The Hotel Sherman (left) was located at the northwest corner of Randolph Street and Clark Street. The hotel was the oldest hotel in continuous operation in the state of Illinois.

The name "Hotel Sherman" comes from Francis Cornwall Sherman (1805-1870), who was the mayor of Chicago from 1841 to 1842 and again from 1862 to 1865. Originally opened as the "City Hotel" in 1837, the hotel was renamed the "Sherman House" in 1844. Burned down in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the structure was soon rebuilt.

In 1911, the hotel was reconstructed by owner Joseph Beifeld, a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant. Added onto again in 1925, the hotel eventually toke up an entire city block and boasted 1,450 rooms.

Closed in 1973 and demolished in 1980, the site is now the home of the James R. Thompson Center, State of Illinois building.

This 1956 view shows the Hotel Sherman (right) wrapped with a stainless steel canopy.

The two large flag poles over the two entrances are visable - though flags are instead flying from the canopy.

The building has darkened with age, but its impressive masonary work is still apparent.

Issued in 1911, at the opening of the newly rebuilt Hotel Sherman, these commemorative stamps (left) look like real postage stamps but instead were designed to promote the hotel.

The stamps feature two famous Americans with the name "Sherman": Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891) and his brother, the Honorable John Sherman (1823-1900), who served as Secretary of State of the United States under President William McKinley and is also known for writing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

The dates 1937-1911 represent the time of the founding of the hotel and the grand re-opening of the hotel in 1911.

The Sherman's Convention Hall (right) played host to countless meeting, conventions and social gatherings over the years.

This 1916 photo shows a retail buying convention where store owners from around the country could see and purchase the latest merchandise.

This large room features gold guilded ceilings and archways, and large crystal chandeliers.

Like several other Chicago hotels, the Sherman offered ice skating performances at its famous College Inn Restaurant (left).

Restaurant patrons could enjoy a meal and an ice skating performance in indoor comfort.

In the 1920s the College Inn was a popular night spot in Chicago for dancing and live entertainment and strongly influenced the popularity of jazz music.

This matchbook cover from the 1920s shows a typical hotel room (right) at the Hotel Sherman.

The room features streamlined furniture typical of the Art-Deco style, including matching bed, dresser, side table and desk, with a circular mirror on the wall.

Always up-to-date with the latest fashion, the Hotel Sherman in the 1940s promoted its Celtic Cafe and updated guest rooms (left).

The Celtic Cafe features a wood paneled room and murals along with a maitre d', and a chef to serve your meal buffet style.

The touquoise and rose-colored guest room also offered the latest in interior design.

The beds and chairs are set at angles and are complimented by three matching light wood tables and a desk.

The room incorporates a matching fabric on the sofa and curtain which is a depiction of a medieval horseman with a jousting stick.

This post card from 1942 shows the Sherman was both a swinging place and patriotic.

The Panther Room and Malaya Room at the College Inn (right) offered live music and dancing. A waiter dressed in a Hindu outfit offers grilled meats on a giant skewer. The decor includes leopard skin fabric, green palm leaves and a small panther sculpture.

This WWII-era postcard also shows the hotels wartime patriotism with rooms decorated in red white and blue (right).

A blue carpet, bedspreads and chair are complimented with bright red chairs, curtains, wall art and lamps with red trim.

A custom headboard/bookshelf, side table and desk add to the modern style of the room

This 1948 menu cover from the hotel's Well of the Sea Restaurant (left) shows the Sherman was always on the cutting edge of design and style.

This mural, designed by artist Richard Koppe, features stylized depictions of fish floating in an ocean background. The restaurant also featured wire fish, light sculptures and table tops created by Koppe.

Waitstaff were outfitted with specially-designed uniforms and mermaid costumes.

The Well of the Sea menu (left) featured a wide variety of seafood flown in daily from all over the world.

The colorfully-written menu featured elaborate stories and descriptions of its many dishes.

The Hotel Sherman Sign (right) was a fixture on the corner of Randolph and Clark Street as seen in this 1956 postcard.

Chicagoans will remember the Greyhound Bus Station that once stood across the street from the hotel.

On the left you can see the neon signs for the Cinerama movie theater and the Bismarck Hotel.

Also visable in this view is the Sherman's1925 addition towards the back of the hotel, the top of the Randolph Towers Office building (with antena), and the Wells Street El Train Station.