COLLECTION NAME:
Hotel DeSoto Collection
Record
Title:
The De Soto
Description:
Booklet style brochure, under the management of Watson and Powers, published by Art Press, Loughead & Co., Philadelphia, not dated, cream moiré cover. Illustrated with photographs and drawings. The brochure mentions the growing popularity of the hotel over the last 6 years, dating this roughly 6 years after the opening. This brochure, truly reminiscent of its time, contains photos in black and white and in sepia of the interior and exterior of the hotel, as well as some of the tourist attractions. While some language describing tourist activities would be challenged today, the brochure contains some unique interior photos of the hotel. Files contain image of cover and PDF of entire brochure.
In the 1880’s, Savannah was an important stop in Florida’s burgeoning tourist trade. A railroad to Tybee Island was opened in 1887 with the idea of promoting the beach and Tybee as a resort area. Rail and steamship lines were well in place between Savannah and points north and south. It was hoped that Savannah would become a destination rather than a stopover. A major luxury hotel was the element missing that would draw people to stay in the city. Construction on the Hotel DeSoto began in 1888. It was a Richardsonian Romanesque style building designed by Boston architect William Gibbons Preston. The hotel building took up an entire city block and was constructed of terra cotta, brick, and shingle. Part of the hotel was five stories and the rest was six stories. It had 206 rooms and also housed solariums, a barbershop, drug store, lunchrooms, coffee shops, and a restaurant. There were separate entrances for ladies and gentlemen and large piazzas with rocking chairs. The many brochures in the collection boast of a swimming pool, 18 hole miniature golf course and proximity to tourist attractions, hunting, and fishing.
In the 1880’s, Savannah was an important stop in Florida’s burgeoning tourist trade. A railroad to Tybee Island was opened in 1887 with the idea of promoting the beach and Tybee as a resort area. Rail and steamship lines were well in place between Savannah and points north and south. It was hoped that Savannah would become a destination rather than a stopover. A major luxury hotel was the element missing that would draw people to stay in the city. Construction on the Hotel DeSoto began in 1888. It was a Richardsonian Romanesque style building designed by Boston architect William Gibbons Preston. The hotel building took up an entire city block and was constructed of terra cotta, brick, and shingle. Part of the hotel was five stories and the rest was six stories. It had 206 rooms and also housed solariums, a barbershop, drug store, lunchrooms, coffee shops, and a restaurant. There were separate entrances for ladies and gentlemen and large piazzas with rocking chairs. The many brochures in the collection boast of a swimming pool, 18 hole miniature golf course and proximity to tourist attractions, hunting, and fishing.
Subject:
Historic buildings
Subject:
Hotels
Publisher:
Art Press, Loughead & Co., Philadelphia
Date:
1896
Coverage:
Savannah (Ga.)
Coverage:
Georgia
Language:
English
Type:
Still Image
Extent:
16 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 4 1/2 x 6 inches
Format/Medium:
Pamphlets
Source:
Hotel DeSoto Collection, MS 010, Jen Library Archives and Special Collections, Savannah College of Art and Design.
Rights:
Though this item is believed to be in the Public Domain, copyright may have been retained by the authors or creators of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Identifier:
MS010_b1_f1_bk2