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| Before the war |
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| Pre 1980's |
Built in 1960, the Ducor Hotel was the first international hotel in Liberia, and the only 5 star hotel to have been here. Located on the highest point in Monrovia, a bar on the roof provided a 360ยบ view of the city. The hotel closed in 1989 as the first civil war was beginning. Through the 10 years of the first civil war, the property was damaged, looted, and displaced people made their homes there. During the 2003 siege of Monrovia, Charles Taylor's army used it as a firing position because of the strategical view of the city. In 2007, squatters were removed from the property, but it still remains abandoned today.
The Ducor is a short distance from where we live. Surrounded by a chain link fence and barbed wire with a few nonuniformed "guards" loitering inside it appears closed off, but a few dollars passed through the fence allows a quick entrance. Here are a few pictures from our explorations over Christmas.
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| Circular car garage as seen in the aerial photo above. |
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| Looking down into circular car park area. |
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| Main staircase. This was probably in the lobby. |
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| Elevator shaft with no doors. |
The view from the top of the hotel is stunning.
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| Bridge to Bushrod Island |
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| The slums of Westpoint are to the left. |
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| Westpoint |
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