Anyone who was around to see the demolition of this piece of Amarillo history must have been lucky.

In 1965, the then 76-year-old Amarillo Hotel was demolished in a spectacular fashion, proving a spectacle for onlookers at the time to watch and unlikely forget, and for you to see thanks to these photos that have immortalized this scene in local history.

The Amarillo Hotel was originally built in 1889 on 3rd & Polk only three weeks after the town of Amarillo was incorporated. It was originally a smaller, wooden building housing thirty rooms but throughout the year new attachments and additions to the building would be added.

Gerry Bevers
Gerry Bevers
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Eventually, parts of the original building would be burned down, but the new brick portions of the building that were built would remain and serve as the primary stay for visitors.

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The building and the business would house guests coming from all over America, until 1965 when it went out of business and closed its doors to the public. The building would remain abandoned and unused until 1978 when it was demolished by implosion.

According to eyewitnesses, the entire structure only took 8 seconds to be completely demolished.

And thankfully, each second was captured and saved for us to look back on.

Here are the photos

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Although those 8 seconds may have been entertaining, it's a shame that it took that long to erase so many years of history. Imagine what it could have been if it had been given another chance.

As we've seen lately, it's not impossible to rehabilitate buildings that would be considered "out-of-date" by many. The Barfield Hotel, The Saint Anthony's Hospital, and even the Herring Hotel which will be getting renovations soon all prove this point.

Hopefully, we can rebuild and breathe new life into the older parts of our city before we completely let them go.

Downtown Amarillo Over The Years

Downtown Amarillo has seen an incredible metamorphosis. Take a look at the photos below to see just how much it's changed--you won't believe the difference.

Untouched by Time: The Historic Homes of Polk Street Then & Now

You know you've entered Amarillo's historic district once you hit the red brick roads of Center City. A unique reflection of past and present, Amarillo's historic homes seem to pose pristinely against the curb.

These large, thoughtfully designed historic homes are part of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Amarillo. But most residents will agree that nothing quite tops the staggering royal beauty of the grand homes of Polk Street. Built by Amarillo's founding fathers, the looming estates of South Polk are a sight to behold.

Check out these stunning comparison photos that show how these gorgeous structures have remained nearly untouched by time.

LOOK: How Much Soncy Road Has Changed Over the Years!

Amarillo has grown. A lot. But sometimes it's easy to forget just how much things have changed in a short period of time.

Take a look at all the new places and buildings that have popped up along Soncy Street over the years!

Amarillo Cursed Buildings - 715 S. Polk

Polk Street is a great place to spend an evening. However, over the years, Polk Street has seen many businesses come and go. One of these buildings is at 715 S. Polk. It has been many things over the years, mainly bars, but it seems as soon as one moves in, it moves right out.

So what all has been in there? Let's take a look back at 715 S. Polk.

This building was originally built in 1915, it was known as The Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

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