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 tall building, also known as a skyscraper, in El Paso, Texas, USA. You can find it at 106 Mills Avenue. It used to be called the Hilton Hotel. This historic building has been an important part of El Paso for many years.
Contents
Building a Landmark: The Plaza Hotel Story
The Plaza Hotel stands where another hotel, the Sheldon Hotel, once was. The Sheldon Hotel sadly burned down on April 9, 1929. Before it burned, the Sheldon was a popular meeting spot for people involved in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920s).
Starting Construction During Tough Times
In the fall of 1929, a famous hotel owner named Conrad Hilton started building the new hotel. Just 19 days later, the stock market crashed. This event led to the start of the Great Depression, a very difficult time for the economy. Even with these challenges, construction on the hotel kept going.
Opening Day and Tallest Building
On November 30, 1930, the new hotel officially opened as the Hilton Hotel. It was 239 feet (73 meters) tall! This made it the tallest building in El Paso at the time. Today, it is still the fifth tallest building in the city.
Cool Art Deco Style
The hotel was designed by a company called Trost & Trost. They gave it a special look called Art Deco. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The building has 19 stories and is made of strong concrete. It has brown brick and concrete on the outside. The roof is shaped like a pyramid and covered with special clay tiles. The outside of the hotel still looks much like it did when it first opened.
Famous Guests and Residents
Conrad Hilton, the hotel's founder, lived in the hotel for many years. His mother also lived there. In 1955, the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor stayed in the penthouse. She was married to Conrad's son, Nicky Hilton, at the time. Elizabeth Taylor was in El Paso filming the classic movie Giant.
New Name and Modern Updates
In 1963, Hilton sold the hotel, and its name changed to the Plaza Hotel. The hotel closed its doors in 1991. Years later, in 2008, an El Paso businessman named Paul Foster bought the building. It underwent a huge renovation that cost $78 million. The architecture firm Cooper Carry worked on this big project. In June 2020, the hotel reopened with a new name: The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park.
Historical Markers Nearby
The Plaza Hotel has special signs called historical markers. These markers tell stories about important events or places. On the hotel itself, you can find markers for the First Kindergarten in Texas and The Woman’s Club of El Paso. Other markers nearby tell about Chinatown and the Anson Mills Building. These are located across Mills Avenue.
About the Hotel Today
The Plaza Hotel now has 130 rooms for guests. It also has a parking garage right next to it, making it easy for people to visit.
Gallery
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Northeast side of building
See also
In Spanish: Plaza Hotel (El Paso) para niños
