Hay–Adams Hotel

The Hay-Adams
Hay-Adams Hotel
Location Lafayette Square
Sixteenth & H Streets
N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006
Opening date 1928
Developer Harry Wardman
Architect Mirhan Mesrobian
Management The Hay-Adams Management Company LLC
Rooms 145
Suites 20
Restaurants 2
Website Hayadams.com

The Hay–Adams Hotel is a luxury hotel located at 800 16th Street NW in Washington, D.C. Lafayette Square and St. John's Episcopal Church, also known as the Church of the Presidents, are located across the street. The hotel is a contributing property to the Lafayette Square Historic District and a member of the Historic Hotels of America.

The hotel occupies the site where the 1885 homes of John Hay and Henry Adams once stood at 16th and H Streets NW. In 1927, Harry Wardman bought the property and razed the homes. The hotel, designed by Mihran Mesrobian, was built on the site in 1928 in Italian Renaissance style.

The Hay–Adams Hotel's slogan is: "Where nothing is overlooked but the White House."[1]

Contents

History

The Hay–Adams Hotel was purchased in the 1930s by hotel magnate Julius Manger. Mr. Manger was primarily a New York City hotel owner who owned 18 hotels in NYC including the St Regis, Peninsula (formerly the Gotham) and the Hotel Netherland (currently Sherry Netherlands) located opposite The Plaza. During the depression he sought to increase his hostelry holdings in the U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C., which he felt was a safe investment. Julius Manger bought the Hay Adams House in 1933 where he resided until his death in March 1937, he also purchased the Annapolis and Hamilton hotels located in Washington DC. At the time of his death Julius Manger was the largest independent hotel operator in the United States. The Manger family owned the Hay Adams from 1933 to 1973. In 2006, B. F. Saul Company, a DC area real estate company, bought the Hay-Adams for $100 million.[2]

President Obama and his family stayed in the Hay–Adams Hotel for a period of two weeks prior to his inauguration because the Blair House was occupied before the inauguration of his presidency.

Haunting

The Hay–Adams Hotel is said to be haunted by Henry Adams's beloved wife, "Clover" (Marian Hooper Adams), who committed suicide on this site in 1885, before the hotel was built. Her spirit is said to be walking the floors, trailed by the scent of mimosa.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ "The Hay-Adams – "Most Excellent Service Award" – Condé Nast". (press release). January 31, 2006. http://www.hayadams.com/popup-press-releases.php?p=17. Retrieved 2009-01-05. 
  2. ^ Killian, Erin (4 September 2006). "Blackstone Group to unload seven local hotels". http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/09/04/story1.html. 
  3. ^ Sammons, Mary Beth; Edwards, Robert (2006). City Ghosts: True Tales of Hauntings in America's Cities. Sterling Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 9781402735394. 
  4. ^ Caggiula, Samuel M.; Brackett, Beverley (2008). City in Time: Washington, D.C.. Sterling Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 9781402736094. 

External links