photos by Stephen Eginoire

Back in 87 (thats 1887), a strapping, young, 20-year-old, Henry H. Strater, lied to the bank about his age for a loan of $70,000. His dream was to outfit the crotchety mining camp of Durango with an extravagant hotel. With determination and 376,000 bricks (when bricks were $4.50 per 1,000) his dream came true and the Strater Hotel took off without a hitch. As luck would have it, however, H.H. Strater lost his beloved hotel in a game of cards a few years later. Today, the Strater Hotel is a gem among the Historic Hotels of America. The four-story red brick building is a remarkable example of Victorian architecture and attitude, transporting folks back to Durangos heyday.