WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2005 - On February 18, 2005, the historic Renaissance
Mayflower Hotel is celebrating its 80th anniversary with the unveiling
of permanent, museum-quality installations throughout the hotel that highlight
the Mayflower's prominent past. The hotel, which opened its doors
on February 18, 1925, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
recognized for its architectural significance, as well as its historic
distinction. With 657 rooms, the Mayflower is the largest luxury
hotel in Washington, D.C.
| In addition to the exhibits, the
Mayflower also will be offering the J. Edgar Hoover menu in the hotel's
Cafe Promenade. J. Edgar Hoover ate the same lunch every day at the Mayflower
at the same table for more than 20 years while he was head of the FBI.
Although he ate a rather bland diet of chicken soup, toast, salad, cottage
cheese and grapefruit, Cafe Promenade's menu will feature culinary highlights
served at the hotel over the last 80 years.
Behind the Scenes
The exhibits include a large plasma screen installation in the hotel's
Main Promenade. The multi-media display features stories about famous
events and happenings at the hotel with a focus on the people who worked
behind the scenes. |
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, District Of Columbia
|
The stories are communicated through a combination of historic photographs,
text and streaming video. Another exhibit on the hotel's mezzanine
level features artifacts from the hotel's history, such as a complete place
setting from the hotel's original china, silver serving pieces and gold
chargers, as well as old photographs, blueprints and original menus.
Many of the original artifacts were collected by hotel employees past and
present.
Keith McClinsey, a senior event manager at the hotel, oversaw the development
of the hotel's history installations and became so involved with the project,
he conducted his own scavenger hunt to obtain hotel objects lost over time.
Using online auctions and many searches through the hotel's archives in
the basement, his many discoveries include old postcards, a set of original
Mayflower china, silver pieces and photographs.
Famous places and spaces
A brochure offering a self-guided tour to the hotel is available at
the concierge desk. The guide features several stopping points throughout
all public spaces and highlights works of art, artifacts, architecture
and historic events. The hotel also is placing plaques in key guestrooms
and meeting spaces throughout the hotel to commemorate famous happenings,
such as:
-
FDR wrote his inaugural speech in 1933 in the hotel's Suite 776 and the
infamous lines, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
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The hotel's Grand Ballroom, site of every inaugural ball up to the Reagan
Administration, was also where FDR celebrated his 61st birthday, Charles
Lindbergh celebrated his flight around the world and Amelia Earhart received
her special National Geographic Society Gold medal from President Hoover
for being the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo.
-
At the request of President Nixon who had just arranged for the U.S. to
exchange diplomatic missions with China, the 6th floor of the Mayflower
served as a temporary Chinese Embassy in February 1973 while the Chinese
embassy offices were being renovated.
Located just four blocks from the White House, the Renaissance Mayflower
Hotel is best known as "Washington's Second Best Address" as coined by
frequent guest and former U.S. President, Harry S. Truman. Since
the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel opened its doors in 1925, the hotel has
been regarded as the "Grande Dame of Washington, D.C." |
