Richmond House
Life Span: 1856 – 1871
Location: NW Corner South Water Street and Michigan Avenue
Architect: TBD
Chicago Tribune, January 4, 1856
Richmond House, corner of South Water street, 131 by 72, for the Hon. T. Richmond, is in a good state of forwardness, and to be completed next May, leased for a term of years to John Taber, Esq., late of the Lapierre House, Philadelphia—the building is six stories in a height of 82 feet exclusive of a basement 10 feet deep. Both fronts will be of cut Athen’s stone, and of beautiful design. This hotel will be the most magnificent yet erected in the West, being in the New York scale of splendor in everything pertaining to the building and its purpose. The interior arrangement will embrace much that is new in convenience and comfort, to which the present hotels here are strangers: nothing that the liberality of the owner can supply or devise will be omitted to render it complete and entire in every sense of the word. The building will be surmounted by an an immense refreshment saloon. Also, a very large cupola or observatory, from which the most extended and magnificent view of the surrounding scenery, especially Lake Michigan, to which all true lover of nature will resort, and be amply repaid for the little trouble they will be put to in being raised up from the ground in cars worked by machinery, a feature that strikes us as being truly novel, but quite in keeping with the go-a-headativeness of the times, the people, and none the less of Chicago, in particular. Probable cost something less than $100,000. Architects, Olmstead & Nicholson; cut stone, Illinois Stone and Lime Company; mason, N. E. Pstebson ; carpenter, Ira Foote.
Weekly Chicago Times, January 8, 1857
Corner of South Water, street. The Richmond House. This marble palace, (for it is nothing less, was described at length in our article of last year, and we do not embrace its cost, therefore, in our list of this year. The work on it was much delayed, and the house was not opened till September last. It presents the most magnificent exterior of any hotel in the West, and its interior finish is surpassed by none. Wm. B. Olmstead, architect. Kept by Messrs. Taber and Hawks, late of the La Pierre House, Philadelphia.
Handbook for Strangers & Tourists to the City of Chicago, 1866
RICHMOND HOUSE,
Corner of South Water street and Michigan avenue, ranking second to none of the other first-class hotels, is lavishly supplied with every comfort and convenience for the accommodation of guests. It will be remembered by those familiar with the incidents of the Prince of Wales’ visit to the United States, that the royal visitor chose the Richmond House for his sojourn in Chicago. Under the new management of Mr. Somers,formerly of the City Hotel, the Richmond House has been remodeled and refurnished in an elegant style. All the parlors, reception rooms, private parlors, and lodging rooms, are handsomely and richly furnished. The location of the Richmond House is especially advantageous. It is only a few steps distant from the Great Central Depot, and on that great fashionable thoroughfare, Michigan avenue, the most beautiful street on the American continent.
Richmond House
Located corner of South Water Street and Michigan Avenue, has recently been renovated and refurnished throughout in splendid style, and is supplied with all the comforts and conveniences of a first-class house. The Prince of Wales selected this house as his place of sojourn during his stay in Chicago. Its location near the Great Central Depot, together with the beautiful avenue upon which it is situated, render it a most convenient and delightful stopping -place for travellers. Kichard Somers, proprietor.
In 1860, the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII) was entertained here. It was closed before the Great Fire and converted into a business block.
Richmond House
NW Corner South Water and Michigan Streets
1862
Richmond House
NW Corner South Water and Michigan Streets
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
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