Plaza Hotel (El Paso, Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Plaza Hotel
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Plaza Hotel
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 Plaza Hotel
Location in Texas
Plaza Hotel
Location in the United States
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| Location | 106 Mills Ave., El Paso, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Trost & Trost |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Website | The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park |
| MPS | Commercial Structures of El Paso by Henry C. Trost TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004110 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 1980 |
The Plaza Hotel is a famous and tall building, also known as a skyscraper, located in El Paso, Texas, USA. It stands at 106 Mills Avenue. This hotel has a long history and has been known by different names, including the Hilton Hotel and The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hotel's History
From Fire to a New Beginning
Before the Plaza Hotel was built, an older hotel called the Sheldon Hotel stood in its place. Sadly, the Sheldon Hotel burned down on April 9, 1929. This old hotel was a popular spot for people involved in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920s), with visitors from both sides of the border staying there.
Building a Landmark During Tough Times
In the fall of 1929, a famous hotel owner named Conrad Hilton started building a new hotel on the site. Just 19 days later, the stock market crashed, and the Great Depression began. This was a very difficult time for the economy, but construction on the hotel kept going!
The new hotel, called the Hilton Hotel, opened its doors on November 30, 1930. It was 239 feet (73 meters) tall, making it the tallest building in El Paso at the time. Today, it is still the fifth tallest building in the city.
Cool Design and Famous Guests
The hotel was designed by a company called Trost & Trost. It was built in the Art Deco style, which was very popular back then. Art Deco buildings often have cool geometric shapes and fancy decorations. The hotel has 19 floors and is made of strong concrete, with brown bricks on the outside. It also has a unique pyramid-shaped roof made of clay tiles. The outside of the building still looks much like it did when it was first built.
Conrad Hilton himself lived in the hotel for many years, and so did his mother. A very famous actress, Elizabeth Taylor, also lived in the penthouse (the top floor apartment) in 1955. She was married to Conrad Hilton's son, Nicky Hilton, and was in El Paso to film the classic movie Giant.
New Owners and a Fresh Start
Conrad Hilton sold the hotel in 1963, and it was then renamed the Plaza Hotel. The hotel closed in 1991. Years later, in 2008, an El Paso businessman named Paul Foster bought it. He spent a lot of money, $78 million, to renovate and update the hotel. It reopened in June 2020 with a new name: The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park.
Historical Markers Around the Hotel
There are special signs, called historical markers, near the Plaza Hotel that tell interesting stories about the area. Some markers on the hotel itself celebrate the First Kindergarten in Texas and The Woman’s Club of El Paso. Nearby, across Mills Avenue, you can find markers for Chinatown and the Anson Mills Building.
About the Hotel Today
The Plaza Hotel has 130 rooms for guests. It also has a parking garage next to it, which is handy for people visiting the hotel.
Gallery
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Northeast side of building
See also
In Spanish: Plaza Hotel (El Paso) para niños
