Hotel Theresa facts for kids
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Hotel Theresa
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View from the north (2006)
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2082-2096 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1912-13 |
| Architect | George & Edward Blum |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000618 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 16, 2005 |
The Hotel Theresa is a famous building in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It stands on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard between West 124th and 125th Streets. In the middle of the 20th century, this hotel was a very important place for African American life in Harlem and New York City.
The 13-story hotel was built between 1912 and 1913. It was named after the wife of Gustavus Sidenberg, a stockbroker from Germany. The hotel was designed by the company of George and Edward Blum. They were known for designing apartment buildings. The Hotel Theresa was once called "the Waldorf of Harlem." This shows how important and fancy it was. The building uses a special material called terra-cotta for its decorations. People have called it "one of the most visually striking structures in northern Manhattan."
Today, the building is an office building known as Theresa Towers. It was named a New York City landmark in 1993. In 2005, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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A Look at the Hotel's History
The Hotel Theresa opened in 1913. It has 13 stories and a striking white terra-cotta front. The decorations were made just for this building. Until 1973, it was the tallest building in Harlem. At first, the hotel was mainly for people to live in for a long time, like an apartment building. It also welcomed guests for short stays.
A Change in Policy
In its early years, the hotel only allowed white guests. But in 1937, an African American businessman named Love B. Woods bought it. In 1940, he made a big change. He ended the hotel's policy of racial segregation. This meant people of all races were welcome.
A Hub for the Black Community
The hotel had a dining room on the top two floors with great views. It also had a bar and grill. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Theresa became a key place for the black community in Harlem. This was when it earned its nickname, "the Waldorf of Harlem." Many other fancy hotels in the city would not allow black guests. Because of this, black business people, performers, and athletes all stayed at the Theresa.
The building was also important for civil rights groups. It was home to A. Philip Randolph's March on Washington Movement. It also housed the March Community Bookstore. Later, Malcolm X started his Organization of Afro-American Unity there. This happened after he left the Nation of Islam.
Famous Visitors and Important Events
In 1960, Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba, came to New York. He was there for a meeting at the United Nations. After leaving another hotel, he and his group stayed at the Theresa. They rented 80 rooms. Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders helped arrange their stay. Castro felt that "Negroes would be more sympathetic" to his cause. He drew large, excited crowds. While Castro was there, he met many important people. These included Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and activist Malcolm X. Poets Langston Hughes and Allen Ginsberg also visited. Other leaders like President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India came too. After Castro's visit, other leaders from around the world also chose to stay at the Theresa.
In October 1960, John F. Kennedy visited the hotel. He was campaigning for president at the time. Eleanor Roosevelt and other important people from the Democratic Party joined him.
People Who Lived or Worked There
Ron Brown, who later became the United States Secretary of Commerce, grew up in the hotel. His father worked there as the manager. U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel from Harlem once worked at the hotel as a desk clerk.
The Hotel's Later Years
Through the 1950s and 1960s, Harlem faced tough times. The Hotel Theresa also suffered. It was ironic that the end of segregation elsewhere in the city also hurt the hotel. Wealthy African Americans now had other choices for hotels. They stopped coming to Harlem. The hotel owners had not updated the building in many years. It was described as "dowdy," meaning old-fashioned and plain.
New owners started changing the building into office space in 1966. The hotel closed its doors in 1967. The building was renovated and restored. Its outside look was kept mostly the same as it was originally. This was a good choice, as replacing it with a modern aluminum and glass front had been considered. The building reopened in 1970 as Theresa Towers. Even today, a sign with the old name is still painted on the side. Many people still call it by its old name. Besides offices, it is also used by Columbia University's Teachers College and the Touro College of Pharmacy.
Notable Guests, Tenants, and Employees
Many famous people stayed, lived, or worked at the Hotel Theresa.
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See also
In Spanish: Hotel Theresa para niños
