George Washington Hotel, hotel in New York City
The George Washington Hotel is a Renaissance Revival building in Manhattan completed in 1930, originally containing 630 rooms across 16 stories. The structure was designed by architects Frank M. Andrews and John B. Peterkin and features a brick facade with decorated windows set in arched openings and a grand entrance styled like a triumphal arch with tall columns.
Construction began in 1929 but was disrupted by the stock market crash that year and the subsequent Great Depression; the hotel was completed in 1930 despite these challenges. During World War II, it housed refugee children from Germany, showing its role in community aid during that period.
The hotel takes its name from George Washington and displays a connection to American history through its design. The lobby featured colonial-style details and a portrait of the first president, linking the building to the nation's past in a way visitors could see.
The hotel is situated near colleges like Baruch College and the School of Visual Arts and is easily accessible by public transportation. The surrounding neighborhood offers shops, theaters, and parks that are walkable for exploring the area.
The celebrated poet W. H. Auden stayed there in 1939 and even wrote a poem for the hotel's manager, praising its simple and classical style. The building also served as a workspace for architects designing the World Trade Center, showing its role as a center for artistic and intellectual activity.
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