National Register of Historic Places

Hotel Jerome

Aspen, Pitkin County, Colorado
Listed
March 20, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86000459

About this property

The Hotel Jerome is located on East Main Street (State Highway 82) in Aspen, Colorado, United States. It is a brick structure built in the 1880s that is often described as one of the city's major landmarks, its "crown jewel". In 1986 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is operated by Auberge Resorts. It was built by Jerome B. Wheeler, at the time co-owner of Macy's and a major investor in Aspen during its early boom years. He wanted the city to have a hotel that equaled European ones in its refinements and amenities. It was one of the first buildings west of the Mississippi to have full electric lighting and it has the only above ground ballroom in Aspen. It was the only hotel to remain open through the city's "quiet years" in the early 20th century, as a family business run by a former bartender and his son that often served as the town's social center. During Prohibition a celebrated spiked drink, the Aspen Crud, was invented at its J-Bar. Later, the drink and bar became popular with members of the Tenth Mountain Division while they trained in the area. After the war, Aspen and its new ski resort became a popular destination, and celebrities vacationing in Aspen like Gary Cooper and John Wayne often stayed at the Jerome, and it became known as a place where they and the locals freely mingled. Hunter S. Thompson used the J-Bar as his de facto office; later the hotel ballroom hosted his memorial service. Bill Murray partied there while portraying Thompson in a film, and the J-Bar also inspired a song by Glenn Frey, who had gone there often with his bandmates while a member of The Eagles.

Location

330 E. Main St.
Aspen, Pitkin County, Colorado
39.19099, -106.81942

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Hynes, Thomas, House
Industrial
0 mi
Collins Block-Aspen Lumber and Supply
Industrial
0.1 mi
Pitkin County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Aspen Community Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hyman-Brand Building
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hotel Jerome listed on the National Register?

Hotel Jerome was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 20, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Hotel Jerome?

Hotel Jerome is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hotel Jerome?

The period of significance for Hotel Jerome is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hotel Jerome?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Hotel Jerome will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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