Hotel Theresa, Historic hotel in Harlem, United States.
Hotel Theresa is a 13-story building with white terracotta facades located at the corner of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and West 124th Street in Harlem. After being converted to office spaces in 1967, it now operates as Theresa Towers and serves commercial and educational tenants.
A German broker named Gustavus Sidenberg hired architects George and Edward Blum to build this structure, which opened in 1913. The project was part of Harlem's development into a prosperous neighborhood and contributed to its emergence as a center of Black culture.
For decades, this place served as a gathering spot where Black artists, musicians, and political leaders met and exchanged ideas. The building reflects that history and remains a symbol of a time when it was a center of Black culture and activism.
The building sits right near subway access, making it convenient to reach when exploring historic Harlem. Visit on a weekday if possible, as the neighborhood is less crowded and you can better appreciate the building and surrounding area.
In 1960, Fidel Castro rented 80 rooms during his United Nations visit, turning the building into a stage for international politics. This moment drew worldwide attention to the place and reinforced its role as a meeting point of historical importance.
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