Rochester Hotel

The apartments were built for the Western Cities Investment Company, at a cost of $18,000. In the '30's and '40's, the Rochester Hotel often provided accommodations for the many itinerant jazz musicians who came to Kansas City to participate in its famous jam sessions.

From the National Register of Historic Places listing, “1821 Highland Avenue, Western Apartments (Rochester Hotel): Three-story brick, four bay, U-shaped hotel built 1912-20. The building has an ashlar stone foundation, flat roof of rolled asphalt, interior wall brick flues and exterior of 6 course bond brick. The main entrance has a ca. 1960 wood and glass door and concrete sill. Windows on the main facade are rectangular one-over-one wood sash with header course sills. Windows on the north and south bays are rectangular, some of which are set within segmental arches. These arches have two courses of header bond brick. The exterior of these facades are of 6 course common bond. These facades have 9 bays of windows. At the roofline on the main façade is a header belt course and a flat parapet with terra cotta coping. The interior was inaccessible but continues to be used as residential hotel units.”

The hotel was listed on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places as part of the 18th & Vine Historic District on 8/11/1983 and on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the 18th & Vine Historic District on 9/9/1991.