The Cyrus Hotel draws inspiration from the life and legacy of Cyrus K. Holliday, who helped establish Topeka in 1854 and became a defining figure in the city's early history. Our design team studied Holliday's letters to his wife, Mary, written while he was in Kansas helping establish the new town, finding inspiration in his optimism, determination, and belief in creating a new community. That story informed the design throughout the hotel, from Federalist inspired detailing and references to Holliday's railroad legacy to artwork that reflects Kansas's turbulent Civil War era and its fight to enter the Union as a free state. Layered with rich blues, teals, and reds and subtle references to historic rail travel, the hotel celebrates the idea of starting fresh and creating a place where all are welcome.
