Hotel Ruby Marie in Madison, Wisconsin

We are now in Madison, Wisconsin visiting our son, Sebby. We are staying at the historic Hotel Ruby Marie, across the street from Lake Monona in downtown Madison

The original hotel was built across from a railway depot in 1873 by August Ramthun. It was named the Ramthun Saloon and Rooms.

Within ten years, the hotel, now named the East Madison House, was bought by John B. Drives, who did major renovations and encased the building in brick. He added an addition, creating the courtyard.

The hotel has changed names 5 times and has had 14 proprietors since it opened. In 1899. 148 trains passed through Madison each day creating much business for hotels in the area. With the invention of the automobile, passenger trains decreased. Milwaukee Road shut down its Madison east side depot in 1952 and the C&NW stopped passenger service in 1965. Nightly room rates went down and a seedy aspect of culture sprang up. Bar brawls, prostitution, and heavy intoxication marked a very rough era for Wilson St. until the 1980’s, when Robert Worm bought and opened two restaurants on the block. In 2000, with historic preservation grants and a vision, Robert Worm brought new life to the hotel that had become a dark and dingy place of ill repute. He renamed the hotel Ruby Marie after his mother and turned 30 small rooms into 15 good sized rooms and restored to it’s original victorian elegance.

I encourage you to check out the Hotel Ruby Marie if you are looking for accommodations in the heart of Madison downtown.