{"id":3032,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:15","latitude":45.2165459215439256013269186951220035552978515625,"longitude":-112.637485263949230329671991057693958282470703125,"title":"The Andrus Hotel","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/85b5536d0b9daa0140227e9082842a2e.jpg","address":"45 East Glendale Street, Dillon, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":17,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"Dillon’s first railroad hotel, the Hotel Metlen, opened to much fanfare in 1898. However, by 1917 rapidly changing expectations of comfort and style spurred successful sheep rancher Harry Andrus to build a new, $150,000 hotel in the heart of Dillon’s business district. Andrus hired Seattle architect Jesse Warren to design a thoroughly modern and elegant Renaissance Revival style building. In his correspondence to Warren, Andrus said, “I made my money in Beaverhead County and I want to build a hotel in Dillon; the best is none too good for Beaverhead County people.” He spared no expense. The lobby, which was large enough to host dances and other community celebrations, boasted a red marble staircase with a decorative wood balustrade, stained glass windows, faux plaster classical columns, and an elevator. The ground floor included a restaurant, bar, bank, and billiard parlor. The second floor held thirty rooms and the Andrus family’s spacious suite. Most of the rooms featured carpets and private bathrooms, while every room had a telephone. The third-floor rooms hosted long-term tenants and salesman’s showrooms. When the hotel opened in February 1918, the Dillon Tribune wrote that Andrus gave “to Dillon, her people and her visitors one of the finest, most modern and best-equipped hotels in the entire northwest.” Andrus managed the hotel until his death in 1941. It proved far more than just a place for visitors to stay; it became a community institution where businesses and civic organizations held important meetings, banquets, charity sales, and other social functions.","sponsor":"Montana Historical Society","accessinfo":"Public building with private offices","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":[],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/85b5536d0b9daa0140227e9082842a2e.jpg":{"id":4674,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Andrus Hotel, Dillon, MT","description":"Historic view of Andrus Hotel | ca. 1930 | unknown ","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/85b5536d0b9daa0140227e9082842a2e.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/ac8452f6baafcd5170cabd03e1146ea2.jpg":{"id":4675,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Andrus Hote, Dillon, MT.","description":"Historic view of Andrus Hotel, Dillon, MT. | ca. 1955 | unknown photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/ac8452f6baafcd5170cabd03e1146ea2.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8f60e655e386717df791365803915d88.jpg":{"id":4670,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Andrus Hotel, Dillon, MT","description":"View looking north and west and south elevations of the Andrus Hotel. | National Register of Historic Places nomination form for The Andrus Hotel in Dillon, MT. On file at Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT. | May 2019 | Jon Axline, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8f60e655e386717df791365803915d88.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/e8d86c1820943fca726d00acf69b9202.jpg":{"id":4671,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Andrus Hotel, Dillon, MT","description":"View looking north at Andrus Hotel facade (west elevation). | National Register of Historic Places nomination form for The Andrus Hotel in Dillon, MT. On file at Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT. | May 2019 | Jon Axline, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/e8d86c1820943fca726d00acf69b9202.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a05e6a094d5df8e11fb0a78d4cd52395.jpg":{"id":4672,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Andrus Hotel, Dillon, MT","description":"View looking north at south elevation along Idaho Street. | National Register of Historic Places nomination form for The Andrus Hotel in Dillon, MT. On file at Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT. | May 2019 | Jon Axline, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/a05e6a094d5df8e11fb0a78d4cd52395.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8cd6aa96f81bdf19749ae10a157e995d.jpg":{"id":4673,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Andrus Hotel, Dillon, MT","description":"View of hotel name plate and date | National Register of Historic Places nomination form for The Andrus Hotel in Dillon, MT. On file at Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT. | May 2019 | Jon Axline, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8cd6aa96f81bdf19749ae10a157e995d.jpg"}}}