Grand Pacific Hotel (Chicago)

:"For other uses, see Grand Pacific Hotel"

The Grand Pacific Hotel (1873-1895) was one of the first two prominent hotels built in Chicago, Illinois after the Great Chicago Fire.Host, William R. and Brooke Ahne Portmann, "Early Chicago Hotels," Arcadia Publishing, 2006, p. 12., ISBN 0-7385-4041-2.] It had been open less than 10 months before the fire. The hotel, designed by William W. Boyington and managed for more than 20 years by John Drake (1826-1895), was located on the block bounded by Clark Street, LaSalle, Quincy and Jackson.Host, William R. and Brooke Ahne Portmann, "Early Chicago Hotels," Arcadia Publishing, 2006, p. 46., ISBN 0-7385-4041-2.]

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

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.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/603.html|author=Berger, Molly|accessdate=March 28|accessdate=2007|date=2005|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|title=Hotels|work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago] The hotel also accommodated wealthy permanent residents in addition to transient guests who enjoyed the palace hotel.

It was the site where Standard time was adopted on October 11, 1883. [ [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmchuff/2300547449 Picture of plaque at the site] ]

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

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