Jefferson Hotel (Richmond, Virginia) facts for kids
The Jefferson Hotel is a beautiful and historic hotel located in Richmond, Virginia. It first opened its doors in 1895. This special building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
The Jefferson Hotel is also a member of Historic Hotels of America. This is a special program that recognizes hotels for their history and unique charm. Inside the hotel, you can find a restaurant called "Lemaire." It's named after Etienne Lemaire, who was a main helper for Thomas Jefferson when he was president.
| Jefferson Hotel | |
 The historic Jefferson Hotel in downtown Richmond |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
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| Location | 101 W Franklin St., Richmond, Virginia, USA, 23220 |
| Coordinates | 37°32′39.42″N 77°26′43.09″W / 37.5442833°N 77.4453028°W |
| Opening date | October 31, 1895 |
| Owner | CCA Financial |
| No. of restaurants | 2 |
| No. of rooms | 166 |
| of which suites | 15 |
| Parking | on-site valet and self parking |
| No. of floors | 6 |
| Footnotes | |
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Jefferson Hotel
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 104 W. Main St., Richmond, Virginia |
| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Carrère and Hastings, J. Kevan Peebles |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th century American Movements |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000351 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 4, 1969 |
Contents
A Look at the Jefferson Hotel's Past
A rich tobacco businessman named Lewis Ginter had a dream to build a top-notch hotel in Richmond. He wanted it to be the best in the state capital. The hotel was designed in a fancy style called Spanish Baroque. The architects, Carrère and Hastings, were famous. They also designed the New York Public Library!
Building the hotel started in 1892. It officially opened its doors on October 31, 1895.
Fires and Famous Guests
In 1901, a fire badly damaged the inside of the hotel. Luckily, no one was hurt. A statue of Thomas Jefferson was almost destroyed, but workers saved it by pushing it on a mattress. Its head broke off during the rescue, but it was later fixed. The hotel was carefully restored and reopened in 1907. Over the years, it has been updated many times.
Many important people have stayed at the Jefferson Hotel. This includes thirteen United States presidents! Famous writers and celebrities have also visited. Some of these guests include Henry James, Charles Lindbergh, The Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and Anthony Hopkins.
Another fire happened in March 1944. Sadly, six people died during this fire.
In the main check-in area, called the Palm Court, you can still see nine original stained glass windows. They were made by a famous company called Tiffany. These windows have the hotel's special symbol on them. The three stained glass windows above the front desk and the big stained glass dome are newer copies.
Alligators in the Lobby!
Imagine checking into a hotel and seeing an alligator swimming nearby! That's what happened at the Jefferson Hotel for many years. The famous actor David Niven wrote about this in his book. He said he was amazed to see a full-sized alligator swimming in a pool near the front desk in the late 1930s.
These alligators became very famous around the world. The last alligator living in the hotel's marble pools was named Old Pompey. He lived there until 1948. Today, you won't find live alligators, but bronze statues of them decorate the hotel. The hotel's restaurant, Lemaire, even has alligator designs as part of its theme!
The Jefferson Hotel in Movies
The hotel and its restaurant have also been used in movies. For example, some inside scenes for the 1981 American film My Dinner with Andre were filmed there. This movie starred Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory.
See also
In Spanish: Jefferson Hotel (Richmond, Virginia) para niños
