Gunter Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gunter Hotel
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Sheraton Gunter Hotel
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 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 205 E. Houston St., San Antonio, Texas, USA |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Mauran, Russell & Garden; Westlake Construction Co. |
| Architectural style | Skyscraper |
| NRHP reference No. | 06001233 |
| Added to NRHP | January 9, 2007 |
The Sheraton Gunter Hotel is a really old and famous hotel in downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. It was built way back in 1909! A talented architect named John Mauran from St. Louis designed it. This special building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's important to American history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Gunter Hotel's Story
How the Gunter Hotel Began
The Gunter Hotel first opened its doors on November 20, 1909. It was built where another hotel, the Mahncke Hotel, used to stand. In fact, there has been a hotel or inn on this very spot since 1837!
The San Antonio Hotel Company built the Gunter Hotel. It had eight floors and 301 rooms. The hotel was named after Jot Gunter, a local rancher and real estate developer. He helped pay for the hotel's construction. Ernest Russell, from the Mauran, Russell & Garden firm, designed the building. When it was finished, it was the biggest building in all of San Antonio!
Changes and New Owners
In 1924, the Baker Hotel Company bought the Gunter Hotel. They decided to make it even bigger! In 1926, they added three more floors to the building. Architect Herbert Green designed this new addition.
The hotel was given a big makeover between 1980 and 1985. An architect named Robert V. Buck was in charge of this restoration. During this time, a two-story parking garage was also built next to the hotel. Gustav Heye designed the garage.
The hotel's name changed a few times too! In April 1986, it became the Radisson Gunter Hotel. Then, in 1989, it was renamed the Sheraton Gunter Hotel. In 1996, the Camberley Group bought it, and it became The Camberley Gunter. But in 1999, it was sold again to Houston Street Hotel Partners. It then went back to being the Sheraton Gunter Hotel.
A Special Meeting Place
The Gunter Hotel was also the birthplace of a very important company! On June 22, 1922, twenty-five United States Army Officers met there. They wanted to find a good and affordable way to get car insurance. From that meeting, the insurance company United Services Automobile Association was created!
The Hotel's Military Connections
Even before the Gunter Hotel was built, the land it stands on had military importance. The Vance House hotel, which was there before, became the main office for the U.S. Army. This happened during the Mexican–American War from 1846 to 1847. It was the headquarters for all Texas military matters.
At this very site, General David E. Twiggs handed over a large amount of federal property to the forces of Confederate Texas. Also, the Gunter Hotel site was once the headquarters for Colonel Robert E. Lee. He took command of the Post of San Antonio on August 5, 1857.
