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Adolphus Hotel

Coordinates: 32°46′47″N 96°47′57″W / 32.77972°N 96.79917°W / 32.77972; -96.79917
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Hotel Adolphus
Hotel Adolphus in 2009
Hotel Adolphus is located in Texas
Hotel Adolphus
Hotel Adolphus
Hotel Adolphus is located in the United States
Hotel Adolphus
Hotel Adolphus
Location1321 Commerce St.,
Dallas, Texas
Coordinates32°46′47″N 96°47′57″W / 32.77972°N 96.79917°W / 32.77972; -96.79917
Arealess than one acre
Built1911 (1911)
ArchitectBarnett, Haynes & Barnett; Tom P. Barnett
Architectural styleBeaux-Arts
WebsiteThe Adolphus Hotel
Part ofDallas Downtown Historic District (ID04000894[1])
NRHP reference No.83003133[1]
RTHL No.6585
DLMK No.H/36
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 14, 1983
Designated CPAugust 11, 2006
Designated RTHL1981
Designated DLMKSeptember 30, 1987[2]

The Adolphus Hotel is a historic upscale hotel established in 1912 in the Main Street District of Downtown Dallas, Texas. A Dallas Landmark, it was for several years the tallest building in the state. Today, the hotel is part of Marriott's Autograph Collection brand.

History

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The hotel was developed by Adolphus Busch, founder of the Anheuser-Busch company. He already owned the Oriental Hotel, across the street from the present hotel, when he was approached by a group of prominent Dallas businessmen in 1910 with the idea of constructing the first European-style luxury hotel in the city. Busch purchased Dallas's old City Hall on June 22, 1910,[3] demolished it, and constructed the new hotel at a cost of $1.8 million. The name was announced as the New Oriental Hotel.[4] It was designed by Thomas P. Barnett of Barnett, Haynes & Barnett of St. Louis in the Beaux Arts style. The 22-story, 312-foot (95 m) building would be the tallest in Texas until it was surpassed by the Magnolia Petroleum Building, ten years later.[5]

By the time the hotel opened, on October 5, 1912, its name had been changed to match its builder, the Adolphus Hotel. The hotel was expanded multiple times, in 1916, 1926, and 1950, eventually filling much of a city block, and giving the hotel a total of 1,200 rooms. Under the management of Otto Schubert from 1922 to 1946, the hotel grew to national prominence. In the 1930s it was run by hotel industry pioneer Ralph Hitz's National Hotel Management Company[6] and played host to many big band musicians of the era, including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.

The Adolphus has been the host of many respected leaders of business, government and entertainment, including presidents, from Warren G. Harding to George H. W. Bush. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip stayed at the hotel in 1991. The hotel was a Dallas hub for entertainment and provided a platform that helped developing careers, such as Bob Hope, Jack Benny and others. North American Aviation (P-51 Mustangs, World War II) and others benefited from its position as a Texas business hub.

In 1980, the Adolphus underwent an $80 million renovation, which decreased the total number of rooms to 428 by combining multiple outdated guest rooms into larger ones. The Adolphus was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The hotel was extensively renovated again in 2017.[4]

The Hotel has been named one of the top ten in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler and also receives high ratings from Zagat, Fodor's and Frommer's.

The structure is a Dallas Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[edit]
  • Oriental Hotel, Dallas, 1893
    Oriental Hotel, Dallas, 1893
  • Front entrance
    Front entrance
  • The Dallas skyline on April 1, 1913, less than a year after the Adolphus opened
    The Dallas skyline on April 1, 1913, less than a year after the Adolphus opened
  • Exterior of the French Room at the Adolphus
    Exterior of the French Room at the Adolphus
  • Roof detail
    Roof detail
  • Reception desk
    Reception desk

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ Analeslie Muncy (September 30, 1987). "Ordinance No. 19696" (PDF). City of Dallas. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "History of Dallas City Hall Buildings". dallascityhall.com. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "An Exclusive Look at the New Adolphus Hotel". D Magazine. August 25, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Dallassky.com – Magnolia Building. Retrieved 24 August 2006.
  6. ^ "The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio". Newspapers.com. July 28, 1934. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
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