome Trunk

2011-11-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is a dome top trunk that is also included in our antique trunk collection. The name derives from the curved top of the trunk. This particular dome top is known as a hunch-back or hump-back because of the slat placement found on its top. These trunks date from the 1870s-1900s and were among the most popular of the antique trunks.

Day 252 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Dresser Trunk

2011-11-07T13:52:00.001-07:00

You've already seen the collection of trunks that are on display on the 3rd floor. But when I shared that with you, I had no idea the history behind the different types of antique trunks. I will be correcting this over the next few days.

Pictured above is a dresser trunk, aka pyramidal trunk, which dates from the 1900-1910 era. They have distinctive lids that open up almost the entire front half of the trunk. They are extremely rare when they have all the drawers, trays, and lids intact, but the one we have is the outer shell minus all the insides.

Day 251 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Wedding Wishes Card

2011-11-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

What better photo to share on the day of our annual Wedding Show than this antique card promising "A Wedding Wish For You."

Day 250 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Upholstery Pattern and Wooden Roses on Sofa

2011-11-05T13:44:00.000-06:00

I just love how the upholstery pattern on this sofa works so well with the roses carved into the wooden frame.

Day 249 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Half and Half in Catering Cooler

2011-11-04T13:25:00.002-06:00

Have you ever seen so much half and half? Again, this reminds me of that incredibly well-stocked kitchen seen in The Shining . . .

Day 248 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Antique Photo of Taxi Drivers

2011-11-03T13:46:00.000-06:00

Meet Florence Molloy and Mabel MacLeay, who started their own taxi business in Boulder in 1922 and became the city's first female taxi drivers. They spent a lot of time shuttling guests to the Boulderado, Chautauqua, and all around town. Click here to learn more about this fascinating piece of Boulder's history.

Day 247 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Snow with Red Vine

2011-11-02T13:41:00.002-06:00

The last two Wednesdays in a row, Boulder was hit with sudden snowfalls. I captured the snow resting on the red leaves of the vine clinging to the north side of the Historic Section.

Day 246 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Exterior in November

2011-11-01T12:18:00.002-06:00

Happy November! We're expecting some snow all across the state today, which is why the background is so gray and cloudy. You can see all the leaves have dropped off the trees out front, and we're cleaning up the inside from Halloween and preparing for the holiday rush.

Day 245 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Employee Pumpkins

2011-10-31T13:26:00.002-06:00

Here is the collection of 2011 Employee Pumpkin Carving entries for the Hotel Boulderado. Happy Halloween!

Day 244 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Bat with Cash Register

2011-10-30T14:51:00.000-06:00

Watch out! This bat has claimed our antique cash register as his!

Day 243 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Pirate Skeleton

2011-10-29T14:38:00.000-06:00

How suitable that this pirate skeleton is located right next to the lobby entrance to Catacomb's Bar, where he can find enough rum to quench his thirst and sing, "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!"

Day 242 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Fraidy Cats

2011-10-28T14:23:00.000-06:00

I'm not entirely sure what it was that made these "fraidy cats" so scared, if it was Helga the Mummy, Wolfgang the vampire, or maybe just a Housekeeper vacuuming the lobby.

Day 241 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Wolfgang the Vampire

2011-10-27T14:31:00.000-06:00

Meet Wolfgang, the star-crossed lover of Helga the Mummy. Wolfgang is one of our oldest and dearest features in the Boulderado's haunted lobby, but he's ready to greet each and every guest at the Front Desk just as eagerly as if it were his first day.

Day 240 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Snake Gourd

2011-10-26T14:22:00.000-06:00

I asked one of our Front Desk agents what his favorite lobby decoration was so far. He told me the gourd that looks like a snake. I found the one he was talking about, seen here.

Day 239 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Antique Photo of Old Courthouse

2011-10-25T14:13:00.000-06:00

The Hotel Boulderado is just across the intersection from the Boulder County Courthouse. But before the current structure, there was another courthouse on the same site. The courthouse seen in this antique photo began construction in 1899 and was finished. Then in 1932, a fire caught in one of the towers and burned the building to the ground. The daughter of our then-owner/general manager, Betsy Mark, brought her whole class home from school with her that day to watch the event from the Boulderado's porch.

Day 238 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Owl on Mantle

2011-10-24T13:28:00.000-06:00

HOOT HOOT! This owl is doing a great job watching the "haunted" lobby from her perch on our mantle above the fireplace.