Willard InterContinental Washington

Washington, DC: Two blocks from the White House lies a hotel etched in the history of Washington DC. The Willard InterContinental has entertained thousands of guests including heads of state, writers and average Americans while also serving as a playground for powerful politicians.

There has been a hotel on the site of the Willard since 1816. Henry Willard bought the property in 1850 and established the Willard hotel. Willard merged several row houses together to form a 100 room hotel. The hotel began to attract politician including Franklin Pierce.

The Willard Hall became a centerpiece in Washington’s nightlife. PT Barnum’s act Jenny Lind performed regularly and attracted many visitors including President Millard Fillmore. The hall was also the first place in Washington DC to see a motion picture.

The Willard continued to gain popularity among the political class. In 1859 a ball was held for Lord Napier and over 1,800 guests attended. The guest list included Sam Houston, Jefferson Davis, Stephen Douglas and William Seward. Then in 1860 the first Japanese ambassadors to visit the United States stayed at the hotel.

The country then entered into the Civil War and the Willard was once again at the forefront. Following the election of Jefferson Davis, representatives of the Union and the Confederacy met at the Willard for a Peace Conference. This was the last attempt to peacefully avoid a war between the North and South. The meeting was unsuccessful and the resulting Civil War followed.

After the election of President Lincoln, a plot to assassinate Lincoln was uncovered. On February 23, 1861, Detective Alan Pinkerton moved Lincoln in the early morning to take cover inside the Willard. Grateful for the safety of the Willard, President Lincoln remained there until his inauguration on March 4th. During this time, Lincoln conducted normal business at the hotel, holding meetings in the lobby and working out of his guest room. His first check as President went to pay his bill at the Willard.

The Willard became the center of the Union war efforts. The leaders of the Union found its close proximity to the President to be essential in planning of the war. With the flurry of Union troop activity outside, hotel guest Julia Ward Howe was awoken by the sound of troops marching down Pennsylvania Avenue singing “John Brown’s Body”. She was inspired to write new words to the song and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” was written, becoming the anthem of the Union Troops.

Ulysses Grant later called the Willard his second home. Introduced to the Willard during the Civil War as a Union Commander, Grant spent many nights here during his presidency. After a day at the White House, Grant would come to the Willard and unwind from the day, drinking brandy and smoking his cigars in the lobby. During this time, he was often approached by citizens trying to get his support for their cause, he described then as lobbyists and the term lives on through today. It is believed that the lobby of the Willard is still haunted by the ghost of Grant as some guests say they can smell his cigar in the lobby.

The 20th century began with the Willard leading the pack. The construction of the new Willard Hotel began and at 12 stories, became the cities first skyscraper. The building was opened in 1901 and construction was completed by 1904.

In 1923, the Willard became the home of the President. Following the death of President Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge took over the office of the President. Allowing Mrs. Harding time to vacate the White House, Coolidge took residency at the Willard. During that time, the presidential flag flew in front of the hotel as it became the temporary house of the President.

Tough financial times fell on the Willard following World War II. The hotel was sold by the Willard family in 1946. The hotel was mismanaged and eventually closed in 1968. But not before adding another chapter in the history books. In 1963, Dr Martin Luther King Jr stayed at the Willard prior to his march on Washington. It was from his guest room at the Willard that he wrote his world famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

A battle to revive Pennsylvania Avenue began and a plan to resurrect the Willard began. The Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation was formed in 1973 with the task of transforming Pennsylvania back into a thriving business district. The Willard dodged the wrecking ball in 1975 and in 1978 the plan to restore the Willard was submitted by Stuart Golding. The Oliver Carr Company joined Golding and they teamed up with Inter-Continental Hotels Group to bring the hotel back to life.

On August 20, 1986 the Willard InterContinental was reopened to the public. A grand gala much like the ones of the famed past took place. Politicians, Supreme Court Justices and other prominent people strolled down the famous red carpet of Peacock Alley and the hotel retuned to its glory.

There are 332 guest rooms with 40 of them being suites. The hotel features several restaurants including Café de Parc and the Occidental Grill. Guests can also grab afternoon tea in the famous Peacock Alley or enjoy drinks in the evening at the Round Robin Bar.

Today the continues to attract guests from all backgrounds. Every United States president from Franklin Pierce through today’ president Barack Obama has either stayed or attended a function at the Willard InterContinental, making it the “Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania”.

For more photos, visit my Willard InterContinental photo page.