The Read House Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Read House
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | William Holabird & Martin Roche |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001780 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1976 |
The Read House Hotel is a famous and old hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The building you see today was built in 1926. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its important history. This means it is a special place recognized for its past.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The very first hotel on this spot was called the Old Crutchfield House. It was named after the Crutchfield family who built it. This hotel was right across from the railway tracks. Back then, railways were the main way to travel and move goods. This busy location helped the Old Crutchfield House do very well.
From Inn to Hospital
During the American Civil War, the Old Crutchfield House served two purposes. It was an inn for travelers and also a hospital. Union soldiers traveling through Chattanooga used it for care. Sadly, the inn caught fire and burned down in 1867.
A New Beginning
After the fire, the Crutchfield family decided not to rebuild. This opened the way for John T. Read to step in. He built a brand new hotel in the same spot. The new Read House Hotel first opened its doors on New Year's Day in 1872.
Modern Design and Updates
In 1926, the hotel was torn down again. A completely new hotel was built in its place. This new building was designed by two architects, Holabird and Roche. They gave it a Georgian style with 10 stories. The hotel had another big update in 2004. In 2015, the hotel changed its name to The Read House Historic Inn & Suites. In 2016, a company called Avocet Hospitality Group bought the hotel. They planned a large renovation, which started in 2017.
Famous Visitors and Guests
The Read House Hotel is located in the center of Chattanooga. Because of this, many well-known people have stayed there.
Notable Stays
Some famous guests include Oprah Winfrey, Gary Cooper, and Winston Churchill. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope also visited. One of the most talked-about guests was Al Capone. He stayed at the Read House for a short time. This was during a federal trial in the early 1900s.
Room 311's Special Bars
To make sure Capone was secure, special iron bars were added to the windows of his room. This was Room 311. These bars stayed on the windows for many years. They were finally removed during the 2004 renovation.
