Table Of Content

The first, known as The Palmer, was built as a wedding gift from Potter Palmer to his bride Bertha Honorѐ. It opened on September 26, 1871 but incredibly was destroyed by fire thirteen days later in the Great Chicago Fire. Palmer quickly rebuilt the Palmer House which reopened in 1875.
Call to Book:
After not having much luck on the 21st floor, I headed down to 12, where I encountered an error every time, even though I added a valid credit card number. I've stayed at many "brand-new" hotels over the years — as both a product reviewer and an average Joe, I tend to seek them out. Hotels that bill themselves as historic, meanwhile, remain an occasional curiosity, if for nothing more than a quick look.
Historically Significant
The original Palmer House was built in 1871 by Potter Palmer who began his career as a bank clerk in upstate New York. He later became a dry-goods store owner in Chicago where he revolutionized the retail trade. He was the first to make large window displays, to use big advertising spaces, to send goods on approval to homes and to hold bargain sales. He became a brilliant hotel man as he applied his successful department store methods to the operation of his hotel.
Learn more about the historic Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel
He saw no reason why clerks, chefs and head waiters should not be subject to the same discipline as floorwalkers and counter-jumpers. The Hotel Gazette said he could be seen at all hours in the lobby and corridors of the Palmer House watching and directing. The Second Palmer House (1873–1923)Palmer quickly rebuilt on the same site, employing calcium lights so workers could press on through the night.
Lockwood Restaurant
The rooms have a classic feel, not shiny and modern, but they have all the amenities you'd expect. As a Diamond member, I was entitled to a continental breakfast in the main restaurant, too, which I preferred, given the larger space and selection. The executive lounge offered an evening happy hour as well, including a full bar. Breakfast was included for anyone with access, and included a mix of fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee (that the staff didn't seem in much of a hurry to replace whenever it ran out, which was frequently). My favorite thing about scoring a room on the executive floor was having easy access to the lounge. Hilton doesn't list the square footage for some room types, since they can vary significantly from one room to the next, given the historic nature of this particular hotel.
$150K Palmer House Hotel Package Includes Car Service, Cocktail Credit and More - NBC Chicago
$150K Palmer House Hotel Package Includes Car Service, Cocktail Credit and More.
Posted: Thu, 17 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Bertha Honoré Palmer, 23 years Potter’s junior, was a wealthy socialite who also had a drive to learn and succeed. An introduction by Potter’s former business partner, Marshall Field, sparked a romance—and eventual engagement—between Potter and Bertha that led to perhaps one of the most extravagant wedding gifts of all time – Palmer House. It was a grand Chicago Hotel—one destined to take its place among the most luxurious hotels in Chicago and beyond. Scoring an upgrade to the executive floor made a big difference overall, since we could use the express elevators, but the lounge itself was overwhelmingly crowded, especially toward the end of Sunday breakfast and throughout the evening happy hours. Ultimately, while it's a decent business hotel, if a peaceful getaway is what you're after, Palmer House is not your spot.
Family Fun
The Palmer House was adorned with garnet-draped chandeliers, Louis Comfort Tiffany masterpieces, and a breathtaking ceiling fresco by French painter Louis Pierre Rigal. The fresco was described by columnist George Will as “a wonderful protest of romance against the everydayness of life.” By the 1920s, the decision was made to erect a new 25-story building. Between 1924 and 1927, the Palmer House was rebuilt on the same site but in stages, so not to lose a single day of operations.
He is certified as a Master Hotel Supplier Emeritus by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. We have more than 70 million property reviews, and they're all from real, verified guests. Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.3 for a two-person trip. I've stayed here every time I've been in Chicago & have never had a bad experience.
Palmer House®, A Hilton Hotel
We have more than 70 million property reviews, all from real, verified guests. The hotel is in a great location, close to major attractions like The Chicago Art Institute. It is a grand building, the main lobby is grand, feels like a set for a movie about the roaring 1920s.
It was advertised as "The World's Only Fire Proof Hotel" and contained a grand lobby, ballrooms, elaborate parlors, bridal suites, cafes and restaurants. The hotel attracted well-to-do permanent residents who enjoyed the spacious quarters, master bedrooms, walk-in closets, multiple bathrooms, housekeeping and porter services. By 1925, Palmer erected a new 25-story hotel which was promoted as the largest hotel in the world. The architects were Holabird & Roche who were well known for their groundbreaking Chicago School of skyscrapers. They also designed the Stevens Hotel, the Cook County Courthouse, the Chicago City Hall and the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City.

The new Palmer House was once remembered for the fact that 225 silver dollars were imbedded in the checkerboard tile floor of the barber shop. They were put there by William S. Eaton, lessee of the shop, who cashed in on the idea within the next few years. Everyone wanted to see that floor out of sheer curiosity, or to verify that a fool could thus waste his money. As with many luxury hotels, the Palmer House boasted a grand lobby, monumental staircases, bridal suites, dining rooms, ballrooms, a bar, and a barbershop. The Third Palmer House (1925–present)The economic boom and population growth of the 1920s and Chicago’s increasing attractiveness as a convention city led to a perceived shortfall in hotel rooms.
Thus, the Palmer Estate decided to raze the Palmer House for a new $20 million rendition on the same site. Designed by the firm Holabird & Roche and built during 1923–25, its twenty-five stories housed 2,268 rooms and for a very short time held the record as the world’s largest hotel. The Palmer House Hotel was long the pinnacle of grandeur and luxury in Chicago and was for decades the hotel of choice for visiting presidents, dignitaries, and businesspeople. The crown jewel in the holdings of department store mogul turned real-estate developer Potter Palmer, it was a wedding present to his wife, Bertha.
Palmer House Hilton – Chicago, Illinois - Gastro Obscura - Atlas Obscura
Palmer House Hilton – Chicago, Illinois - Gastro Obscura.
Posted: Wed, 03 Aug 2016 07:00:00 GMT [source]
We booked the first two nights of the stay via Hotels.com, so TPG could collect night credits and 10x miles with his Capital One Venture Rewards credit card, at a total cost of $322, including taxes and fees. As one of the longest operating hotel in America, the Palmer House has an outstanding roster of famous guests including every president since Ulysses S. Grant, numerous world leaders, celebrities and Chicago's movers and shakers. The Empire Room at the Palmer House became the showplace in Chicago. During the World's Fair of 1933, an unknown ballroom team, Veloz and Yolanda won the hearts of the city and performed for more than a year. The story of downtown Chicago’s Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel is one of romance and undeniable charm. Potter Palmer was a Chicago business magnate—well-known for various endeavors, including his significant role in the development of downtown Chicago’s iconic State Street.