Welcome to the #AtoZ Blog Challenge and a Tour of Hotels & Inns
101 W Franklin St., Richmond, Virginia, USA
Youtube Video – The Jefferson Hotel at Christmas
Tobacco baron Lewis Ginter, civic leader and philanthropist, made millions marketing the pre-rolled cigarette. A classic Jeffersonian, cultured, gifted and widely traveled, Ginter was interested in the arts and architecture. He also felt a strong, abiding love for his adopted city, Richmond, VA. He had a dream of creating what became The Jefferson Hotel, designed in the Spanish Baroque Style by Carrère and Hastings, noted national architects based in New York. The firm designed the Fifth Avenue Public Library and Henry Frick House (later the Frick Museum) in New York, as well as portions of the Commonwealth Club in Richmond. Construction began in 1892 and the hotel opened for business in 1895. After a fire gutted the interior of the hotel in 1901, and a lengthy restoration, it reopened in 1907. It has received restorations and upgrades of systems through the years.
Ginter’s wishes were followed and the hotel was built incorporating Renaissance and other forms of architecture that he admired, creating a composite, eclectic style popular at the turn of the century. When The Jefferson was elected in 1969 to the National Register of Historical Places, it was considered to be among the finest examples of Beaux Arts style in existence.
Wow, that’s quite an impressive looking inside!
Hope you have time to come back and see the other special places I have written about for the other alphabet letters. You won’t be disappointed. When we get to the letter T, I wish you would sit at my table and we’ll have tea together.
That is beautiful!!! Definitely on my list to visit in person…
If these blog posts have given you ideas for places to visit or stay, be sure to look around your own world, the area you live, and start there, have tea, enjoy!
I have been looking around Texas at small and interesting towns. Come by for a look: https://bobbicapwell.wordpress.com/
Hi Mom – love this. I used to stay at the Jefferson when I would travel to Philip Morris after they moved headquarters to Richmond from Manhattan. It is truly a gorgeous hotel.
Love and miss you!
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You have a long list of architectural gems where you have stayed. These important places are taken for granted at times, but the architects and designs, their interesting stories are usually fascinating. Love you back!
We spent a lovely weekend celebrating a college reunion some years ago at the Jefferson. Tucker has a grand memory of a cousin’s wedding in Richmond when she and family stayed at the Jefferson (I was at sea).
I think memories like you mention are what help these architectural gems to live on.
Very pretty and not at all southern looking . . .
A different vision in a VERY southern town.
Spanish barock style… I was wondering if it was Italian, but then it looked different. But this explains it. It’s a wonderful building! I am great you chose this one for letter J.
The hotel is an important part of the community, a source of pride, a interesting history.
lovely hotel-
An important part of Richmond, VA.
nice post, amazing pics
The interior look stunning
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