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The Plaza re-opened in 2008 following a three-year, 450-million-dollar renovation that split the building into 282 guest rooms and 152 condominiums. It also involved extensive renovation in several other areas, i.e.: Grand Ballroom 1907 Lobby 1907 Now the Residents Lobby New Hotel Lobby Palm Court Ca.1907 If you are thinking of staying at the Plaza, … Continue reading »

The Plaza Hotel is located in New York City on 5th Ave. and 59th at the west entrance to Central Park. It opened in 1907 and was named for the nearby Grand Army Plaza. The location is particularly prestigious. Note Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s mansion with the Plaza behind in the 1908 photo. AI Colorized … Continue reading »

Grant Park The 3.5-acre Grant Park was founded in 1890. To form the scenic, gradual slopes, 19,000 cubic feet of dirt were hauled in. The first two photos are undated. Library The Galena Library was built at a cost of $60,000, 25% of which came from Andrew Carnegie. It was dedicated on July 4,1908, as … Continue reading »

Galena is located in the northwest corner of Illinois. It was named for the mineral galena which was the basis for the lead mining economy of the region. In its peak year, local mines produced 85% of the nation’s lead. It became the largest steamboat hub on the Mississippi River north of St. Louis. Galena … Continue reading »

Bisbee Building The Bisbee Building was built in 1909 in downtown Jacksonville, FL. It is ten stories tall and, along with two adjacent buildings, comprises the Laura Street Trio. Abandoned for decades, a 90-million-dollar renovation was proposed for all three structures, but, as of May 10, 2024, the plan had not yet been approved. The … Continue reading »

The world’s first skyscraper was the Home Insurance Building, completed in 1885 in Chicago. It was 12 stories tall and was the first building to use a structural steel frame to bear the weight which allowed for the record height. It was demolished in 1931. Chicago also has two other early skyscrapers. The first is … Continue reading »

132 W. Washington At one time, this structure was Nathaniel Snow’s grocery store. It is now occupied as Marblehead Mercantile and owned by Snow’s great, great grandson. The first photo is undated. Fort Sewall Fort Sewall is located at a point known as Gales Head. It was first fortified in 1634 and saw action in … Continue reading »

Marblehead is located near Boston. It was founded in 1649 and has been steeped in U.S. history ever since. Sailors from there were involved early on in the Revolutionary War, and scholars have labeled their activities the forerunner of the U.S. Navy. Many historic sites and buildings still exist, including: Old Town House The Old … Continue reading »

This undated photo shows the Gilpin Hotel in 1885. Despite the sign in the next photo (far right), it is now 100% casino. This photo shows a hardware store in 1885. It is now the Saratoga Casino, again, despite the sign. To make room for the casinos, 12 homes had to be moved to a … Continue reading »

Black Hawk is located 37 miles west of Denver. It was founded in 1859 after gold was discovered in the nearby hills. It was home to the first smelter in Colorado. So many more were added, the town become known as the “City of Mills.” A severe downturn in production occurred as the mines played … Continue reading »