Hotel Adolphus

The Adolphus Hotel represents a substantial investment on the part of St. Louis brewery magnate Adolphus Busch in the development of Dallas during the years before World War I. For several years the tallest structure in the city, the Adolphus is an outstanding example of the influence of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts upon American architecture. The high quality of the architectural decoration, executed in granite and bronze, is unusual for Texas buildings of the period and contributes to the hotel's status as one of the city's most admired works of architecture.

The design of large-scale public buildings in the United State in the early years of the 20th century was heavily influenced by the architectural classicism promulgated by the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the foremost architectural school in Europe. The Adolphus Hotel stands as perhaps the premier Texas example of this style, heavily embellished with French Renaissance and Baroque details such as massive scroll brackets and bronze grillwork and statuary. The execution of the detailing, in both stone and metal, is of the highest quality, equal to that found on similar designs in the Northeastern United States.

The hotel was designed by the St. Louis architect Tom P. Barnett, a partner in the firm of Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett. Barnett left the firm in 1912, completing the work on the Adolphus as the head of his own firm, Tom P. Barnett & Company. The firm of Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett was responsible for the design of prominent structures in St. Louis, among the most notable of which is the Catholic Cathedral, dating from 1907 to 1914. The firm also designed a number of hotels, including the New Southern Hotel in Chicago, and the 1,500-room Hotel Jefferson (1909) in St. Louis. Tom P. Barnett & Company were responsible for the design of the Arcade Building and the Busch Chapel in St. Louis, evidence that Barnett and Busch had a good architect/client relationship. The design of the Adolphus clearly indicates a familiarity on the part of Barnett with the design of such famous New York hotels as the Astor, which was also faced with a combination of stone and brick, and capped by a splendid Mansard roof.

The history of the building of the Adolphus is of some interest. In 1910, a delegation of leading Dallas businessmen approached Adolphus Busch, owner of the Oriental Hotel (formerly located on the southeast corner of Commerce and Akard), to discuss the need for a first-class hotel in the city. In agreement, Busch responded by acquiring a site for $240,000 and by holding a subscription party that resulted in local investors purchasing 10 percent of the hotel stock. A corporation was formed to underwrite the construction of the building, and Busch engaged the St. Louis firm of Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett to design the new facility with the local assistance of Alfred Bosser and C.D. Hill. After first traveling to examine other luxury hotels of the day, architect Tom P. Barnett designed the 22-story tower, distinguished for its architectural merits ever since its completion. As plans developed, the name was changed from the New Oriental Hotel to Hotel Adolphus in honor of its builder. Construction began in 1911 on the site of the 1880s City Hall, by the Gilsomite Construction Company.

Several hundred distinguished guests, including a group of St. Louis businessmen who made the trip down in a private railroad car, participated in the grand opening held on October 6, 1912. Tours of the opulent new hostelry were led by bellhops, and those evening stockholders, officers, and others were entertained in the elegant main dining room. Outstanding achievement was not limited to the lavishly detailed exterior but was reflected in the equally luxurious interior and extensive service. Interior public spaces fitted with wainscoting, vaulted ceilings, sculptured panels in bas relief, and fixtures of brass, ormolu, and alabaster were decorated with silk and velvet draperies, period French furnishings, and works of art from Busch's private collection. Guest rooms offered the most modern conveniences available. The 18th floor was devoted to entertainment facilities, and the hotel became a center for social, cultural, and professional gatherings in Dallas and throughout the Southwest.

Adolphus Busch died in 1913, but members of the family continued to operate the hotel and annually hosted a party for leading Dallas citizens. In 1917, the Busch heirs elected to enlarge the hotel with the West Annex, which brought the total number of rooms to 482 when the new section opened in January 1918. A third addition was made in 1926. The Busch family continued to operate the hotel until 1949 when Dallas investor Leo F. Corrigan purchased the property. Under Corrigan's ownership, the facility was again expanded to include an additional hotel tower, adjoining office tower, and parking garage. Early in 1980, the Adolphus was sold to a California investment group and on February 3 of that year, after 68 years of continuous service, it was closed for restoration and refurnishing.

In late 1981, the Adolphus reopened after undergoing a major remodeling. The work on the original structure was largely confined to the restoration of existing elements on the exterior, with a major redecorating campaign on the interior. The most dramatic changes took place in the later additions to the hotel, particularly the Commerce Street section, which was actually partially demolished and refaced so as to allow the hotel tower to stand as the dominant element of the complex. This work was carried out according to plans prepared by the Jerde Partnership, and Beran & Shelmire, Architects. These alterations re-emphasize the character of the original hotel tower, allowing it to retain its identity in a section of Dallas that is the site of a number of much taller office buildings.