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Hotel Adolphus
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Hotel Adolphus
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| Location: | 1315 Commerce Street Dallas, Texas |
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| Built: | 1912 |
| Architect: | Barnett, Haynes & Barnett |
| Architectural style: | Beaux-Arts |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 83003133[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | July 14, 1983 |
| Designated RTHL: | 1981 |
| Designated DL: | September 30, 1987 |
The Hotel Adolphus (often referred to locally as simply "The Adolphus") is an upscale hotel and Dallas Landmark in the Main Street District of downtown Dallas, Texas (USA) which was for several years the tallest building in the state of Texas.
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The Adolphus was opened on 5 October 1912, built by the founder of the Anheuser-Busch company, Adolphus Busch in a Beaux Arts style designed by Thomas P. Barnett of Barnett, Haynes & Barnett of St. Louis. Busch's intention in constructing the hotel was to establish the first grand and posh hotel in the city of Dallas. Under the management of Otto Schubert from 1922–1946, the hotel grew to national prominence. With 22 floors standing a total of 312 feet (95 m), the building was the tallest building in Texas until it was dwarfed by the Magnolia Petroleum Building (now the Magnolia Hotel) just down the street in August 1922.[2] The building underwent a series of expansions, first in 1916, then 1926 and finally in 1950, at the time giving the hotel a total of 1,200 rooms.
In the 1930s, various venues of the Adolphus played host to many big band musicians of the era, including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.
In 1936, the historian and political activist J. Evetts Haley organized at the Adolphus his third party, the "Jeffersonian Democrats of Texas", to oppose within Texas the reelection of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom Haley considered a socialist.
The Adolphus has been the host of many respected leaders of business, government and entertainment, including presidents, from Warren G. Harding to George H. W. Bush. Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also stayed at the hotel in 1991. Acclaimed British Milliner Nick Smith resided at the hotel for several months in 2007 to write his début novel "Rock Royalty: Diary of a Supermodel". This hotel was a Dallas hub for entertainment and provided a platform that helped developing careers, such as Bob Hope, Jack Benny and others. North American Aviation (P-51 Mustangs, WWII) and others benefitted from its position as a Texas business hub. During the 1980s, the Adolphus underwent a US$80 million renovation, enlarging and modernizing the already-luxurious guestrooms. It also shrunk the total number of guestrooms to 428. The Adolphus was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Hotel has been named one of the top ten in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler and also receives high ratings from Zagat, Fodor's and Frommer's.
The structure is a Dallas Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
| Preceded by Praetorian Building |
Tallest Building in Dallas 1912–1923 95m |
Succeeded by Magnolia Hotel |
| Preceded by Praetorian Building |
Tallest Building in Texas 1912–1923 95m |
Succeeded by Magnolia Hotel |