Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza- Cincinnati, OH
The public areas at Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza are absolutely magical. To walk into the Palm Court is to return to the Roaring 20s. An elaborate Art Deco design, it is a space you will not want to leave. With decorative elements adorning just about every surface, it is one of the most aesthetically pleasing places I have ever visited.
Designed by W.W. Ahlschlager as part of the larger Carew Tower complex, Netherland’s construction started just one month before the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929. Fortunately, just weeks before the stock market crash, the developer liquidated his holdings to fund construction costs, allowing the project to continue.
Intended to rival New York’s Waldorf Astoria, the luxurious 800 room hotel included modern baths, high speed elevators, and an automatic electric garage, which just sounds futuristic. The hotel included seven restaurants, serviced by 11 kitchens, as well as a nightclub designed to resemble the SS Leviathan, an ocean liner. The elegant Palm Court featured French Art Deco details, magnificent murals, Brazilian rosewood and a ziggurat shaped ram’s head fountain designed by Rockwood Pottery.
The hotel also featured a magnificent ballroom, known as the Hall of Mirrors. Inspired by it’s namesake at the Palace of Versailles, it boasted French Fleur de Peche marble, gold plated mirrors and bronze light sconces. Designed by renowned set designer George Unger, its dramatic details were intended to elicit an emotional response from event attendees. He absolutely succeeded. Almost 100 years later, the space still stuns.
Overwhelming popular, the hotel attracted the rich and famous for decades. Bing Crosby was a frequent visitor, as was Elvis. Doris Day made her debut in their storied nightclub. Winston Churchill spent several days at the hotel in the 30s, and was so impressed, he later reproduced his guest room at his English estate. Presidents Nixon, Kennedy and the elder Bush also stayed at the hotel, indicating its social prominence.
Unbelievably, the hotel’s magnificent Deco details were hidden in the 1960s, in an attempt to modernize the aging establishment. Walls were covered in plywood and painted; the marble floors were covered over in vinyl. Fortunately, the changes were not permanent, and were later reserved, when someone finally came to their senses. Unfortunately, the guest rooms are still completely devoid of character. That said, the public spaces are achingly beautiful, and should be seen by literally everyone.
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