Gadsden Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Gadsden Hotel
|
|
Lobby, Gadsden Hotel
|
|
 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1046 G. Ave., Douglas, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Trost & Trost |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000371 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1976 |
The Gadsden Hotel is a historic and beautiful building located in Douglas, Arizona. It was officially listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976, which means it's recognized as a very important place in American history. Since 2016, Florencio and Anel Lopez have owned and managed this grand hotel.
History of the Gadsden Hotel
The Gadsden Hotel first opened its doors in 1907. It was named after the Gadsden Purchase, a piece of land the United States bought from Mexico. This impressive five-story hotel had 160 rooms and quickly became a popular spot. It was like a second home for many people, including cattle ranchers, miners, and business travelers.
Sadly, a big fire destroyed the hotel in 1929. But it was quickly rebuilt and reopened that same year, looking even more magnificent.
Inside the Gadsden Hotel
The main lobby of the Gadsden Hotel is truly amazing. It features a grand staircase made of solid white Italian marble. Four tall marble columns also reach up to the ceiling, making the space feel very open and fancy.
One of the most striking features is a huge stained glass window mural. It shows a beautiful scene of the Southwest Desert. This mural is forty-two feet long and was created by Ralph Baker, an artist whose family had been making stained glass for five generations. He even studied with Louis Comfort Tiffany, a very famous stained glass artist.
Below this stunning window, there is an impressive oil painting by Audley Dean Nicols. The hotel's lobby also has vaulted stained glass skylights that run all the way across the ceiling, letting in lots of natural light.
Famous Guests at the Gadsden Hotel
Many interesting people have stayed at the Gadsden Hotel over the years. Here are a few:
- Thornton Wilder: This famous writer planned to stay for just one night in May 1962 while his car was being repaired. But he liked the hotel and the area so much that he ended up staying for two whole months!
- Effie Anderson Smith: Known as "The Dean of Arizona Women Artists," Effie Anderson Smith often stayed at the Gadsden Hotel in the 1930s. She even lived there during the 1940s and painted several artworks from her room, including a view of the Swisshelms mountains. One of her paintings of the Grand Canyon was displayed in the hotel lobby for 11 years.
- Eleanor Roosevelt: The wife of former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt also visited the Gadsden Hotel.
