Willard House – The Willard Intercontinental Washington The Intercontinental Willard Hotel is an iconic building that tells the story of Washington DC’s past. Its architecture resembles the Second French Empire which demands attention and elegance, especially since it is like few other building within the District. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, it marks the center of the city. Asides from the hotel’s physical presence, the Willard Hotel also represents the center of Washington DC’s social scene. Over the decades the hotel hosted Presidents, Union Soldiers and the prominent in DC. In 1862 the writer Nathaniel Hawthorne said that “Willard’s Hotel could more justly be called the center of Washington and the Union than either the Capitol, the
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During the Civil War, the hotel housed Union soldiers. In fact, Julia Ward How wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” here (Moeller, 112). Prominent writers, artists and professionals also visited the hotel. In 1859, the hotel held the farewell dinner for Lord Napier (Winston Nicklin). This positioned the hotel as an elegant venue. Shortly thereafter, the hotel hosted the Japan Embassy (Winston Nicklin). It was after these events that the Willard Hotel acquired its prestige reputation. Over the years the Willard Hotel acquired the nickname ‘Residence of Presidents’. The hotel has hosted almost every president since Franklin Pierce. In fact, Abraham Lincoln stayed before his inauguration in 1861 (Winston Nicklin). The hotel was so well known for hosting Presidents that advisors were known to be in the hotel’s lobby to catch the President and other prominent politicians. This is where the title lobbyists came from (DeFerrari). Many other prominent change makers stayed in the hotel. MLK finished his I had a Dream Speech here on April 28, 1963 (DeFerrari). The combination of The Willard Hotel’s guests and elaborate architecture has made the building a DC …show more content…
In 1946, the Willard family sold the hotel for $2.8 million ("The Willard Hotel”). It functioned as a hotel until July 16, 1968 when it officially closed its doors. It remained empty for 18 years, but was restored in 1986 after the Washington DC riots from Martin Luther King’s Death ("The Willard Hotel”). Today, the Intercontinental Willard is a functioning pristine hotel, where a standard hotel room starts at approximately $300 a night. The positive reputation of the hotel has only heightened. Locals are proud of the historic roots and stories that happened within the hotel’s walls. Tourists are eager to experience and see this rare piece of history. Although it is still a functioning hotel, it is marveled more as a historic landmark.. Locals are proud of the historic roots and stories that happened within the hotel’s walls and tourists are eager to experience and see this rare piece of
During the Civil War, the hotel housed Union soldiers. In fact, Julia Ward How wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” here (Moeller, 112). Prominent writers, artists and professionals also visited the hotel. In 1859, the hotel held the farewell dinner for Lord Napier (Winston Nicklin). This positioned the hotel as an elegant venue. Shortly thereafter, the hotel hosted the Japan Embassy (Winston Nicklin). It was after these events that the Willard Hotel acquired its prestige reputation. Over the years the Willard Hotel acquired the nickname ‘Residence of Presidents’. The hotel has hosted almost every president since Franklin Pierce. In fact, Abraham Lincoln stayed before his inauguration in 1861 (Winston Nicklin). The hotel was so well known for hosting Presidents that advisors were known to be in the hotel’s lobby to catch the President and other prominent politicians. This is where the title lobbyists came from (DeFerrari). Many other prominent change makers stayed in the hotel. MLK finished his I had a Dream Speech here on April 28, 1963 (DeFerrari). The combination of The Willard Hotel’s guests and elaborate architecture has made the building a DC …show more content…
In 1946, the Willard family sold the hotel for $2.8 million ("The Willard Hotel”). It functioned as a hotel until July 16, 1968 when it officially closed its doors. It remained empty for 18 years, but was restored in 1986 after the Washington DC riots from Martin Luther King’s Death ("The Willard Hotel”). Today, the Intercontinental Willard is a functioning pristine hotel, where a standard hotel room starts at approximately $300 a night. The positive reputation of the hotel has only heightened. Locals are proud of the historic roots and stories that happened within the hotel’s walls. Tourists are eager to experience and see this rare piece of history. Although it is still a functioning hotel, it is marveled more as a historic landmark.. Locals are proud of the historic roots and stories that happened within the hotel’s walls and tourists are eager to experience and see this rare piece of