Sir Walter Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel
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Sir Walter Apartments, 2008
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 400-412 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, North Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architect | B.H. Griffin, J.A. Salter |
| Part of | Fayetteville Street Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001980 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1978 |
The Sir Walter Hotel is a very old and important hotel building in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was built between 1923 and 1924 on Fayetteville Street. The hotel was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, a famous explorer. People used to call it North Carolina's "third house of government." This was because it was a main meeting place for state politicians until the 1960s.
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History of the Sir Walter Hotel
Early Days and Political Hub
In 1923, a company called Capital Construction Company was created. Their goal was to build a hotel in Raleigh. They wanted to attract big meetings and events that were going to other cities like Greensboro and Durham.
The Hotel Sir Walter officially opened in January 1924. It was the biggest building in the southern part of Raleigh's business area. The hotel quickly became a key spot for the North Carolina Democratic Party. At that time, this party was the most powerful political group in the state.
By 1925, many members of the state legislature (the people who make laws) lived at the Sir Walter. More than 80 percent of them called it home! Besides lawmakers, the hotel was also a place for people who tried to influence laws (called lobbyists), their helpers, jury members, reporters, and business people. For many years, important people met and stayed there. U.S. Senator Sam Ervin once said the hotel was "the most politically saturated inn in America." This meant it was full of politics!
Changes Over the Years
The Great Depression, a time when many people lost jobs and money, caused problems for the hotel's owners. They went bankrupt in 1934. But in 1935, a new company, North State Hotel Company, took over. They fixed up the hotel completely.
In 1938, the company added 50 more rooms. This made the Sir Walter the largest hotel in North Carolina. It became known as one of the best hotels for big meetings and events.
In 1956, the Robert Meyer hotel chain bought the Sir Walter. During the 1960s, things started to change. New motels were built outside the city. A new state Legislative Building was finished. Also, the downtown area became less popular. All these things made business harder for the hotel.
The Meyer chain sold the hotel in 1964. Then, in 1967, the owner, John A. Williams, gave the Hotel Sir Walter to the North Carolina State University Foundation. The hotel was worth $2 million. It kept running with the same managers and staff. The money earned from the hotel helped pay for student scholarships and financial aid.
For a short time, on February 13, 1968, the hotel joined the Sheraton chain. It was called the Sheraton-Sir Walter Hotel. But in early 1969, the university sold the hotel to Plaza Associates for $1.84 million. Plaza then traded the hotel to a developer named Kidd Brewer on March 28, 1969. In return, Brewer gave them the land where the Crabtree Valley Mall would be built. Soon after, the hotel left Sheraton and went back to its original name.
New Purpose: Apartments for Seniors
By 1975, downtown Raleigh was changing. There wasn't as much need for hotel rooms. So, most of the building was turned into offices. The North Carolina Department of Transportation and other businesses moved in.
In 1978, a developer named David Weil bought the building. He changed it into the Sir Walter Apartments. It became home to 140 apartments for older adults. In 2017, a new developer from Ohio bought the building. They plan to fix it up. It might become a hotel, offices, or apartments again in the future.
Design and Landmark Status
The Sir Walter Hotel looks like many American hotels built in the 1920s. It is a tall, 10-story building shaped like the letter "L." It is mostly made of brick. It has fancy stone decorations at the bottom and top.
The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 11, 1978. It was listed as the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel. Today, the Sir Walter Hotel is also a special Raleigh Historic Landmark. This means it is an important part of the city's history and design.
Images for kids
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The Hotel Sir Walter, shortly after its enlargement in 1938
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