[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1870]]
    HONORING THE 112TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OXFORD HOTEL OF DENVER, CO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
112th Anniversary of the Oxford Hotel in Denver, Colorado.
  Mr. Speaker, 1891 was a tremendous year. Fueled by the Silver Rush, 
it was a time of great promise for the fledgling State of Colorado, and 
in September of that year, the Oxford Hotel opened its doors for the 
first time. With its beautiful artwork and antique furniture, the 
Oxford offered its patrons class and luxury in the heart of the 
American Frontier. It provided its patrons with world-class dining 
facilities. The Oxford also was one of the first hotels in the West to 
have an elevator.
  Located in the historic Lower Downtown district of Denver, the Oxford 
is only a walk away from the city's most cherished landmarks: The 
Denver Mint, the State Capital, Larimer Square, and the Denver Center 
for the Performing Arts, just to name a few. Its history and location 
helped build the Oxford's reputation as a cultural beacon in Colorado. 
This was reinforced in the 1960's and '70's when the hotel became 
renowned as a jazz center.
  For years I have had the privilege of knowing the owners of the 
Oxford Hotel: Walter and Christie Isenberg and Dana Crawford. And I 
must commend them for their fabulous preservation of the Oxford as a 
piece of Colorado history and for maintaining its reputation as one of 
the West's best hotels.
  The Oxford has seen a city, a state, and indeed a whole region grow 
around it in its 112 years. Even though the country around the Oxford 
has changed dramatically, the hotel has not. This wonderful hotel 
remains a unique visiting experience for its patrons. It still provides 
world-class services to all who stay there. And it is, and shall be, 
one of Colorado's most cherished landmarks for as long as it stands.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me and show support 
for the Oxford Hotel and its 112 years of greatness.