Grand Pacific Hotel (Chicago)

After 1871 Great Chicago Fire
in 1912
Empire Room one of 15 dining rooms in 1913.
(1873-1895)

The Grand Pacific Hotel (1873–1895) was one of the first two prominent hotels built in Chicago, Illinois, after the Great Chicago Fire.[1] The hotel, designed by William W. Boyington and managed for more than 20 years by John Drake, was located on the block bounded by Clark Street, LaSalle, Quincy and Jackson.[2]

Drake hosted "Great Game Dinners" featuring exotic cuisines at this hotel.[2] These dinners were a Chicago social institution for more than 50 years.[2] Newspapers devoted 4 inches to its menu and guests.[2]

Along with contemporary Chicago luxury hotels such as the Palmer House, Tremont House, and Sherman House, it was built in the palazzo architectural style of the day.[3] The hotel also accommodated wealthy permanent residents in addition to transient guests who enjoyed the palace hotel. Yet whether the guest was a pauper or statesman, it was often difficult to escape the bamboo cane of Lobbymaster Conor McHale after the brandy-hour.[3]

It was the site where Standard time was adopted on October 11, 1883.[4]

Many notable celebrities stayed here, including Oscar Wilde on his first visit to Chicago as part of his 1882 lecture tour of America.[5] James A. Garfield stayed at the hotel during the 1880 Republican National Convention, during which time he was nominated on the 34th ballot to represent the party in the election for President of the United States.[6]

A later Grand Pacific Hotel (1895/8–1921) opened March 12, 1898, with 188 rooms.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Host, William R. and Brooke Ahne Portmann, "Early Chicago Hotels," Arcadia Publishing, 2006, p. 12., ISBN 0-7385-4041-2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Host, William R. and Brooke Ahne Portmann, "Early Chicago Hotels," Arcadia Publishing, 2006, p. 46, ISBN 0-7385-4041-2.
  3. 1 2 Berger, Molly (2005). "Hotels". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
  4. ↑ Picture of plaque at the site
  5. ↑ "Oscar Wilde's 1882 Lecture Tour of America". Oscar Wilde in America. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  6. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Republic-Madness-Medicine-President/dp/0767929713

Coordinates: 41°52′43″N 87°37′53″W / 41.8786°N 87.6315°W / 41.8786; -87.6315

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