The Astor House

Next semester I'm taking a class on William James (1842-1910), psychologist/ philosopher/ doctor and brother of writer Henry James. While googling him, I learned William James was born at the Astor House, or Astor Hotel, in New York City. Funded by John Jacob Astor, the Astor House was built on accumulated lots surrounding his former home. While this post is dedicated to the hotel, I ran across some photographs of John Jacob Astor's own home I just have to share...


From a book on Fifth Avenue, excerpted here:



From an entry on Astor, a hero of the RMS Titanic, on Encyclopedia Titanica:



Anyway, the hotel was located on Broadway and opened in 1836. The Astor House was designed by Isaiah Rogers in the Greek Revival style, complete with huge doric columns, gas lights, a cast-iron rotunda, 6 stories, and over 300 rooms. The Astor House became the most fashionable place to eat lunch for wealthy gentlemen. However, after inspiring competitors, it was later regarded as old-fashioned and middle class. In 1913, the south section of the Astor House was torn down to make way for the subway, and the rest of the hotel was demolished in 1926. Still, the Astor House remains a legend in literature and New York memorabilia.

1905: St. Paul's Chapel, The Astor House, and the U.S. Post Office.



A stereoscope view of the Astor House.



In addition to William James, other famous people associated with the Astor House are Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (who honeymooned there), Charles Evans Hughes, Fanny Kemble, Abraham Lincoln, and Confederate Admiral Rapheal Semmes.