The Crescent Hotel was erected by the Eureka Improvement Company in 1884-1886. The board of directors was composed of Powell Clayton, R. C. Kerens, C. W. Rogers, Logan H. Roots, John O’Day, James Dunn, B. Baker and D. A. Nichols. Powell Clayton was president of the company, Logan H. Roots, treasurer and H. Foote, secretary. Isaac S. Taylor was the architect. It had its grand opening May 1, 1886. In 1902 when the Frisco Railroad took it over it was remodeled with Guy Crandall Morimer as architect.
Some of the board of directors of the Crescent Hotel Company were stockholders in the Frisco Railroad and it was probably through their influence that the Frisco leased the hotel in 1902 for a period of five years. One of the conditions of the lease was that at least $50,000 be spent on furnishings and improvements. This was done and the hotel was widely advertised by the railroad company.
During the first twenty-two years of its existence, the Crescent was operated as a year-round hotel but in 1908 the Crescent College for girls was organized and the building became a school from September until June and continued as a hotel during the three summer months. A. S. Maddox was the first president of the college. R. R. (Dick) Thompson became president in 1910 and continued in this capacity until the middle twenties. The institution was then taken over by Claude Fuller, Albert Ingalls and W. T. Patterson and operated for a few years. A. Q. Burns became president of the college in 1929 and served for three or four years. The college was closed permanently in 1933.
In 1936 the property was sold to Norman Baker who turned it into a hospital. This institution lasted about two years and when it folded up the building remained vacant until 1946. In the spring of that year it was bought by four Chicago men—John R. Constantine, Herbert E. Shutter, Herbert A. Byfield, and Dwight Nichols. It was reopened July 4, 1946 with Mr. Nichols as manager.
The Crescent Hotel now specializes in “package tours” from Chicago and other cities and remains open from April 1 to December 1. It is again associated with the Frisco Railroad for most of the guests come to Monett, Missouri by train and are transported by Crescent buses through the scenic hills to Eureka Springs. The regular “package” tour is of six days duration and provides room, meals and entertainment.