Congress Plaza Hotel, hotel in Chicago
The Congress Plaza Hotel is a hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, standing across from Grant Park. The building features multiple towers with nearly 900 guest rooms, grand ballrooms, dining halls, and a spacious lobby decorated with murals and period furnishings.
The hotel opened in 1893 just before the World's Columbian Exposition to welcome the fair's visitors. It underwent major expansions between 1902 and 1907, and during World War II the U.S. government used it as a training center for the Army Air Forces before it reopened for guests afterward.
The hotel's name reflects its deep ties to Chicago's political life and public gatherings. Inside, murals painted around the mid-1900s depict scenes of the city's history and local trades, offering visitors a colorful view of the past as they move through the halls.
The hotel sits directly on Michigan Avenue facing Grant Park, making it easy to find and convenient for exploring the park and downtown. Its spacious hallways and lobby areas make it simple to navigate through the expansive building.
The hotel is well-known for stories about ghosts and hauntings, including reports of unexplained events in certain rooms and hallways over many decades. These accounts have made it a recognized location for paranormal sightings in the city.
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