The hotel was originally called the Auditorium Annex when it opened to house the throngs of visitors to the World’s Columbian Exposition celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America. Constructed during an era when it was common for Chicago’s elite to permanently reside in a hotel, the 871 rooms and suites at the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center offer a grand bridge between The Windy City’s legendary past and cosmopolitan present. It was originally called the Auditorium Annex and it opened just in time for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and thousands of people thronged to visit the hotel. Over the years, various owners have updated the hotel in continuous efforts to keep pace with the conveniences offered by modern accommodations properties. The first section, or north tower, was designed by Clinton Warren, with Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler serving as consultants. Appropriately named “The Hotel of Presidents,” this historic Chicago hotel has hosted several heads of state, from Teddy Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter. Chicago’s affluent Gold Coast is full of upscale restaurants and historic mansions and nestled in amongst them (very near the Michigan Ave and The Magnificent Mile) is this sophisticated Chicago abode. Hold on, though, I’m getting ahead of myself. This historic Chicago hotel offers stunning city and lake views, on-site dining options, and free WiFi. It is one of the most haunted places around and in Chicago. The hotel didn't actually become The Congress Plaza until 1908. The Congress Plaza Hotel is located on South Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park in Chicago at 520 South Michigan Avenue. [10], On 15 June 2003, about 130 members of UNITE HERE Local 1 went on strike to protest a proposed seven percent wage cut. In June, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt stayed at the Congress Plaza when the 1912 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago. Many memorable interviews, caucuses, and deliberations were staged here. As the 19th century came to a close, the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center opened in 1893 as the Auditorium Annex, built by famous hotel developer R.H. Southgate. This "Landmark of Chicago Hospitality" has delighted business and leisure travelers for over a century. Enjoy your stay. Chicago is a wonderful city and Congress was cherry on top. With its unique façade as the centerpiece, the elaborately designed hotel soon became a favorite among Chicago’s captains of industry, society, politics and culture. The strike went on to claim the fortunate honor as the longest hotel strike in history, leaving in its wake a hotel haunted by pulled proms, boycotted conventions and an estimated loss of 700 million dollars in revenue. BY AL CHASE. Renamed the Joseph Urban Room, it would become the 1935-36 headquarters for an NBC Radio show featuring the legendary Benny Goodman. Looking … Congress Plaza Hotel Chicago; Congress Plaza Hotel Hotel Chicago; Policies. Visit The Shared Wall on Rent.com now! The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center: Scary History, The Congress Hotel - See 3,404 traveler reviews, 1,626 candid photos, and great deals for The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center at Tripadvisor. Life Span: 1927-Present Location: Michigan Avenue and Congress Architect: Holabird & Roche. CHICAGO, IL — The iconic landmark Congress Plaza Hotel is considered the most haunted spot in Illinois. Since 1910, The Blackstone has attracted celebrities, socialites, and politicians. In order to differentiate the now successful hotel from its original form, the owners renamed it the Congress Hotel (derived from its location on Congress Street, across from the celebrated Congress Plaza section of Grant Park) in 1911. Presidents Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin Roosevelt all rallied their partisans to discuss campaign strategies in the heart of Chicago. Presidents who have stayed at or visited the Congress include Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin Roosevelt. The Drake Hotel has been welcoming visitors from its perch at the beginning of … The Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago was originally constructed in 1893. In the early 1930’s, the former Elizabethan Room on the ground floor was transformed into a stylish nightclub featuring a revolving bandstand. If you get a chance to visit The Congress Plaza Hotel yourself, keep an eye out for any apparitions and uneasy feelings. Located on South Michigan Avenue, the hotel has been around for more than a … Congress Hotel Ghosts: Just the Facts Posted on November 27, 2013 May 8, 2018 by adam Having published that last article on the truth about the “Hand of Mystery,” I see that there are a LOT of web pages about ghosts at the Congress Hotel. These are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation. [13], Taos Society of Artists painter, E. Martin Hennings painted the ceiling murals inside the Florentine Room around 1918. Step into the lobbies of any of these history-filled hotels and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. Many famous people have stayed at the hotel, including several U.S. Presidents. The Congress Plaza Hotel remains a prosperous and thriving part of Chicago’s living history, and our staff will be more than happy to share points of interest and encourage guests to explore the hotel from a historical perspective. Or get a glimpse of Chicago’s sordid past through stories of the Everleigh Club and the 1900’s Red Light district, and learn about downtown prison breaks. While guests at the Congress Plaza and The Drake enjoy luxury, comfort, and meticulous attention to detail, they also revel in ghostly lore – particularly during Halloween season. Too Creepy by grabbing some gear from the shop! Read about the Congress Plaza Hotel, one of Chicago’s most haunted places. Chicago Tribune article about the death of Adele Langer. These two famous public rooms combined with the Elizabethan Room and the Pompeian Room to host Chicago’s elite social events of the day. [2] The hotel now features 871 guest rooms and suites. Over a hundred protestors from the National Women's Party demonstrated in favor of women's suffrage with a silent protest. [7] Roosevelt, who at that time was seeking the Republican nomination for President, spoke from the balcony of his room at the hotel to a crowd assembled across the street in Grant Park. Appropriately named “The Hotel of Presidents,” this historic Chicago hotel has hosted several heads of state, from Teddy Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter. In 1971, nearly 3,000 people packed the Great Hall when President Richard Nixon addressed the Midwest Chapters of the AARP and National Retired Teachers Association. Your first stop is the Congress Hotel, known as the most haunted hotel in Chicago. In 1932, the hotel was back in the limelight serving as the command post for President-elect Franklin Roosevelt and the Democratic Party. In contrast to many of the formulaic chains and property layouts, guest room and suites remain larger, ceilings higher, bathrooms bigger and window expanses wider. Field Museum of Natural History and John G. Shedd Aquarium are not to be missed. By 1908, the hotel had created an identity of its own as it housed more than 1,000 guest rooms. R.H. Southgate was the hotel’s developer but the first section of the hotel was designed by Clinton Warren. The Congress Plaza Hotel remains a prosperous and thriving part of Chicago’s living history, and our staff will be more than happy to share points of interest and encourage guests to explore the hotel from a historical perspective. Browse the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center image gallery and you’ll understand why we’re renowned as the “Landmark of Chicago Hospitality.” Located near Grant Park and Millennium Park, we’re one of the Windy City’s most iconic hotels. In 1912, former President Teddy Roosevelt’s comment to the local media coined the famous “Bull Moose” nickname for his newly created Progressive Party. It reopened for civilian use in time for the summer political conventions of 1944. See original pics - learn ghostly secrets. Holding banners such as "Wilson is Against Women," the demonstrators were attacked by a mob and their banners destroyed while police looked on and, in some cases, laughed, according to newspaper reports. It has been owned by a group of investors led by Albert Nasser of Tel-Aviv, Israel, since 1987.[1][5]. [15][16][17], Coordinates: 41°52′31″N 87°37′28″W / 41.8754°N 87.6245°W / 41.8754; -87.6245, "Can a deal put the Congress hotel back in session again? This is certainly one place with a very colorful past! The 1950-52 renovation involved the creation of a mural-encircled lobby, new front desk, new corridors, new third floor public rooms, new Congressional and Presidential Suites, and a new supper club called the Glass Hat. [6] The podcast "And That's Why We Drink" used stories of the haunted activity of the hotel as a topic in their February 19, 2018 episode (episode #55). In the city centre, Congress Plaza Hotel is in Chicago's The Loop neighbourhood, an area with good shopping. Support Nope! Congress has a history of being haunted-so we were properly freaked out when we all swore we heard a woman whispering outside elevators. Beautiful historical hotel, comfortable beds and overall clean. Built for the World’s Fair in 1893, the Congress Hotel’s famous, and spooky, history lays claim to many ghastly stories. See original pics - learn ghostly secrets. The two buildings were linked by a marble-lined underground passage called Peacock Alley. Report this Content . The original conception was an annex with a façade designed to complement Louis Sullivan’s Auditorium Building across the street, at the time housing a remarkable hotel, theater and office complex. At this same time, part of the hotel was used as the location for a Benny Goodman NBC Radio Show. Walk along the streets that H. H. Holmes, Chicago’s first serial killer wandered as he stalked his prey. Through the 1930s the hotel was run by hotel industry pioneer Ralph Hitz's National Hotel Management Company. Indeed, the ghosts of the Congress … Step inside and experience an extraordinary piece of living history during your next visit to downtown Chicago at the Congress Plaza Hotel. Over the years, there have been countless additions, renovations, closings, and re-openings. The south tower was constructed between 1902 and 1907, desig… Browse the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center image gallery and you’ll understand why we’re renowned as the “Landmark of Chicago Hospitality.” Located near Grant Park and Millennium Park, we’re one of the Windy City’s most iconic hotels. [14], In 1940, Louis Grell (1887–1960), a Chicago-based artist, was commissioned to paint thirteen murals for the lunettes that are an architectural feature surrounding the grand lobby. Even the name has been changed. Its eleven story edifice was originally designed by architect Clinton J. Warren as an annex to the Auditorium Theater across the street. Its eleven story edifice was originally designed by architect Clinton J. Warren as an annex to the Auditorium Theater across the street. [3], Another modernization project began in the 1960s, which added a ballroom and escalators. Read about the Congress Plaza Hotel, one of Chicago’s most haunted places. Visit Website. And one of the places I briefly talked about was the famous Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago. After opening for business in 1893, for the World's Columbian Exposition,[1] the hotel underwent two major expansions and renovations, first in 1902 and then again in 1907 which brought the total complex up to 1 million square feet (93,000 m2). Auditorium Building and Theatre and Museum of Contemporary Photography are cultural highlights, and some of the area's notable landmarks include Fine Arts Building and Buckingham Fountain. Originally constructed in 1893, the Congress Plaza Hotel featured cobbled streets, gaslights, and horse drawn carriages. Since its 1919 opening, Hotel Congress has seen it all—most infamously, the fire that led to John Dillinger's capture in Tucson, AZ. After opening for business in 1893, for the World's Columbian Exposition, the hotel underwent two major expansions and renovations, first in 1902 and then again in 1… New Merry-Go-Round Bar Opened at Congress Hotel. Step inside and experience an extraordinary piece of living history during your next visit to downtown Chicago at the Congress Plaza Hotel. Each wall had a main central Greek/Roman mural, however, Grell decorated the entire wall with various patterns of flora and custom design. This video will highlight our experiences there and explain why we believe that this location has so many paranormal claims. As if you get a chance to visit the Congress Plaza Hotel are notable for providing accommodations—and. 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