Palmer House

The Palmer House Hilton is a famous and historic hotel in downtown Chicago. There have been three Palmer House Hotels at the corner of State and Monroe Streets in Chicago, Illinois. The first (known as "The Palmer") was built as a wedding present from Potter Palmer to his bride Bertha Honoré. It opened on September 26, 1871, but burned down just thirteen days later October 9, 1871 in the Great Chicago Fire. Palmer immediately set to work rebuilding, and with a $1.7 million signature loan (believed to be the largest individual loan ever secured at the time) constructed one of the fanciest hotels in post-fire Chicago. Designed by architect John M. Van Osdel, the second Palmer House Hotel was seven stories. Its amenities included oversized...