Doesn’t Copley Plaza exude an air of timeless elegance? Let’s delve into the story of this iconic landmark.
The Fairmont Copley Plaza stands proudly in Boston’s Back Bay. It graces Copley Square. The square also includes the John Hancock Tower, Trinity Church, and Boston Public Library. Copley Square got its name from painter John Singleton Copley. Before 1883, people knew it as Art Square. This was because of the many cultural institutions located there.
The Fairmont Copley Plaza boasts a rich history. The hotel was built on the site of the Museum of Fine Arts. The museum was here from 1876 to 1909. The museum then moved to Huntington Avenue.
The Copley Plaza formally opened on August 19, 1912. Construction took about 16 months. Boston Mayor John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald presided. He was President Kennedy’s grandfather. Over 1,000 guests attended. These included dignitaries, civic leaders, and stars. Rooms were booked far in advance.
Building The Copley Plaza cost $5.5 million. Laborers earned 35 cents an hour. They worked seven days a week. Workers drove 8,000 pilings 70 feet deep. The site was a former wetland.
In 1912, a room at The Copley Plaza cost $3.50. The Fairmont Copley Plaza innovated the hotel industry. It was the first air-conditioned hotel in Boston. It was the first with an international reservations system. Also, it was the first to accept credit cards. The first to offer direct telephone dialing for guests.
During Prohibition, the Oak Bar was the Merry-Go-Round Bar. Patrons celebrated the end of Prohibition here in 1933. It had a working merry-go-round. It closed in 1978. Pieces of the track are in the floor of OAK Long Bar + Kitchen.
The Oval Room hosted tea dances and events. John Singer Sargent and Isabella Stewart Gardner lunched here. A skating rink was under the dance floor. Rudy Valle sang here in the 1930s. Skating was arranged for King Saud’s harem in the 1960s.
During World War II, the hotel’s elevator operators were over 65. This freed younger men for military service. Regular guests included Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Their first visit was in 1964, after their first wedding. A crowd of 1,000 admirers greeted them.
Two gilded lions guard the St. James entrance since 1967. Alexander Pope sculpted them. They were for the Kensington Hotel. The Copley Plaza “rescued” them when that hotel was demolished.
The entrance hallway is “Peacock Alley”. The lobby has a 21-foot high coffered ceiling. It also has crystal chandeliers and marble columns. The back-to-back “P” monogram is preserved.
The Fairmont Copley Plaza remains a symbol of Boston’s grand history. It blends luxury with timeless charm. A true landmark.