- Collection:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Presentation Slide Collection, 1968-2000
- Title:
- Biltmore Hotel
- Creator:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
- Contributor to Resource:
- Weaver, S. Fullerton (Spencer Fullerton), -1939
Price, Charles Matlack
Candler, William, 1890-1936
Schultze, Leonard, 1877-1951
Schultze &Weaver
Bowman, John McE., 1875-1931
Starrett Brothers, Inc. - Date of Original:
- 1998
- Subject:
- Architects and builders--History--19th century
Neoclassicism (Art)
Renaissance revival (Architecture)
Architecture
Historic sites--Georgia--Fulton County
Historic buildings--Georgia--Fulton County
Commercial buildings--Georgia--Fulton County
Historic hotels
Historic apartment houses
WSB (Radio station : Atlanta, Ga.)
Historic preservation
Historic sites--Conservation and restoration
Cultural property--Protection
Historic preservation--Georgia
Historic buildings--Conservation and restoration - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- color slides
historic preservation
historic buildings - Type:
- Still Image
- Format:
- image/jp2
- Description:
- From the "statement of significance" from the Atlanta Biltmore's National Register of Historic Places nomination form from 1979, prepared by National Register researcher Steve Henson: The Atlanta Biltmore Hotel is significant in Atlanta urban and commercial history and Georgia architectural history. It is an excellent example of the grand hotels built across America in the 1920s. The location and monumental size of the hotel mark the commercial progress of Atlanta demographically and financially during this period. In addition, the neo-Georgian architecture was felt to reflect the refined grace of New South society as well as signify its economic successes. Significantly, the Atlanta Biltmore has been able to survive the rush of more centrally located hotels during the 1970s, as well as the age of interstate-related suburban motels. The primary financial impetus for the construction of the Atlanta Biltmore was provided by Atlanta capitalist William Candler, the son of Asa G. Candler, Sr., president of the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company, and had served as secretary-treasurer of that company until its sale for $25 million in 1919 to the Woodruff Group. In 1921, William Candler bought the tract of land bounded by West Peachtree Street, Cypress Street, Fifth Street and Sixth Street. Two years later, in conjunction with John McEntee Bowman, New York proprietor of the Bowman hotel chain, Candler incorporated the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel Company, to which he deeded this property. The hotel's original incorporating officers included Bowman as president, Candler as vice president, and Holland Ball Judkins as vice-president and manager. The final design of the new hotel was completed by Leonard Schultze of the New York firm of Schultze and Weaver. In addition to the Atlanta Biltmore, Schultze designed Bowman's Biltmore hotels in Los Angeles and Havana. Construction began in 1923 by the Starrett Brothers. In April, 1924, the Atlanta Biltmore was opened. In an article on the Atlanta Biltmore in the December, 1924, issue of Arts and Decoration. Matlack Price apostrophes the modern hotel as the "city's point of contact with the world beyond its own borders." The 1920s was, among other things, the era of the "great modern hotel." A train chartered in New York City, known as the Atlanta Biltmore Special, brought prominent Northern hotel men to Atlanta for the opening festivities of the Biltmore on April 19, 1924. A giant cotton key was presented by Georgia Governor Clifford Walker and Atlanta Mayor Walter Sims to this delegation on their arrival in Atlanta. The dinner-dance at the hotel that evening was broadcast nationally on radio and featured the orchestra of Enrico Leide. The financial and political prominence of this visiting delegation is underscored by the fact that they were received by President Calvin Coolidge at the White House on the return portion of their trip. Also during the opening weekend, reportedly 1,000 automobiles made the circular sweep through the Biltmore's gardens and terrace drive. The Neo-Georgian architecture of the Atlanta Biltmore was described as designed especially to reflect "the spirit of the South." It is significant to note that for the Los Angeles Biltmore Schultze designed in the less restrained Spanish renaissance manner. The plans for the Biltmore, which included the separate apartment building in addition to the main hotel structure, were those of a new type of "apartment hotel" which became popular during the 1920s. S. Fullerton Weaver, the partner of Leonard Schultze, designer of the Atlanta Biltmore, described in detail the planning of the "modern apartment hotel" in the November, 1924, issue of Architectural Forum. In the subsequent history of the Atlanta Biltmore, it was the home and meeting place of many of Atlanta's civic organizations, the first home of the Atlanta Historical Society, and the studios for over thirty years of WSB radio, the South's first radio station. In the 1960s, the Biltmore faced increased competition from newer downtown hotels and changed hands multiple times, joining the Sheraton hotel chain in 1967. In 1979, the hotel was purchased by Biltmore Hospitality Partners. The hotel closed in 1982 and remained in disrepair for 16 years. The Novare Group purchased, renovated, and reopened the building, working from 1997-1999. The renovated Biltmore now houses office space and event venues, with the former hotel room floors converted into offices and the two ballrooms restored for events. The Biltmore continues to serve as an important convention hotel in Atlanta, and is an important landmark in the architectural and urban history of the city. Variant names include: Biltmore Hotel. See ref # 80001071 (Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments), https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/national-register-listed-20240710.xlsx
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_443
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_443#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_443/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Additional Rights Information:
- Please contact holding institution for information regarding use and copyright status.
- Holding Institution:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
- Rights:
-
