Hotel Congress
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(September 2009) |
| Hotel Congress | |
|---|---|
 Historic Hotel Congress | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | 311 E Congress St.,Tucson, Arizona,United States,85701 |
| Coordinates | 32°13′20″N110°57′58″W/ 32.222245°N 110.966099°W |
| Opening | November 18, 1918 |
| Owner | Richard and Shana Oseran |
| Website | |
| hotelcongress | |
TheHotel Congressis a federally recognized historic building located in downtownTucson, Arizona.It was built in 1918 and designed by the Los Angeles architectural firmWilliam and Alexander Curlettas part of an expansion of Congress Street and in conjunction with the theatrical venueRialto Theatre,which sits north of Congress Street. The rear of the building faces the historicAmtrakSouthern Pacific train station, built bySouthern Pacificin 1907. In addition to being a hotel, the Hotel Congress building also houses a restaurant, bar and music venue. The name "The Congress Hotel" was chosen through a naming competition organized by theArizona Daily Starnewspaper in 1918. The winning suggestion was announced on April 30, 1918, and it was submitted by Dorit Dinkel, who won $15 worth of baby bonds for having their name chosen.[1]The Hotel Congress and its owners since 1985,Richard Oseranand Shana Oseran, have been a key cultural institution and boosters in the early 21st-century redevelopment of Downtown Tucson.[2]
The hotel is known for being the site of the capture of gangster and bank robberJohn Dillinger's gang in 1934. After a series of bank robberies, theDillinger Gangarrived in Tucson to hide out. On January 22, 1934, a fire started in the basement and spread up to the third floor, where the gang resided under aliases. After the desk clerk contacted them through the switchboard the gang escaped by aerial ladders. On the request of the gang, two firemen retrieved their luggage, identifying who they were. After being transferred to a jail inCrown Point, Indiana,Dillinger escaped again and was eventually shot down inChicago, Illinois.[3]Local Tucson architectRoy Placerebuilt the upper floor in the same style as the original.[4]A historic plaque on the south entrance of the hotel bears Place's name so it is often believed to be of his original design.
The Hotel Congress building was added to the National Historic Register in 2003. The Hotel Congress received aFodor'sChoice distinction award in 2006 and again in 2008.[5]According to the National Registration listing,[6]Alexander and William Curlett,Curlett and Son Architects of Los Angeles were the actual designers/architects. A newspaper article from theArizona Daily Star,dated April 23, 1920, reported:
"A. E. Carlette (Curlett), architect of Los Angeles, was a visitor in Tucson yesterday stopping at the Santa Rita. Mr Carlette (Curlett) was the designer of the new Rialto Theatre and the Congress Hotel."
Club Congress
[edit]
In 1985, a music venue was opened in the hotel, and has become a venue for touring bands playing in Tucson. In February 2005, the stage was completely redesigned by localLatinoartistDaniel Martin Diaz,and it was named Best Functional Art Installation byTucson Weeklyin 2006.[7]ZZ TopguitaristBilly Gibbonshas said that the Tap Room at Hotel Congress is his favorite bar.[8]
Club Congress is regarded as being the longest-running venue of its kind west of the Mississippi, and, in part because of this distinction, Arizona GovernorJanet Napolitanoissued a proclamation on July 25, 2005, thatLabor Day Weekendwould be known as "Club Congress Weekend".[9]In 2004, the hotel's entertainment director David Slutes started a three-day, three-night live music event known as "HOCO Fest".[10][11]
The Cup Cafe
[edit]The Cup Cafe, colloquially known as The Cup, can be found just off the Hotel Congress lobby and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.[12]
Hotel Interior
[edit]The hotel has basically maintained the inside decor as it was during the 1930s when the notorious gangster John Dillinger and his gang were arrested in 1934.
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Hotel entrance -
Inside the hotel -
One of the Club Congress hotel bars -
Early hotel switchboard -
Gentlemen's Restroom -
Hotel hallway -
Poster of John Dillinger and two gang members in the hotel hallway -
Display of newspaper clippings of the capture of John Dillinger and his gang in the old lobby of the Congress Hotel.
References
[edit]- ^Eubank, Johanna."10 things you may not know about the Hotel Congress as it turns 100".Arizona Daily Star.Retrieved2019-11-21.
- ^"Hotel Congress celebrates 100 years".KGUN.2018-11-12.Retrieved2019-11-21.
- ^Ring, Al; Bob (October 2015)."The Hotel Congress Fire and the Capture of John Dillinger"(PDF).Tucson Fire Foundation.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^Nequette, Anne M.; Jeffery, R. Brooks (2002).A Guide to Tucson Architecture.University of Arizona Press.ISBN978-0-8165-2083-1.
- ^Guides, Fodor's Travel (2015-11-10).Fodor's Arizona & the Grand Canyon.Fodor's Travel.ISBN978-1-101-87904-7.
- ^"National Register of Historical Places – Arizona (AZ), Pima County".nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.
- ^"Best Functional Art Installation 2006".Tucson Weekly.Retrieved2019-11-21.
- ^"Tucson's apres-game music".Los Angeles Times.2010-02-14.Retrieved2019-11-21.
- ^Magahern, Jimmy (2005-09-01)."Legend City".Phoenix New Times.Retrieved2019-11-21.
- ^"Raising Arizona: How HOCO Fest is nurturing a cultural oasis in the desert".Mixmag.Retrieved2019-11-21.
- ^"HOCO Fest | Tucson, AZ".HOCO Fest | Tucson, AZ.Retrieved2019-11-21.
- ^"Cup Cafe".Hotel Congress.Retrieved2022-04-19.
External links
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Media related toHotel Congressat Wikimedia Commons
- OfficialHotel Congresswebsite
- For more on the original architectural firm, William Curlett and Son:http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry /~npmelton/lacurl.htm
- Aleck Curlett, William Curlett's son, was still working under the family firm of William Curlett and Son. William died in 1914, and the hotel was designed in 1918. ( "History of California and an Extended History of Los Angeles and Environs" by James Guinn, published 1915.)
