The century-old Plaza Hotel has changed hands several times, but it remains an architectural – and hospitality – landmark. As such, the Plaza has accumulated a history that is both educational and entertaining.
The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report for the hotel’s interiors is a rich narrative about the hotel, its owners, architects, renovations and occupants. The Wikipedia entry adds more popular details, such as the movies and television shows in which the Plaza has appeared.
Trivia buffs, add this to your repertoire: The current property is the second Plaza Hotel on this site; the first hotel (also considered among the finest in New York) was demolished after 15 years to make way for an even grander property. Also: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts manages the Plaza – and also Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza – which was also designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh.
Hardenbergh also designed the Dakota Apartments, the Western Union Telegraph Company Building, and the Schermerhorn Building in New York. He designed the Waldorf and Astoria Hotels (then located at Fifth Avenue from 33rd to 34th Streets), among other prominent buildings now demolished.
Plaza Hotel Vital Statistics
- Location: Central Park South at Grand Army Plaza
- Year Completed: 1909; addition, 1921
- Architect: Henry Janeway Hardenbergh; addition, Warren & Wetmore
- Floors: 20
- Style: Second Empire Baroque
- New York City Landmark: 1969
- National Register of Historic Places: 1978
Plaza Hotel Suggested Reading
- Wikipedia entry
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission interior designation report
- New York Architecture – top 10 hotels
- Plaza Hotel official history page
- Plaza Hotel official architectural society tour
- The City Review feature
- City Realty listing