This "Colonial Mission" style hotel was built by John T. Woodruff and opened on August 1, 1907. The hotel served as a popular political and social gathering place for many years. President Taft, as Secretary of War, was a guest of honor and the Governor of Missouri retained a suite of rooms there. It was the site for many years of Jackson Day activities which brought prominent Democrats from throughout the state, and the nation, here.

The original building consisted of the northern two wings. The southern wing was added around 1920. In 1929 the structure was remodeled and the classical portico was removed and replaced With a new marquet and terra cotta ornamentation. The exterior was remodeled again in the 1950's when the ground floor was sheathed in granite panels. In the 1970's some renovation of rooms for conversion to apartments was undertaken.

The structure was vacated sometime later and was eventually donated to Missouri State University which tore it down for parking space in 1997.

Approved: 7/22/85