1. RM 217
Room 217’s history starts with a massive
explosion in 1911, which occurred when an
acetylene gas lamp was left on, resulted in
the destruction of 10% of the hotel.
Elizabeth Wilson, the head chambermaid,
was seriously injured and was hospitalized
following the explosion. The artifacts and
images in this display tell the story of the
room and the historic explosion that
occurred within.

2. The 1911 Explosion
On June 25, 1911 the head chambermaid Miss Elizabeth
Wilson attempted to light the backup lamp in room 217.
Unknown to Miss Wilson, the lamp had been left on for
several days leaving the room full of acetylenegas. When
she approachedthe room with her candle the acetylene
gas was ignited. In total 10% of the hotel was destroyed
in the resulting blast. Miss Wilson survived but she and
several other members of the staff were severely injured.
Miss Wilson
On June 25, 1911, Miss Elizabeth Wilson, “Miss Wilson”,
approachedthe doorto 217 attemptingto light the backup
lamp. The lamp, which had componentspowered by
acetylenegas, had been left on for three days causing a
backup of acetylenegas in the room. Miss Wilson was
sent into the floor and be seriously injured. The injuries
she sustained included two broken ankles, multiple
broken ribs, and 2nd
and 3rd
degree burns over 90% of her
body. She was hospitalized in Longmont, the closest
hospital. When she awoke from her coma three days later.
F.O. Stanley allowed her to work for as long as she
chose, and stayed at the hotel until her death in 1951.

3. Original 1911 Era Gas and Electric Lamp
This is an acetylene gas lamp from the same period as the 1911
explosion. The two outside pieces are the electric lamps, while the
middle piece would have used acetylene gas and served as a backup
for when the power failed.
Pieces of Room 217
All of these pieces came from the original room 217. They are
primarily pieces of plaster with the original wallpaper still visible.
They were found during recent renovations in the base of the hotel.
Picture of Room 217
This picture is of room 217 from early in the hotel’s history. Today
the room is about 1/3 the size of the room pictured. The wallpaper
and decorations are very appropriate for the period but have long
since changed as trends and owners changed over the past century
until it became the room guests see today.