In 1862, a man named Luther Kountze left Omaha with a massive, fireproof safe. Twelve oxen pulled that safe across the open plains until reaching Denver, which was a frontier town only four years old, merged from three mining camps. The town mainly served prospectors, with saloons and gambling halls. Within a year of Kountze’s arrival the small, 5000-person frontier town flooded and caught fire.
Undeterred, Kountze built a bank around his massive safe, trading prospectors cash in exchange for gold. This established Denver’s “Wall Street,” driving the town’s growth and making Kountze a rich man. Eventually he moved to New York City.
Today the bank is a Marriott Renaissance Hotel. The new owners transformed Kountze’s original safe into a conference room, placing gold murals around the building to showcase the bank’s history. But there’s another interesting tidbit about the hotel: 16 murals decorate the walls, depicting Native Americans in their everyday lives.
The artist Allen Tupper True painted the murals for Kountze’s bank, focusing exclusively on Native American life. The paintings don’t show European settlers, images of first contact, or conflict. They show Native Americans living in the woods, playing together, and engaging in ceremonies.
I’ve stayed at this hotel twice, both times eating a snack in the second floor lounge with a view of the art and the lobby. I like sitting there and spending time gazing around the walls. The art is so beautiful that I bought a book with pictures (Allen Tupper True: An American Artist). Unfortunately the book doesn’t show the art well, so I can’t recommend it.
This hotel wears its history proudly and with taste. But the truth is, wherever we go, we’re surrounded by forgotten history that isn’t always clear. If we choose to look, the ordinary world explodes with life and memories of those who went before. I recommend doing this, often – especially if you find yourself caught in a pattern. The world is as interesting as we make it, so why not pause a little and notice the deeper patterns around us?
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