Daniel Boone Building - Columbia, Missouri
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 57.100 W 092° 19.755
15S E 558121 N 4311627
Marker commemorating the history of the current Columbia City Hall building.
Waymark Code: WM3GTW
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 04/05/2008
Views: 75
Daniel Boone
County-City Building
The Daniel Boone Tavern, constructed at a cost of $135,000, was opened
September 1, 1917, by the Columbia Hotel Company. A considerable
part of the cost of the building was raised by popular subscription. For
many years the hotel served as the community center for Columbia. It was
the meeting place of most Columbia service clubs and scores of other city,
county, and state organizations.
Notables from all parts of the world crossed its threshold during the more
than one-half century of its existence as the leading hotel of the community.
Among its distinguished guests were Harry Truman, Alben Barkley, and Mrs.
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Hundreds of speakers and entertainers who appeared on the three campuses
in Columbia were housed at the Daniel Boone. On more than one occasion,
University coeds and Stephens College students were housed temporarily on the
upper floors until dormitories were available on campus. In 1940 the name
was changed to the Daniel Boone Hotel.
Frank W. Leonard was manager-president of the Hotel Company from 1917 to
1949. James C. Nanson served as assistant manager from 1928 to 1949, and
as manager-president from 1949 to 1972.
On February 22, 1972, the hotel was purchased jointly by the city and
county. Having served so well for more than one-half century in the
unofficial role as the guest house for the city and county, it became an
official government building of the city and the county.
City council members at the time of the purchase were Mayor Orville E.
Hobart, Richard Knipp, Rodney Smith, Betty McCaskill, and Clyde Wilson; Don
Allard was city manager; County County Courty members were Presiding Judges
James C. Butcher, Clarence Drew and Larry Mead. ~ text of marker