Historic Morrison Hotel, Featured on The Doors' Album Cover, Severely Damaged by Fire in Los Angeles

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A significant fire has heavily damaged the historic Morrison Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, a building made famous by its appearance on the cover of The Doors' 1970 album, "Morrison Hotel." The fire, which broke out on Thursday, required over 100 firefighters to bring under control. The building, constructed in 1914, had been vacant for at least a decade and was undergoing conversion into affordable housing by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which purchased it in 2022.

The building's structural integrity is now in doubt, as the roof collapsed during the fire. Despite the extensive damage, there were no injuries reported among the people who were in the building at the time, though several dozen unhoused individuals were seen self-evacuating.

The Morrison Hotel's cover photo was taken in 1969 by celebrated music photographer Henry Diltz. The image features The Doors' lead singer, Jim Morrison, perched in the lobby’s window. The photo shoot was done somewhat clandestinely, as the band was initially denied permission to take photos inside the hotel. Diltz and the band managed to get the shot when the clerk was away from his post.

The fire has brought significant attention to the building's historical and cultural significance, as it is not only a piece of Los Angeles' architectural history but also a symbol of the city's musical legacy.