Sandy's Art Deco Contest #2 - The Baker Tower

 Hiya Blog World,
Little Fox here. I am working on my entries for Sandy's Art Deco contest. I have decided to enter the Baker City Tower.

This Art Deco beauty was originally christened the Baker City Hotel.  Built in 1929, it was originally an 82 room hotel catering to the automobile travelers.  It has an observation deck on the 9th floor and was in operation as a hotel until  the1960s.  In 1972 it was turned into an office building with some apartments and in the 90s it was pretty run down.

Now-a-days it has condos on 5 floors, offices on a few floors and a restaurant or two on the ground floor. 

Thanks for hosting the contest Sandy.  Good luck everyone!

Little Fox Student Archeologist working on the Oregon Trail.

 Hello Gang,  

Little Fox here at the Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.  Sadly, they are closed for a major remodel but the outdoor exhibits are open. 

A four month, 2000 mile trip from Independence Missouri to the Willamette Valley.

400,000 people traveled on the Oregon trail or offshoot trails (California, Bozeman or Mormon trails). 

I'm on top of Flagstaff Hill.  

The emigrants didn't actually travel to the top of Flagstaff Hill.  The emigrants tried to take the path of least resistance so they went around the hill.  This part of the trail was challenging (ok, the entire trail was challenging) but by the time pioneers came out to this part it was July or August the climate is high desert without a whole lot of water.

Time for lunch.  Cheese and crackers.  Yum. 

Being a student archeologist I have been tasked by the University to find ruts from the Oregon Trail wagons.  A lot of the trail was paved over but my sources tell me I can find some at the bottom of Flagstaff  Hill.  

This looks promising. 

The ruts were not at all what I expected. I was thinking they would be narrow but the ruts are almost like a dirt road.  

It was getting late and I had to hike back so I could contact the University with my findings.  Perhaps after a beer or two. 

 

Exploring Baker City

 Hello Blog World.

It is I, Little Fox archeology student on a little road trip to Baker City, Oregon.  No archeology studies today but I a excited to explore town.  Baker City was a mining town, then a timber town and now a county seat and a regional hotspot. I'm staying in the heart of town so it's all walkable for me.  Let's go.

What does this sign say? Better get a little closer.

This is the kind of sign my pal Drunk Fox thinks is funny.  Gotta try the Thai food at the Chinese restaurant.  

On a side note, I did eat there and it was very good.   Now that I am fortified let's explore further.

Up next is the Baker Tower.  A  1929 Art Deco beauty.  Originally constructed as a hotel (89 rooms) and now an office building.  Sandy, when are you going to have another Art Deco contest????

Lot's of public art and most of it was animal based.  Score points for Baker City! 

Help!!!

As usual, this exploring has made me thirsty.  This drink should tie me over.

Here's a hint on where my archeology trip might take me.  Of course, that's after a hike.

  

Small town adventure and a mini safari

Last stop on the big Colorado trip.  I'm in Baker City, Oregon.  Yep, the Oregon Trail went through here but I am not looking at history today.  I am on safari.

I got an early start.  Baker City is on the interstate  but the cool stuff is a few miles off the interstate.

Downtown is pretty quiet (of course it's about 6:30am).

The Geiser Grand Hotel.  An old hotel from the gold mining days.  It was closed in 1968 and during the 1990s the hotel got remodeled.  

The hotel has lots of history.  Old artifacts (perhaps an episode of Little Fox Archaeologist will take place), ghost stories and a particularly interesting story about catching robbers. 

It's a fancy hotel.  No doubt.

 In 1959 a hotel clerk helped apprehend a group of robbers.  The robbers tied up the clerk.  She told them that she had arthritis.  The robbers took pity on her and tied her up loosely.  The clerk got out of the knot and called the police.  Robbers apprehended.

Town is still quiet.  This fox needs coffee. 

I came across this coffee shop.  It's open.  Love the old piano.

More interesting, they have lots of Calgary Stampede posters from the 1990s.  Apparently, the coffee shop is run by some Canadians.  I wonder if the owner competed in the stampede?

Time to go for a little walk or should I say safari? 

I believe there is a saying  about not messing with the bull.....

Ahh, baby giraffes. 

Is that a crocodile or an alligator? 

Wandering around provided me with much entertainment.  I found the county seat and courthouse. 

.

Courthouse is closed to visitors at this hour.  Looks like a building from back in the day.  Baker City was a gold rush town.  It was a pretty nice little town.  Baker City's nickname is Queen of the Inland Empire.  

Time for breakfast before I hit the road.  Should I eat at the Antlers Hotel? 

Perhaps I should check out the Royal Restaurant

.  They have a lounge and great food according to the sign.