The Murray Hotel

Since its grand opening in 1904, the Murray Hotel's guest registry has been more like a who's who of history and Hollywood. Celebrities such as Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane have graced the threshold of what was once "the" elegant railroad hotel. The Murray was also home to Walter Hill, son of railroad tycoon, James J. Hill. More recently, colorful personalities like motion-picture director, Sam Peckinpah, rented what had been the largest suite in the place, built originally for an heir to the Burlington railroad fortune.

The Queen of Denmark once spent the night, but her impressions went unrecorded. Humorist Will Rogers and his buddy Walter Hill, must have been satisfied. They liked the place well enough they tried to bring a favorite saddle horse to a third floor suite, via the hand-cranked, 1905 Otis elevator.