Built in 1926 by brothers Emil and Karl Eitel, the Bismarck Hotel (left) is located at 171 West Randolph Street in downtown Chicago, between LaSalle Street and Wells Street..

The Eitel brothers came to Chicago from Stuttgart, Germany in the early 1890s and after working selling wine and spirits and managing a south-side hotel during Chicago's Columbian Exposition of 1893, built the first Bismarck Hotel in 1894 at its current location.

During the First World War, the Bismarck, named after Germany's first Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, changed its name to the "Randolph Hotel." At the wars end, the name was changed back to Bismarck. In 1924, the old building was razed an impressive 22-story building covering nearly an entire city block was erected. Opened in 1926, the "New Bismarck Hotel" offered 600 rooms.

In 1998, the Bismarck underwent a $31-million renovation and was re-opened as the "Hotel Allegro" with two new restaurants, the "Encore" and "312 Chicago," designed to look like an old-time Chicago restaurant.

The Lobby (leftt) of the Bismarck Hotel was reached by a stairway off the main entrance on Randolph Street.

The room features a decorative plaster ceiling with star-shaped designs, a diamond patterned marble floor and wood paneled walls with stained glass windows. Traditional Queen Anne furniture including chairs and coffee tables are arranged on area rugs.

Seating areas are centered around a row of five fireplaces with large oil paintings above creating ample rest areas for guests.

Updated in the 1930s, this view of the Lobby (left) shows the warm colors of the hotel's interior.

The 1920s furniture of the original lobby has been replaced with more modern white leather chairs and couches.

The valances over the curtains have been removed and replaced with simple cream colored curtains, revealing the colorful stained-glass windows.

The Bismarck's entrance had visitors come up a decorative brass railed stairway to the Lobby (right).

The description on the back of this post card reads, "A spacious staircase, the charm of which is enhanced by a hand-wrought ballustrade, leads from the noisy street level to the quiet block-long lobby."

Custom brass light fixtures can be seen at the entrance below and at the stair landing.

The Bismarck's Lobby (left) was updated again in the late 1930s and early 1940s with a strong Art Deco influence.

The custom leather curved booth-style seating has a planter on top with a classic Art Deco-style light fixture above.

A large American flag hangs over a fireplace demonstrating the Bismarck Hotel's patriotism during World War II.

This 1944 view of the Bismarck Lobby (left) shows the work of a skilled air-brush artist: the Lobby image (above left) has been modified to emphasize a patriotic red-white-and-blue color scheme.

Note the changes from the above image; The woman in front has changed her dress from a leopard print to bright blue. The multi-colored stained glass windows are now black. The carpet and leather seats have changed from navy to royal blue. The red light fixture has turned a brighter red. The field on the flag is a brighter blue.

Also notice the man reading a newspaper on the right has a newly-painted blue suit with a "priest collar" added.

The original Bismarck Hotel (1894-1924) was known for its restaurants including the Main Restaurant and Bar (right). This early 1900s view shows the restaurant decorated as a typical of a German-style pub.

The restaurant has an exposed wood-beamed ceiling, green marble columns, simple tables with wood chairs, globe light fixures hanging from the ceiling and light sconces on the pillars. Numerous coat and hat hooks are available for the popular bowler-style hats of the time.

The bar inclues a mural of medieval weapons with ornamental wood paneling, mirrors and a large clock above. A large ceramic beer stein sits by the clock.

The Winter Garden and Bauernstube (right) was another Bismarck Hotel restaurant.

The room features a facade of beam and stucco building looking like a Swiss hunting lodge. A large mural depicts a European castle in the mountains.

Waiters in tuxedos serve the well-dressed customers.

The Bismarck's Ladies Cafe and Restaurant (right) offered a formal dining room for hotel visitors.

Large achways open to a room with murals and painted ceiling. Large hanging brass candelabras provide lighting. The entry is decorated in victorian dark green wallpaper and flowers.

An sign at the entryway advertises "Pschorr Brau Munich" beer.

This 1950s era photo shows the 7-story high Bismarck Hotel Neon Sign (left), a familiar sight on Randolph Street for decades.

The view also shows a sign for hotel's Swiss Chalet Restaurant & William Tell Cocktail Lounge.

The sign was replaced in 1998 when the Bismarck became the Hotel Allegro.