National Register #71000134
Murphys Hotel
Main and Algiers Streets
Murphys

Murphys Hotel was built in 1855-56 as a stage stop on the road to Calaveras Big Trees.

Although it was designed to be fireproof, it burned in the fire of 1859. The front part of building was built of stone with iron doors separating it from the wooden dining room in the rear.

Work started immediately on a new building which was completed the following year. The new walls were entirely of stone.

The hotel never burned again. In the fire of 1874, the stone walls saved it. A tremendous explosion and fire in 1893 caused no damage except for the warping of iron doors and shutters.

Many notable people spent the night here in the 19th century on their way to the southern mines or Calaveras Big Trees - Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, Thomas J. Lipton, Ulysses Grant, Black Bart, John Jacob Astor, Henry Ward Beecher, two members of the Rothschild family, and John Bidwell.

Murphys Hotel is also California Historical Landmark 267.