Hay-Adams Hotel
Encyclopedia
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."
, a DC area real estate company, bought the Hay-Adams for $100 million.
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.
), 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.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
located at 800 16th Street NW in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Lafayette Square and St. John's Episcopal Church
St. John's Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C.
St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, is a historic Episcopal church located at 16th and H Streets NW, in Washington, D.C. It is near Lafayette Square and the White House....
, also known as the Church of the Presidents, are located across the street. The hotel is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
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
John Hay
John Milton Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
and Henry Adams once stood at 16th and H Streets
H Street (Washington, D.C.)
H Street is an east-west street in Washington, D.C.. It is also used as an alternate name for the Near Northeast neighborhood, as H Street is the neighborhood's main commercial strip.-History:...
NW. In 1927, Harry Wardman
Harry Wardman
Harry Wardman was a real estate developer in Washington, D.C. during the early 20th century whose developments included landmark hotels, luxury apartment buildings, and many rowhouses.-Personal life:...
bought the property and razed the homes. The hotel, designed by Mihran Mesrobian
Mihran Mesrobian
Mihran Mesrobian was a Turkish-born Armenian who immigrated to the United States and became a prominent architect in the Washington, D.C. area.-Career:...
, was built on the site in 1928 in Italian Renaissance style
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
.
The Hay–Adams Hotel's slogan is: "Where nothing is overlooked but the White House."
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 CompanyB. F. Saul Company
B. F. Saul Company is a large, private real estate firm based in Bethesda, Maryland. Since its founding in 1892, B. F. Saul Company has been influential in local real estate affairs. In 2007, Washingtonian awarded B. F. Saul Company, along with five other companies, the title of Great Places to...
, a DC area real estate company, bought the Hay-Adams for $100 million.
President Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and his family stayed in the Hay–Adams Hotel for a period of two weeks prior to his inauguration because the Blair House
Blair House
Blair House is the official state guest house for the President of the United States. It is located at 1651-1653 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., opposite the Old Executive Office Building of the White House, off the corner of Lafayette Park....
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 AdamsMarian Hooper Adams
Marian "Clover" Hooper Adams was an American socialite, active society hostess and arbiter of Washington, D.C., and an accomplished amateur photographer....
), 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.