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 is a famous hotel in San Francisco, California. It's right next to Union Square, a popular spot in the city. The hotel has two main parts: the Landmark Building and the Tower Building.
The Landmark Building was built first, with its south wings opening in 1904. A larger north wing was added in 1913. Later, a much taller 32-story Tower Building was finished in 1972. This tower has cool glass elevators on the outside that give amazing views of the city and the bay. Together, the Westin St. Francis is one of San Francisco's biggest hotels, with over 1,195 rooms and suites.
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Hotel History
The St. Francis Hotel was started by the family of Charles Crocker. He was one of "The Big Four" who helped build the first transcontinental railway across America. The hotel was an investment for his grandchildren. It was named after an early hotel from the California Gold Rush days.
The hotel was designed by architects Bliss and Faville. It opened its doors on March 21, 1904. Right away, it became one of the most important and fancy hotels in San Francisco.
The 1906 Earthquake and Fire
In 1906, a huge earthquake shook the city. Guests at the St. Francis were very scared, but the hotel building itself didn't suffer much damage. A mining engineer named John Farish, who was staying there, described the loud rumbling and shaking.
The earthquake lasted for 55 seconds. A hotel worker saw guests screaming and running for the stairs because the elevators stopped working. The hotel manager tried to calm everyone down. Many guests rushed outside to Union Square.
Famous opera singer Enrico Caruso was staying at a nearby hotel. After the earthquake, he came to the St. Francis because its restaurant was still serving breakfast. Caruso carried a signed photo of President Theodore Roosevelt. He said he would never return to San Francisco, and he never did.
Even though the earthquake didn't destroy the hotel, it caused many fires to start across the city. The fires broke the water pipes, so firefighters couldn't stop them. Hours later, the fire reached Union Square and badly damaged the St. Francis Hotel.
After three days, the fires were finally put out. The St. Francis was damaged, but the main building was still standing. Workers started rebuilding right away. A small, temporary hotel was even built in Union Square for guests. The main hotel re-opened in late 1907.
A Hub for Celebrities and Leaders
After it reopened, the St. Francis welcomed many famous people. They came to San Francisco for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in 1915, a big world's fair. Guests included Helen Keller, who was famous for overcoming blindness and deafness. Also, politician William Jennings Bryan and evangelist Billy Sunday stayed there.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt visited in July 1915. He used his visit to talk about his political views. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson stayed at the hotel while trying to get support for the League of Nations. Many presidential candidates also stayed at the St. Francis during the 1920 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.
During the 1920s, the St. Francis became a popular place for Hollywood stars. Silent film actors like Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Mabel Normand were guests. Other famous visitors included writer Sinclair Lewis and dancer Isadora Duncan. Even Duke Kahanamoku, a champion swimmer who helped make surfing popular, stayed there.
The hotel was also known for its jazz orchestra, led by Art Hickman. His band played in the Rose Room and helped make musicians like Paul Whiteman famous.
The St. Francis had a legendary chef named Victor Hirtzler. He had cooked for kings in Europe. In 1916, he cooked a special dinner for Charles Evans Hughes, a politician running for president. Just before the meal, the waiters went on strike. Chef Hirtzler served the meal himself. This caused a problem with the workers' union. Hughes lost the election by a very small number of votes in California. Some people believed the dinner incident played a part in his loss.
The 1930s and World War II
The 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island brought more celebrities to the St. Francis. Artist Salvador Dalí famously posed for photos in his hotel room. Actor Cary Grant also stayed there.
During World War II, San Francisco was a major stop for soldiers and sailors going to fight in the Pacific. The hotel's shops were turned into small rooms for military officers. Many soldiers and sailors danced in the Mural Room to big band music.
In April 1945, the St. Francis hosted many important people. They were attending the meeting to create the United Nations in San Francisco. Delegations from countries like Iran, Canada, France, and the Soviet Union stayed at the hotel.
From the 1950s to Today
In April 1951, General Douglas MacArthur received a huge welcome at the St. Francis. He had just returned from Korea. Sadly, entertainer Al Jolson passed away in his suite at the hotel in October 1950. He had just been entertaining troops in Korea.
The Crocker family owned the hotel until after World War II. In 1954, it became part of the Western Hotels chain. The hotel then focused more on tourism and conventions.
In 1970, the old Mural Room was replaced by the new Tower Building. This helped the St. Francis compete with other large hotels. Architect William Pereira designed the new tower, which was finished in 1972.
The St. Francis became a favorite hotel for Republican presidents visiting San Francisco. President Gerald Ford was almost harmed while leaving the hotel in September 1975. A former Marine, Oliver Sipple, helped protect him. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan were also guests. Many world leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II and Emperor Hirohito of Japan, have stayed there.
In 1981, Western Hotels became Westin Hotels, and the hotel was renamed The Westin St. Francis. In March 2016, a Chinese insurance company bought the hotel. In April 2018, the Landmark Building finished a four-year renovation. It updated guest rooms and bathrooms.
Labor Relations
In November 2009, a workers' union asked people to avoid the Westin St. Francis Hotel. This was because the hotel's owner, Starwood, had not agreed to a new contract with its workers. There were many protests outside the hotel. In April 2011, the union and Starwood reached an agreement.
In September 2024, workers at the Westin St. Francis Hotel went on strike. The strike ended on December 24, 2024, when a new four-year agreement was approved.
The Hotel Today
The hotel has a historic lobby master clock, which was the first of its kind in the Western United States. It also features a restaurant by famous celebrity chef Michael Mina.
The hotel displays a collection of photographic prints by Ansel Adams. It also keeps some old traditions, like having an official hotel historian. The hotel even offers a special service to clean coins for guests.
In the lobby, you can see a collection of hotel items from different decades. These include old keys, dining dishes, room service bills, and photographs.
See also
