A grand hotel at 636 South Michigan Avenue, the Blackstone Hotel (left) overlooks Grant Park and Lake Michigan next to the Stevens Hotel..
Built in 1908-1910, the Blackstone's dramatic French mansard roof and elegant Beaux-Arts Classical Revival architecture contributes to Chicago's famous "Boul Mich" Michigan Avenue skyline. The hotel is named after Timothy B. Blackstone, who was the founding president of the Union Stock Yards.
In 1920, the Blackstone was a part of history when a meeting of the Republican National Convention was convened at the hotel. When the men walked out of the room after choosing Warren G. Harding as their nominee, they were followed by a cloud of cigar smoke. Hence, it was said that Harding "was chosen by a group of men in a smoke-filled room," a phrase that has since become a popular political saying.
The Blackstone became know as the "Hotel of Presidents" and lists among its guest, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter.
Closed as a hotel in 1998 due to city code violations, efforts are being made to convert the Blackstone into luxury condominiums.
The Blackstone's Lobby (right) welcomed guests with dark woods, green carpeting, and gold chandeliers.
Revolving doors open to steps leading up to the Lobby. Decorated with fresh roses and palms, the many light fixtures are covered with rose lamp shades. The ceiling is white with ornate plaster decoration.
Intricate brass railing and a clock accent the doorway.
The Blackstone Hotel's Banquet Room (right) offered dining on a large scale.
Featuring long tables encircling a fern garden, the tables are decorated with flower bouqets and lighted with shaded silver candelabras and wall sconces.
The dining tables set in this view seats 104 guests.
The Blackstone's English Room (left) provided a formal dining room remnicent of a British castle.
Dark wood paneling, carved wooden chairs and tables, folding partition doors, simple white chandeliers and European plaster ceilings gave the feeling of an earlier time.
Stained glass windows and doors with rectangular leaded glass lites of green, blue, yellow and rose add a splash of color to the room. A bouquet of red roses finishes the look.
The Blackstone's Marble Room (left) offered dining in a room of white marble and palm trees.
The room features white marble tile walls, columns and railings and hanging alabaster light fixtures.
Small tables with white linens are surrounded with bouquets of roses.
The Blackstone offered a first class shave and a haircut at its elegant Barber Shop (right) which could serve up to eight customers at a time..
Large round chandeliers reflect light upwards onto a tin and touquise ceiling. The room also features white marble floors and mirrored walls surounded by white Doric columns. Red barber chairs are acompanied by tables and seats for the barbers.
A brass clock and brass spitoons give added convenience for the customers.
The Blackstone's Large French Room (left) offered an intimate formal dining room as elegant as the White House.
Deep red velvet curtains, red velvet and wicker chairs and red carpet are accented by Greek Revival white paneling with fluted Ionic columns and dental moulding.
A side buffet is topped with a large mirror and small wall sconces with red shades provide soft lighting. A fireplace with a clock is flanked with plant stands holding sprays of flowers and the table is set with a large centerpeice of red and pink roses.
This view of a Corridor and Hall (left) show the attention to detail that made the Blackstone one of Chicago's finest hotels.
The decor includes red carpeting, chairs with red velvet seats and wicker backs and sides, and dark wood tables and doors. The walls feature white paneling below and wallpaper with forest scenery and a brass wall clock.
Rose colored lampshades follow the theme of the rest of the hotel.
