The Driskill , a Roman-style building completed in 1886, is the oldest hotel operating in Austin, Texas, United States, and one of the most famous hotels in Texas in general. Driskill was conceived and built by Colonel Jesse Driskill, a rancher who spent his fortune building "the best hotel in south St. Louis".
The Driskill adalah anggota Historic Hotels of America, program resmi National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Video Driskill Hotel
Features
The hotel is finished at a cost of $ 400,000. His four stories occupy almost half a block, with three arched entrances on the south, east and north sides. The limestone statues of Driskill and his two sons, Bud and Tobe, crown the hotel on each side of it. Six million bricks enter the structure, along with limestone features.
The 60 hotel rooms include 12 corner rooms with attached bathrooms, a feature almost unheard of in any hotel in the area at that time.
The hotel includes an open design to encourage airflow throughout the building and stay cool; Its main feature is the open rotunda in the center that extends from the first to the fourth floor and culminates in the vaulted ceiling.
Other ornaments include electric bell system, marble and sink bureau, steam heating, and gas lighting. Gas pipes throughout the building mainly caused Driskill to make the hotel as fire-proof as possible, with an 18-inch thick wall between rooms and two iron layers between each floor. Steam boilers, kitchens and laundry facilities are lowered to the back (north) of the hotel to prevent their smell from permeating the hotel.
The building is built with a special entrance ladies that allows female guests to head straight to their rooms, thus avoiding rough talk of ranchers in the lobby.
Maps Driskill Hotel
History
Jesse Driskill, a successful cattle baron, had moved to Texas from Missouri in 1849. Flush with cash from his services to the Confederate Army, where he supplied beef during the Civil War, he decided to diversify by building a large hotel in Austin, his adopted hometown. In 1884, Driskill bought the land at the corner of 6 and Brazos for $ 7,500 and announced his plans. He hired architectural firm Jasper N. Preston & amp; Children to design the structure.
The hotel enjoyed its opening on December 20, 1886, and featured in a special edition of Austin Daily Statesman. On January 1, 1887, Governor Sul Ross staged his first ball in the ballroom, starting a tradition for every Texas governor ever since.
Driskill unfortunately has no clients to match the grandeur of his four-star hotel. At another hotel 50 cents to one dollar per night, Driskill charged $ 2.50 to $ 5.00 (incl. Food), an exorbitant amount in what was then still the Wild West town. Following the loss of great wealth in the cattle business, Driskill was forced to close the hotel in May 1887, less than a year after it opened, when half of his staff were hunted down by the Beach Hotel in Galveston. According to legend, he eventually lost the hotel in a poker game in 1888 to his brother-in-law, Jim "Doc" Day, who became the second owner. Driskill died of a stroke in 1890.
The hotel changed hands several times through the turn of the 20th century, and went through a boom and bust cycle along with the city of Austin. Local character George Littlefield, who was in charge of other Austin landmarks such as Littlefield House, acquired the hotel for $ 106,000 in 1895, and vowed that the hotel would never close again. Littlefield invested more than $ 60,000 in renovations, including ceiling paintings and 28 additional small rooms, but still sold the hotel with a $ 25,000 loss in 1903.
The original building was expanded in 1930 with a 13-story tower designed by the architectural firm El Paso, Trost & amp; Trost. During the same renovation, each of the original 60 rooms was converted into a private bathroom.
In 1934, the future of President Lyndon Johnson met his future wife, Claudia Taylor, for their first date in Driskill's dining room. The Johnson family continues to love Driskill for life, and stay there dozens of times for the rest of their lives. It became his campaign headquarters during his congress career, especially during the famous 1948 Senate race, and became a favorite place on his way back to Austin during his presidency. He witnessed the 1964 Presidential election results from the presidency and held out supporters of the ballroom after his victory.
In a 1950 renovation, air conditioning was added to the building, and rotiga dramatic skylit was permanently removed.
The Driskill was threatened with demolition in 1969, after planned renovations failed. Most of the furniture is sold, and the American-Statesman article states, "The Driskill Hotel fates 'Sealed'." The hotel was rescued from a destructive ball in almost the last minute, however, when a nonprofit organization called Driskill Hotel Corporation collected $ 900,000.
Braniff International Hotels buys Driskill
Braniff International Hotels, Inc., a division of Braniff Airways, Inc., from Dallas, Texas, bought the hotel in 1972, and embarked on a grand restoration of a $ 350,000 USD historic facility lobby. Braniff reopened the hotel for customers on January 15, 1973, for a strong booking and business conference.
Braniff held a party to celebrate the reopening of Hotel Driskill on 10 February 1973. Over 1000 guests attended a gala event hosted by President Braniff C. Edward Acker, Robert H. Burck, Vice President of Public Affairs, and Braniff President of Hotel John W. Leer. Guests arrive at the event with a beautifully restored antique car that is reminiscent of the grandeur of the early Driskill Hotel. The highlight of the night was the Parade of the Governor of Texas, and/or their descendants, since 1886, when the hotel first opened 87 years earlier.
The legendary Texas humorist and the personality of KLBJ Radio, Cactus Jack Pryor, who served as Master of Ceremony for a special occasion, introduced the lively Texas Governor. Governor Allan Shivers, Price Daniel, Sr., and Preston Smith represented the former Texas Governor who attended the event along with Governor Dolph Briscoe and Mrs. Briscoe. Each Governor descended the beautiful staircase of Driskill with his wife or guest when Cactus Jack announced their arrival.
Braniff Executive Chef Willy Rossel and Marriott's Chef Michele create an exquisite and sumptuous buffet enjoyed by Who's Who of the State of Texas. The reopening ceremony resumes on Sunday, February 11, with a Tea Dance starting at 430 PM, and includes Melter Jack Orchestra music. This two-day event was led by Mrs. Bob C. Armstrong, Mrs Jack Neff, and Mrs. Elaine Mayo. All proceeds from the event go to the Austin Heritage Society which strategically plays an important role in the rise of the Driskill Hotel.
Important events at Driskill Hotel
31 August 1934 - Lyndon Baines Johnson and Lady Bird Claudia Alta Taylor go on their first date at the Driskill Hotel, meet for breakfast at the Driskill Dining Room. The future of Ny. Johnson makes Johnson wait as he muses outside the hotel if he wants to go on a date.
November 3, 1964 - President Lyndon Baines Johnson witnessed the return of the 1964 Presidential Election in the Jim Hogg Suite. The event was broadcast nationally and the hotel later became the White House Press Center when the President and First Lady were in Texas.
March 1991 - Rock band Concrete Blonde writes Ghost's hit from Texas Ladies Man about rumored ghosts that haunt Hotel Driskill.
November 1997 - The Cowon Baron's Suite opens with a $ 2500 USD nightly rate.
President Clinton lived in a four-room suite when he visited Austin in 1999.
September 11, 2001 - Jenna Bush, daughter of President George W. Bush, was transferred to the hotel by the Secret Service after the terrorist attacks earlier that day.
Current history
In 1980, Braniff International hired Hotel Driskill's management into Laral Hotels. In May 1982, Braniff International Corporation filed for Chapter 11 Federal Bankruptcy Protection and its subsidiaries including Braniff International Hotels. However, Driskill, along with other Braniff subsidiaries Braniff Education Systems, Inc., and Braniff Realty continued to operate during Braniff's bankruptcy proceedings. In 1983, the hotel was spun by court to The Driskill Partnership, Inc., and sold.
Braniff emerged from bankruptcy on December 15, 1983, and The Driskill Partnership, Inc. sold to Lincoln Hotel Corporation. A number of owners have the privilege to treat Driskill. Massive renovations and renovations began in 1997, and were completed on time for the Millennium Celebration on December 31, 1999. In 2016, The Driskill Hotel is owned by Hyatt Hotels Group, former owner of [Braniff], Inc., also known as Braniff II. Hyatt Hotels Group, announced it has purchased the hotel on August 8, 2013.
The latest renovation began in 1996 and reached a symbolic conclusion on December 31, 1999, with grand grand celebrations reopening, although renovation efforts from each region have continued since then.
The restaurant at Driskill is used in the movie Miss Congeniality (2000), although it is represented as a restaurant in St. Louis. Regis in New York City.
Today, Driskill remains one of the premier hotels in Texas, featuring luxurious bridal suites, two restaurants, and a magnificent hall. It is also known as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States, displaying supernatural alleged activities throughout the building, including Colonel Driskill's own passion. On March 8, 2013, Hyatt Hotels Corporation confirmed that they have purchased Driskill Hotel. This hotel will be owned and operated by Hyatt, and will remain known as Driskill.
The hotel is located at 604 Brazos Street. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1969.
Gallery
References
Driskill's last renovation is in 2011.
External links
- Official website
- The Official Hyatt Website
- AustinPostcard.com - Hotel Driskill
- The Driskill Hotel of Texas Moving Image Archive
- Hotel Driskill
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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