Westin St. Francis facts for kids
| The Westin St. Francis | |
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | United States |
| Coordinates | 37°47′16″N 122°24′30″W / 37.7877°N 122.4084°W |
| Address | |
| Opening date | 1904 (Landmark Building) 1970 (Tower Building) |
| Architect | Walter Danforth Bliss William Baker Faville William L. Pereira & Associates |
| Management | Marriott International |
| Owner | Anbang Insurance Group |
| No. of restaurants | Michael Mina Restaurant The Oak Room Restaurant Caruso's Clock Bar |
| No. of rooms | 629 (Landmark Building)
566 (Tower Building) 1,195 (Total) |
| of which suites | 24 (Landmark Building)
35 (Tower Building) 59 (Total) |
| No. of floors | 16 (Landmark Building) 32 (Tower Building) |
The Westin St. Francis, once known as the St. Francis Hotel, is a fancy hotel in San Francisco, California. It sits right on Union Square. The first parts of the hotel, two 12-story sections, were built in 1904. A larger section, called the Landmark Building, was finished in 1913.
Later, a tall 32-story building, known as the Tower Building, was added in 1972. This tower is about 120 meters (394 feet) high. It has cool glass elevators on the outside that give amazing views of the city and the bay. With over 1,254 rooms and suites, the St. Francis is one of the biggest hotels in San Francisco.
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A Look at the Hotel's Past
The St. Francis Hotel was started by the family of Charles Crocker. He was one of the "Big Four" railroad builders who helped create the transcontinental railway across America. The hotel was meant to be an investment for his grandchildren.
It was first going to be called The Crocker Hotel. But instead, it took the name of an older hotel from the San Francisco Gold Rush days, the St. Francis. The hotel was designed by architects Bliss and Faville. It opened on March 21, 1904. Right away, it became one of the most important places to stay in the city.
The 1906 Earthquake and Fire
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 shook the hotel's guests, but it did not cause major damage to the building itself. A mining engineer staying there, John Farish, said it felt like a loud rumbling noise and strong shaking.
The earthquake lasted 55 seconds. A hotel worker described how guests were screaming and running. The elevators stopped working, so everyone rushed to the stairs. The hotel manager tried to calm people, but most ran outside to Union Square.
Later that morning, famous opera singer Enrico Caruso came to the St. Francis. He had been staying at a nearby hotel that was also affected. Caruso ate breakfast at the St. Francis, which was still open. He carried a signed photo of President Theodore Roosevelt and said he would never return to San Francisco. He never did, as he passed away in 1921.
Even though the earthquake did not damage the hotel much, it started many fires across the city. The water pipes broke, so firefighters could not stop the flames. The fire reached Union Square and burned the inside of the hotel.
After three days, the fire was finally put out. The St. Francis had not suffered serious damage to its structure. The hotel was rebuilt very quickly. A small temporary hotel was even built in Union Square to house guests. The main hotel re-opened in late 1907.
The Roaring Twenties and Famous Guests
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After it reopened, the St. Francis welcomed many famous people. They came to San Francisco for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in 1915. Guests included Helen Keller and former President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt used his visit to talk about America joining World War I.
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson stayed at the St. Francis. He was traveling to get support for the League of Nations, a group of countries working for peace. In 1920, many presidential candidates stayed at the hotel during the Democratic National Convention.
During the 1920s, the St. Francis became a popular spot for Hollywood stars. Silent film actors like Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mabel Normand stayed there. Other guests included writer Sinclair Lewis and dancer Isadora Duncan.
The hotel was also known for its jazz orchestra, led by Art Hickman. His band played in the Rose Room. Musicians like Paul Whiteman and Ferde Grofé were part of his group. Grofé later wrote the famous Grand Canyon Suite.
The Hotel's Legendary Chef
Part of the St. Francis's fame came from its amazing chef, Victor Hirtzler. He learned to cook in France and worked for royal families in Europe. He was known for creating very fancy and expensive dishes.
In 1916, Chef Hirtzler was involved in a political event. The Crocker family, who owned the hotel, were Republicans. They hosted a dinner for Charles Evans Hughes, who was running for president. Just before the dinner, the waiters went on strike. Hirtzler insisted the dinner go on and served the meal himself.
When the workers' union found out, they spread flyers saying Hughes was against unions. Hughes lost the election by a very small number of votes in California. Many people believe that this incident, where he crossed the picket line, cost him the election.
From the 1930s to World War II
The 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island brought more celebrities to the St. Francis. Artist Salvador Dalí famously posed in his hotel bathtub with a lobster on his head! Actor Cary Grant also stayed there.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, San Francisco became a key place for soldiers and sailors heading to war. The hotel's shops were turned into rooms for military officers. Soldiers and sailors danced in the Mural Room to big band music.
In 1945, the St. Francis hosted many groups attending the first meeting of the United Nations. This important meeting was held in San Francisco. Delegations from countries like Iran, Canada, France, and the Soviet Union stayed at the hotel.
Modern Times: 1950s to Today
In 1951, General Douglas MacArthur stayed at the St. Francis after returning from Korea. Famous entertainer Al Jolson passed away in his suite at the hotel in 1950.
The Crocker family owned the hotel until after World War II. In 1954, it became part of the Western Hotels chain, which later became Westin Hotels.
The hotel changed from a home for older San Francisco residents to a modern hotel for tourists and events. In 1970, a new 600-room tower was built to help the St. Francis compete with other large hotels. The old Mural Room, which had hosted many famous bands, was replaced by this new tower.
The St. Francis became the hotel where Republican presidents often stayed when visiting San Francisco. President Gerald Ford had an incident outside the hotel in 1975. A former Marine, Oliver Sipple, helped prevent harm to the president. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan also stayed there. Many world leaders, like Queen Elizabeth II and Emperor Hirohito of Japan, have been guests.
In 1981, Western International became Westin Hotels, and the hotel was renamed The Westin St. Francis. In 2016, a Chinese insurance company bought the hotel. In 2018, the hotel finished a big renovation of its older Landmark Building.
The Hotel Today
The Westin St. Francis has a special old clock in its lobby, which was the first of its kind in the Western United States. It also has a restaurant by famous chef Michael Mina.
The hotel displays a small collection of photos by Ansel Adams in the lobby. It also keeps some old traditions, like having an official hotel historian. There is even a unique service for guests where they can get their coins cleaned!
You can see a collection of hotel items in the lobby. These include old keys, dining dishes, room service bills, and photos. They are arranged by decade, showing the hotel's long history.
