Historic Strater Hotel Guest Room 222 Designated A Literary LANDMARK ^TM

The Louis L’Amour Room

Durango, CO – The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) has designated the historic Strater Hotel Guest Room 222 a Literary Landmark ^TM in honor of Twentieth Century American author Louis L’Amour. The famous author wrote many of his novels and short stories, including much of the Sackett Novels, while residing in Room 222. Mr. L’Amour credited his inspiration to the sounds of Honky Tonk piano emanating up from the Strater Hotel’s Diamond Belle Saloon. On behalf of Rod and Laurie Barker and all of the Strater staff, hotel General Manager Michelle Thom said they could not be more pleased by this very special recognition.

“We are absolutely honored to receive this designation by the ALTAFF,” said Mrs. Thom. “Mr. L’Amour was such a special and beloved guest, and has brought a lot of notoriety to the Strater Hotel. It’s not only an honor to be able to dedicate Room 222 in his name, but to have it recognized at a national level by such a prestigious group as the ALTAFF.”

Media and others are invited to attend a special Literary Landmark ^TM Designation Ceremony taking place this Saturday, August 25, 2012 at the Strater Hotel at 2:00pm-the event will be held at Room 222 itself and last approximately 20 minutes. A bronze plaque, foundry crated, with the Literary Landmark ^TM insignia and verbiage will be displayed and several guests will be invited to say a few words.

ALTAFF
The Literary Landmarks Association was founded in 1986 by former FOLUSA president Frederick G. Ruffner to encourage the dedication of historic literary sites. The first dedication was at Slip F18 in Bahia Mar, Florida, the anchorage of the Busted Flush, the houseboat home of novelist John D. MacDonald’s protagonist Travis McGee. In 1989, the Literary Landmark project became an official FOLUSA committee. Literary Landmarks will continue under ALTAFF, the newly formed division of ALA created by the joining of FOLUSA and ALTA. Dedications have included homes of famous writers (Tennessee Williams, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, William Faulkner), libraries and museum collections, literary scenes (such as John’s Grill in San Francisco, immortalized by Dashiell Hammett, and Willa Cather’s Prairie near Red Cloud, Nebraska), and even “Grip” the Raven, formerly the pet of Charles Dickens and inspiration to Edgar Allan Poe and now presiding (stuffed) at the Rare Books Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The list of dedicated sites continues to grow.

For additional information and interviews please contact Michelle Thom, Strater Hotel General Manager, at [email protected] or 970.247.4431.

Built in 1887, the Strater Hotel is one of Durango, Colorado’s most prominent downtown landmarks and is located two blocks north of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Currently, the Strater Hotel houses the world’s largest collection of American Victorian Antiques, many of which decorate the 93 rooms in the hotel. The Strater Hotel is home to the Durango Melodrama, Henry Strater Theatre, The Office Spiritorium, Diamond Belle Saloon, Mahogany Grille, and Strater Catering and Events.

For additional information Please visit: www.Strater.com