April 22, 2022 - Friday - Today we were back in the High Desert, specifically the city of Lancaster, to visit the Western Hotel Museum. Dating back to 1888, the Western Hotel is one of the oldest structures in Lancaster. The earliest ad concerning the Western Hotel is in the Lancaster Gazette (August 23, 1888), when it was known as the Antelope Valley Hotel. Plagued by fires, droughts, floods and other circumstances, the Hotel lived on and experienced several name changes including the Gillwyn Hotel. In its day the rooming house hosted everyone from mule skinners to British lords.
This portrait is of Myrtle "Myrtie" Webber who ran the hotel from 1910 to 1971. She passed away in 1978 at the age of 110 years.
This is what a typical room looked like with nice furnishings and a fold-up bed.
This unrestored room shows the original ceiling construction.
This is Myrtie's room.
Several rooms had small exhibits about the area's history.
Originally the hotel had 28 rooms.
The hotel has been meticulously restored and maintained and the drive through the High Desert is always a treat.
Before touring the hotel, we had brunch at a new place for us in Lancaster, Crazy Otto's Diner. The decor was cute but the food reminded us of eating at a truck stop.
