In a season marked by cranes (building, not whooping), scaffolding, and quiet transformation, Downtown Bozeman is once again redefining itself. Along its ever-evolving Main Street, two of its most iconic architectural anchors are stepping into new eras. The Bozeman Hotel (321 East Main, corner of Main and Rouse) and The Baxter (105 West Main, corner of Main and Willson) have long framed the historic downtown district. This summer, both buildings are undergoing significant renovations, each with a shared commitment: to remain open for business while carefully navigating the intersection of preservation and progress. Renovation is not new to The Bozeman. Built in 1891 during the city’s ambitious—but ultimately unsuccessful—bid to become Montana’s capital, the partially citizen-financed building came with a staggering price tag of $130,000, millions in today’s dollars.

Designed in the Romanesque style by Fargo architect George Hancock, it was touted as the most luxurious hotel in the state, featuring 136 guest rooms, electric lighting, steam heat, street-facing balconies, and call bells in every room, at a time when Bozeman’s population hovered around 5,000. The detailed stained glass of the building’s arched windows and five-story turreted bay stood in stark contrast to Bozeman’s then unpaved Main Street. Archival records from the Gallatin History Museum reveal that The Bozeman has undergone at least six major renovations since the first one in 1912, when telephones and an electric elevator were introduced. Through the decades—from the early 20th century into the 1980s—updates have continued in response to shifting amenity standards as well as building uses; the building operated as a hotel until 1974 when the interior shifted mainly to shops and offices with only a few residences.

Today, remnants of the previous remodels are still visible in some areas of the building where the new upgrades were simply layered over the existing materials. Layer by layer, the building is being stripped back—not to erase its past, but to reveal it. “We’re also trying to reduce the overall weight of the building,” says John Amsden, majority owner of the building. “There are a lot of unnecessary layers—extra sheetrock, excess wood. The barn wood trend from the 1970s covered a lot of surfaces, and we’re removing that.” Amsden’s philosophy of subtracting before adding is at the core of this ethical restoration. Amsden approaches the building not as something to be redesigned, but something to be understood. “Right now, there is about 16,000 square feet of office space, and after renovation it will be about 11,000 square feet of office space,” Amsden explains. That reduction is intentional—a shift away from density toward livability, usability, and structural integrity. The leased, residential component of the building reinforces a vision of long-term occupancy rather than turnover. “Most of what we’re doing is removing all the renovations since 1891 and going back down to the studs,” he says. That excavation is not aesthetic, but structural, due to a number of broken floor joists.

Past efforts often concealed rather than corrected these issues. “In the past, instead of fixing structural issues like floor deflection, people would just cover it up—adding sheetrock underneath rather than correcting the problem,” says Amsden. Correcting those decisions requires a willingness to undo decades of shortcuts. “Now that we’re correcting those structural issues, we have to remove and redo some areas entirely,” he says. It is a domino effect familiar to preservationists: once you begin restoring properly, everything connected must follow. But that necessity becomes an opportunity, according to Amsden. “It’s a good opportunity to make things quieter—especially sound insulation. We’re adding rock wool insulation in floors and walls throughout the building, so you won’t hear people walking above you.” The result is not just structural integrity, but a quieter, more livable environment. 

As sure as there are challenges in this type of detailed restoration, there are also fun finds. “The original square nails have been a really cool find,” Amsden notes. “You can still see them on the fourth floor… Those square nails are original (1891), and that’s pretty special.” He continues, “All of the floors will be rewired and re-plumbed. The new heating system is also significantly more efficient than what was there before.” Outside, on the building’s exterior, the same careful approach continues. “The fire escapes are historically significant, but they’re not as structurally sound as they should be,” Amsden says. “We plan to remove them, repair and clean them, and then reinstall them in their original configuration. We’ll also be tuck-pointing the exterior brick to ensure its stability… the parapet at the top of the building will be repaired as well.”

This is restoration not as spectacle, but as the stewardship reflected in The Bozeman’s philosophy, stated on its website: “We steward a living landmark and a thriving mixed-use community—delivering Montana-warm, craftsman-like service to our tenants, residents, and guests while honoring the building’s historic character.” Amsden’s approach is also heavily rooted in experience. “My family has been involved in a number of historic projects around Montana, in Broadus and Helena. So yes, you could say it’s a family passion.” Office renovations are expected to be completed this summer, residences by early fall, and exterior work extending into 2027, with all businesses in the building remaining open to customers.

Down on the west end of Main Street over at The Baxter, General Manager Amy Horton is guiding a thoughtful reawakening and restoration to a boutique hotel rooted in that building’s original spirit. “It’s about being true to the character and the history of the building,” Horton says. “You’re not going to have the same experience here at the Hotel Baxter that you would have anywhere else in Bozeman. It’s going to be unique to this building and really lean into that legacy and history that Bozeman built for it.” Designed in 1929 by architect Fred Willson, The Baxter was born from community ambition. “They literally passed the hat,” Horton explains in referring to the original stockholders of the Bozeman Community Hotel Corporation. “About 250 people contributed money because they wanted Bozeman to have the best place to host their guests.”

Today, The Baxter is majority owned by Montana families Loseff and Orizotti. After running as a hotel for over 50 years, the upper floors were converted into private residences, becoming quiet spaces known only to long-term tenants. “We’ve had lovely tenants for years—some for over 10 years,” Horton says. “But it’s really exciting to open up those upper floors again for everyone to experience.” The renovation marks a return to The Baxter’s hospitality roots. “In terms of what we’re offering, it will be a luxury stay hotel,” Horton says. “We won’t be doing extended stays—no kitchens or anything like that—but we will have larger suites, around 300 to 400 square feet each. It will vary: king rooms, double queens. There will also be a second-floor wellness center and gym.”

While the upper levels of the building evolve, the building’s familiar ground-floor rhythm will remain intact, and The Baxter will continue hosting weddings and special events. Bacchus Pub and Ted’s Montana Grill will continue operating throughout construction and into the future, maintaining continuity for both locals and visitors. As with The Bozeman, the challenge for Hotel Baxter lies in modernization without erasure. “We’ve worked closely with the City to maintain the original look—color, design, and feel,” says Horton. “We have heating upstairs, but no air conditioning, which is being added. It’s a modern amenity but, ideally, guests won’t even notice it; they’ll just enjoy the comfort.” The Baxter’s beloved lobby will remain largely untouched. Subtle refinements—restored ceiling stencils, improved lighting—will enhance rather than replace. “It’s one of those things you don’t necessarily recognize, but you feel,” says Horton. That feeling is part of what has sustained both buildings through decades of change, revealing a broader truth unfolding along Main Street: these buildings are not static relics, but living parts of the community.

As both The Bozeman and The Baxter move through their latest renovations, they do so with a shared understanding—that history is not something to be frozen, but something to be carried forward. Horton says, “The biggest thing for us is making sure we remain authentic and true to the history that built this place—and to the people who have kept it going. We feel like we’ve honored that, and we’re excited to continue.” Adds local historian and director of The Extreme History Project Crystal Alegria, “The Baxter and The Bozeman are iconic bookend structures to Bozeman’s historic Main Street. Keeping these two structures renovated and relevant makes sure our downtown historic district stays vibrant. I’m glad to see these historic structures evolving to stay useful to the Bozeman community.