Majestic Hotel (St. Louis, Missouri)
Encyclopedia
The Majestic Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri
, United States
(also known as the DeSoto Hotel or Hotel Majestic, now the Omni Majestic Hotel) was a hotel
built in 1913–1914. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984. It is now a restored hotel with 91 guest rooms and is operated by Omni Hotels.
The Majestic Hotel has 72000 ft2 of space, nine stories and 109 feet (33.2 m) tall at its maximum height, and is based on a steel frame. It also has brick curtain walls
and concrete
floors. The hotel was designed as a tri-part structure, including a base, shaft, and capital, and is divided by the use of white terra cotta
.
, two restaurant
s, and a rathskeller
.
In 1913, construction for the hotel began, replacing a three-story building. The hotel cost about $250,000 to build. However, it is unclear who designed the hotel. Plans for the hotel give credit to Harry F. Roach, while building permits list the architect as Albert B. Groves. Both men were well-known St. Louis architects who had each designed various other hotels, but were never in partnership.
s. However, the hotel was given to new owners, and they planned to renovate the building for office space. However, a joint venture by Eugene Wolff, Dick Deutsch, and Southwestern Bell
, called Majestic Associates, used $7 million to restore the building into a luxury hotel, called the Hotel Majestic. Southwestern Bell also spent $15 million in 1987 to renovate the building.
. In 1997, Omni Hotels acquired the hotel from Crowne Plaza.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(also known as the DeSoto Hotel or Hotel Majestic, now the Omni Majestic Hotel) was a hotel
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in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
built in 1913–1914. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984. It is now a restored hotel with 91 guest rooms and is operated by Omni Hotels.
The Majestic Hotel has 72000 ft2 of space, nine stories and 109 feet (33.2 m) tall at its maximum height, and is based on a steel frame. It also has brick curtain walls
and concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
floors. The hotel was designed as a tri-part structure, including a base, shaft, and capital, and is divided by the use of white terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
.
Majestic Hotel
First opened near the end of September, 1914, the hotel is one of St. Louis' few hotels which date from before World War I and still exist today. The building's Renaissance Revival design is an example of common styles in St. Louis architecture in the 1920s. The hotel was built to serve middle-class guests, but it had advanced fireproofingFireproofing
Fireproofing, a passive fire protection measure, refers to the act of making materials or structures more resistant to fire, or to those materials themselves, or the act of applying such materials. Applying a certification listed fireproofing system to certain structures allows these to have a...
, two restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, and a rathskeller
Rathskeller
Ratskeller is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar or restaurant located in the basement of a city hall or nearby...
.
In 1913, construction for the hotel began, replacing a three-story building. The hotel cost about $250,000 to build. However, it is unclear who designed the hotel. Plans for the hotel give credit to Harry F. Roach, while building permits list the architect as Albert B. Groves. Both men were well-known St. Louis architects who had each designed various other hotels, but were never in partnership.
Desoto Hotel
The Majestic Hotel was later renamed the DeSoto Hotel and still served guests until 1979, when it was announced that the building would be replaced with a parking garage due to the high cost needed to restore the building so it could meet more recent building codeBuilding code
A building code, or building control, is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. The main purpose of building codes are to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the...
s. However, the hotel was given to new owners, and they planned to renovate the building for office space. However, a joint venture by Eugene Wolff, Dick Deutsch, and Southwestern Bell
Southwestern Bell
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. It does business as AT&T Southwest and other d/b/a names in its operating region.The company is currently headquartered in Dallas, Texas at One AT&T Plaza.-History:...
, called Majestic Associates, used $7 million to restore the building into a luxury hotel, called the Hotel Majestic. Southwestern Bell also spent $15 million in 1987 to renovate the building.
Crowne Plaza and Omni Majestic Hotel
In 1996, the hotel was sold for $4.3 million to Bray & Gillespie LLC, which operated it under Crowne PlazaCrowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. It forms part of the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands, which include InterContinental and Holiday Inn and operates in 52 countries, usually located in...
. In 1997, Omni Hotels acquired the hotel from Crowne Plaza.