Hotel Ramona in San Luis Obispo

The Ramona Hotel in San Luis Obispo opened with a grand ball in 1888. It was one of the finest in Central California and was for a while the social center of the community. The plans called for a fireproof, brick hotel of 300 rooms, but on November 10, 1905, it was completely destroyed by fire. Photograph inscribed (handwritten): "Hotel Ramona, San Luis Obispo, CAL; Tom Vandergrift." On verso: Promotional advertisement for Pacific Photograph Gallery, H. F. Rile, Artist.