Adolphus Hotel

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = The Adolphus Hotel


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location =1315 Commerce St.
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status = Completed
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opening = 5 October 1912
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floor_count = 22
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architect = Barnett, Hayes and Barnett
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owner = Adolphus Busch
management = Infobox nrhp
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added = July 14, 1983
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refnum =83003133
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The Adolphus Hotel (often referred to locally as simply "The Adolphus") is an upscale hotel in the Main Street District of downtown Dallas, Texas (USA) which was for several years the tallest building in the state of Texas.

History

The Adolphus was opened on 5 October 1912, built by the founder of the Anheuser-Busch company, Adolphus Busch in a Beaux Arts style designed by Barnett, Hayes and Barnett of St. Louis. Busch's intention in constructing the hotel was to establish the first grand and posh hotel in the city of Dallas. Under the management of Otto Schubert [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Schubert] from 1922-1946, the hotel grew to national prominence. With 22 floors standing a total of 312 feet (95 m), the building was the tallest building in Texas until it was dwarfed by the Magnolia Petroleum Building (now the Magnolia Hotel) just down the street in August 1922 [ [http://www.dallassky.com/ Dallassky.com] - [http://www.dallassky.com/bldg26.htm Magnolia Building] . Retrieved 24 August 2006.] . The building underwent a series of expansions, first in 1916, then 1926 and finally in 1950, at the time giving the hotel a total of 1,200 rooms.

In the 1930s, various venues of the Adolphus played host to many big band musicians of the era, including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.

In 1936, the historian and political activist J. Evetts Haley organized at the Adolphus his third party, the "Jeffersonian Democrats of Texas", to oppose within Texas the reelection of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom Haley considered a socialist.

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 also stayed at the hotel in 1991. This hotel was a Dallas hub for entertainment and provided a platform that helped developing careers, such as Bob Hope, Jack Benny & others. North American Aviation (P-51 Mustangs, WWII) and others benefitted from its position as a Texas business hub.During the 1980s, the Adolphus underwent a US$80 million renovation, enlarging and modernizing the already-luxurious guestrooms. It also shrunk the total number of guestrooms to 428. The Adolphus was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

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.

References

External links

* [http://www.hoteladolphus.com/ Hotel Adolphus homepage]