Talk:Grand Pacific Hotel (Chicago)

The Grand Pacific Before The Fire

The article cites Host, William R. and Brooke Ahne Portmann, "Early Chicago Hotels," Arcadia Publishing, 2006, p. 12 for the proposition that the hotel was open for 10 months in 1871 before the fire. This is wrong. I don't have access to Host & Portman, but if that's what the book says, it's an error.

First, A.T. Andreas, History of Chicago, vol. 2 (1885), p. 509 says about the Grand Pacific "Under ... the able supervision of W.W. Boyington, the architect, the grand plan was carried out, and in October 1871, the palatial hotel had risen to its full stature, and was protected by a substantial covering. But it was born only to die; for, on the 9th of that month, it was destroyed by the great fire, and left only an imposing and beautiful ruin." By the fire, it had "substantial covering" suggests it was incomplete.

Second, David Lowe, Lost Chicago (1975), p100-01 illustrates the hotel and its ruin. The caption to the hotel: "A drawing of the palatial new Grand Pacific Hotel occupying the entire block bounded by Clark, Jackson La Salle, and Quincy Streets. It was just preparing to open its doors when the fire struck." And for the ruin: "The gutted hotel after the flames had done their work. It's backers had at least one consolation: the Grand Pacific's ruins were considered the most beautiful in the city.

Third, Elias Colbert & Everett Chamberlin, Chicago and the Great Conflagration (1871), p292 lists more than 30 hotels destroyed by the fire, but does not include the Grand Pacific.

So I'm removing that line. When I have more time, I'll edit some more.